SNEAK PEEK: Mighty McCain at the Bat
Campaigns have until midnight to file third quarter reports with FEC
October 15, 2007— -- The leading Republican presidential candidates take a break from the early voting states and convene in the nation's capital Tuesday for the Republican Jewish Coalition's "Victory 2008" Republican Presidential Candidates Forum and the Presidential Trust Dinner.
Sam Brownback, Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain participate in the morning session at the RJC forum at the Grand Hyatt in Washington and Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson drop by the afternoon session.
The Presidential Trust Dinner at the National Building Museum starts at 7:00 pm ET and features remarks from McCain, Romney, Thompson and Ron Paul.
ABC News' Christine Byun reports that in a speech to the New York Conservative party Monday night, Fred Thompson advocates for "smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation, and conservative judges."
"Some think the way to beat the Democrats in November is to be more like them," Thompson will tell the crowd. "I could not disagree more. I believe that conservatives beat liberals only when we challenge their outdated positions, not embrace them."
While he does not name Giuliani specifically in the excerpts of his speech made available by his campaign, Thompson's comments are expected to allude to Giuliani's political past, Byun reports.
Keep an eye on…
The presidential candidates have until 11:59pm ET Monday to file their third quarter reports with FEC. ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports that Rudy Giuliani spent more than he raised from July to September of 2007, dishing out $13 million while taking in $11.4 million.
The Iowa GOP state central committee convenes a meeting at 7:00 pm ET to vote on a caucus date for the Iowa GOP caucuses.
Voters head to the polls in Massachusetts' 5th District Tuesday for the special election to replace Rep. Marty Meehan (D- Mass.) who resigned from Congress on July 1, 2007. Niki Tsongas (D), the wife of the late Sen. Paul Tsongas takes on retired Lt. Col. Jim Ogonowski (R), whose brother was a pilot on one of the flights that hit the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
McCain at the Bat…
John McCain is either the most optimistic Arizona Diamonbacks fan in the nation or else he has low expectations for his own presidential bid. With the D-backs down 3-0 to the Colorado Rockies and facing elimination from the playoffs, McCain was asked by Dan Patrick who has a better chance – McCain becoming president or Arizona going to the World Series.
McCain laughed, "Well, in all due respect," he said, "I think they're about the same." LINK
On the campaign trail…
RUDY GIULIANI:
--10:00 am ET: Speaks at the morning session of the Republican Jewish Coalition "Victory 2008" Forum in Washington, DC.
-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends the Republican Presidential Trust Dinner in Washington, DC.
FRED THOMPSON
-- Attends Fundraising Luncheon in Washington, DC. (closed press)
-- 2:50 pm ET: Speaks at the afternoon session of the Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential "Victory 2008" Presidential Forum in Washington, DC.
--7:40 pm ET: Speaks at the Republican Presidential Trust Dinner in Washington, DC.
MITT ROMNEY
-- 2:00 pm - 3:45 pm ET: Speaks at the afternoon session of the Republican Jewish Coalition "Victory 2008" Presidential Forum in Washington, DC.
-- 7:00 pm ET: Speaks at the Republican Presidential Trust Dinner in Washington, DC.
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 9:00 - 11:00 am ET: Speaks at the morning session of the Republican Jewish Coalition "Victory 2008" Presidential Forum in Washington, DC.
-- 7:00 pm ET: Speaks at the Republican Presidential Trust Dinner in Washington, DC.
SAM BROWNBACK
-- 9:00 - 11:00 am ET: Speaks at the morning session of the Republican Jewish Coalition "Victory 2008" Presidential Forum in Washington, DC.
RON PAUL
-- 7:00 pm ET: Speaks at the Republican Presidential Trust Dinner in Washington, DC.
MIKE HUCKABEE
-- No Public events scheduled
On the Democratic side…
HILLARY CLINTON
-- 10:30 am ET: Delivers a policy address in Manchester, NH.
-- 5:30 pm ET: Attends a Women Changing America Town Hall in Salem, NH.
JOHN EDWARDS
--10:00 am ET: Tour Dunlap Auction House and holds a community meeting on Agriculture in Dunlap, IA.
--11:45 am ET: Community meeting to discuss protecting family farms in Harlan IA.
--1:45 pm ET: Community meeting to discuss strengthening rural schools in Exira, IA.
--6:15 pm ET: Town Square community Meeting to discuss Main Street revitalization in Greenfield, IA.
--7:45 pm ET: Community meeting to discuss rural revitalization plan in Waukee, IA.
BARACK OBAMA
-- 12:10 pm ET: Rural agenda press conference in Fairfax, IA.
-- 3:45 pm ET: Benton County Town Hall meeting in Vinton, IA.
-- 6:30 pm ET: Iowa County Town Hall meeting in Amana, IA.
-- 9:00 pm ET: Cedar County Town Hall meeting in Tipton, IA.
JOE BIDEN
--2:00 pm ET: Press conference held at Massachusetts State House Steps to announce endorsements in Boston, MA.
CHRIS DODD
-- No public events scheduled
DENNIS KUCINICH
-- Congressional events in Washington DC, no public events scheduled
-- 8:30 pm ET: Appearance on The Colbert Report "What's in Your Pockets?"
Elsewhere in Washington…
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- Meeting with the Dalai Lama at the White House.
LYNNE CHENEY
-- 11:00 am ET: Appears on a call-in program on WAMU-FM.
FEDERAL JUDICIARY
-- 9:30 am ET: U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. will meet to hear arguments. Highlight cases included USA vs. Sheehan, Cindy.
CAPITOL HILL
--5:00 pm ET: SEIU's parents and kids, MoveOn.org's Political action committee and the public will hold a rally "Vigil to Save Children's Health Care" at Upper Senate Park (next to Russell Senate Building) in Washington, DC.
And in the states…
IOWA GOP
--Iowa GOP state central committee convenes a meeting at 7:00 pm ET to vote on a caucus date for the Iowa GOP caucuses.
NIKI TSONGA
-- 10:00 am ET: Votes at her polling place, the Masonic Center, in Lowell, MA.
-- 10:45 am ET: Meet Voters at the Andover High School poll in Andover, MA.
-- 12:00 pm ET: Meet Voters at the Hunt Gymnasium poll in Concord, MA.
-- 8:30 pm ET: Tsongas Tsupporters will gather at the Lowell Brewery Exchange Restaurant in Lowell, MA.
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Jan Simmonds: "Hey Big Spender!" LINK
ABC News' Bret Hovell: McCain D'Backs Odds on the White House LINK
ABC News' Christine Byun: Fred Thompson's 'Challenge' LINK
ABC News' Elosie Harper: Clinton's 'View' LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM
Edwards Blasts Clinton on Iran VoteEdwards on Clinton: "How about we do tell the truth mode all the time." LINK
Sen. McCain and the 'Real Republican' McCain responds to Mitt Romney's claim that he is the most credible Republican. LINK
Presidential Politics Get RoughMcCain attacks Romney's Republican credentials as attacks fly. LINK
Exclusive Interview with Secretary RiceJonathan Karl talks with Sec. Rice about Palestine, Blackwater and Rumsfeld. LINK
Rice Stands by RumsfeldDonald Rumsfeld's appointment as a visiting fellow to Stanford causes uproar. LINK