PBS to host Dems

This Thursday, June 28, PBS and moderator Tavis Smiley host the All-American Presidential Forum at Howard University. Watch it live on PBS or online.

Sen. Joseph Biden, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Christopher Dodd, former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Mike Gravel, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Bill Richardson will be on hand to talk about domestic issues. You can submit your questions here.

The GOP candidates will meet on September 27 in Baltimore at Morgan State University.

On the Air -- John Edwards

John Edwards is has started his first round of New Hampshire ads. If you're not luckily enough to live in the Granite State, you can see them here:

Barack rocks the airwaves

The latest 2008 candidate to take to the television is Barack Obama. The campaign announced two commercials to air in Iowa. You can see them below.

Romney's new ad

Here's the latest commercial from Mitt Romney, now airing in Iowa and New Hampshire:

South Carolina Poll Numbers

The latest South Carolina numbers are courtesy of Mason-Dixon and are good news for a candidate yet to enter the race: Fred Thompson tops the GOP side. On the other side, Democrat Barack Obama rises to the first spot for the Dems. You can read the whole article courtesy of McClatchy Newspapers here.

And here's the breakdown:
GOP
Thompson 25
Giuliani 21
Romney 11
McCain 7
Huckabee 5
Undecided 28

Dem
Obama 34
Clinton 25
Edwards 12
Biden 2
Gore 2
Undecided 24

YouTube lets You ask the questions

On July 23rd, YouTube, Google and CNN join together to host a Democratic debate in Charleston, SC (the GOP debate will be held in September) and you have a chance to be there.

They're asking for questions in the form of videos. Submit your question to have a chance to attend the debate to see your question answered live. This is a great chance to find out where the candidates stand on county issues. Submit your question today!

Iowa Straw Poll Ballot set

With just 57 days to go until the Iowa Straw Poll, the Iowa GOP has released the approved list of candidates for balloting at the poll. Despite some candidate's* decisions to forgo the Straw Poll, all 10 GOP debaters make the list. Chicago businessman, John Cox also gets a billing.

The Ballot:
Sam Brownback
John Cox
Jim Gilmore
Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
Duncan Hunter
John McCain
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Tom Tancredo
Tommy Thompson

You can check out the full press release here

*Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Jim Gilmore have all announced that they will not participate in the straw poll.

200 endorsements and growing

Over 200 county officials from across the country have thrown their support behind a candidate for president and we've got the full list:

Biden
Mary Maloney, Auditor - Polk Co, IA
Jim Hancock, Supervisor - Scott Co, IA
Roxanna Moritz, Supervisor - Scott Co, IA
Denise Dolan, Auditor - Dubuque Co, IA
James London, County Council - Pickens Co, SC
Damon Jeter, County Council - Richland Co, SC
Leon Lott, Sheriff - Richland Co, SC
Brad Morris, Clerk of Courts - Union, SC

Clinton
Pat Frank, Clerk of Circuit Courts - Hillsborough Co, FL
Anne Gannon, Tax Collector - Palm Beach Co, FL
Sue Gunzburger, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
Ken Keechl, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
John Rodstrom, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
Katy Sorenson, Commissioner - Miami-Dade Co, FL
Diana Wasserman-Rubin, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
Andrea Cabral, Sheriff - Suffolk Co, MA
Jewel Ware, County Commission Chair - Wayne Co, MI
Joe DiVincenzo, County Executive - Essex Co, NJ
Brian Hughes, County Executive - Mercer Co, NJ
Joanne Rajoppi, Clerk - Union Co, NJ
Armondo Fontoura, Sheriff - Essex Co, NJ
Jerry Speziale, Sheriff - Passaic Co, NJ
Ralph Froehlich, Sheriff - Union Co, NJ
Chris Giuchigliani, Commissioner - Clark Co, NV
Rory Reid, Commissioner - Clark Co, NV
Bernice Scott, County Council - Richland Co, SC
Henry Darby, County Council - Charleston Co, SC
Teddy Pryor, Sr, County Council - Charleston Co, SC
Jack Kennedy, Clerk of Courts -- Wise Co, VA
Barbara Favola, County Board Member -- Arlington Co, VA
Kathleen Falk, County Executive - Dane Co, WI

Edwards
Dennis Anderson, Sheriff - Polk Co, IA
Ron George, Sheriff - Keokuk Co, IA
Peter Hart, County Attorney - Palo Alto Co, IA
Tena Henkel, Recorder -- Monona Co, IA
Jan Horton, Treasurer -- Webster Co, IA
Kas Kelly, Supervisor -- Muscatine Co, IA
Steve MacDonald, Sheriff - Fremont Co, IA
Joel Miller, Auditor - Linn Co, IA
Terry Neuzil, Supervisor - Johnson Co, IA
Ernie Schiller, Supervisor - Lee Co, IA
Peggy Smalley, Treasurer - Audubon Co, IA
Ellie Snook, Supervisor - Poweshiek Co, IA
Pat Wegman, County Attorney - Chickasaw Co, IA
Donald Zeller, Sheriff - Linn Co, IA
Beth White, Clerk - Marion Co, IN
James DiPaola, Sheriff - Middlesex Co, MA
John O'Brien, Registrar of Deeds - Essex Co, MA
Gail Dorfman, Commissioner - Hennepin Co, MN
Leo Lessard, Registrar of Deeds - Strafford Co, NH
Cort Flint, County Council - Greenville Co, SC
Frank O'Leary, Treasurer -- Arlington Co, VA
Chris Zimmerman, County Board -- Arlington Co, VA
Jimmy Warren, Clerk of the Court -- Smyth Co, VA
Fred Parker, Treasurer -- Washington Co, VA

Giuliani
Michael Antonovich, Supervisor - Los Angeles Co, CA
Don Knabe, Supervisor - Los Angeles Co, CA
Jim Coats, Sheriff -- Pinellas Co, FL
John Morroni, Commissioner--Pineallas Co, FL
Brian Lee, Clerk of Courts - Hampden Co, MA
Dawn Marie Addiego, Freeholder -- Burlington Co, NJ
Ralph Bakley, Freeholder -- Cape May Co, NJ
Dan Beyel, Freeholder -- Cape May Co, NJ
Carl Block, Clerk -- Ocean Co, NJ
Joan Bramhall, Clerk -- Morris Co, NJ
Douglas Cabana, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
John Callinan, Sheriff -- Cape May Co, NJ
Bill Chegwidden, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
Jack Ciattarelli, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Denise Coyle, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Len Desiderio, Freeholder -- Cape May Co, NJ
Gene Feyl, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
Rick Fontana, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Philip Haines, Clerk -- Burlington Co, NJ
John Inglesino, Deputy Freeholder Director -- Morris Co, NJ
John Kelly, Freeholder Director -- Ocean Co, NJ
James Lacey, Freeholder --Ocean Co, NJ
Margaret Nordstrom, Freeholder Director -- Morris Co, NJ
Joseph Oxley, Sheriff -- Monmouth Co, NJ
Peter Palmer, Freeholder --Somerset Co, NJ
William Polhemus, Sheriff --Ocean Co, NJ
Frank Provenzano, Sheriff -- Somerset Co, NJ
Bret Radi, Clerk -- Somerset Co, NJ
Jack Schrier, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
Ralph Sheets, Vice Freeholder Director -- Cape May Co, NJ
Sal Simonetti, Sheriff -- Warren Co, NJ
Jerry Thornton, Freeholder -- Ocean Co, NJ
Robert Untig, Sheriff -- Sussex Co, NJ
Joseph Vicari, Freeholder -- Ocean Co, NJ
Bob Zaborowski, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Susan Zellman, Freeholder -- Sussex Co, NJ
Darren White, Sheriff - Bernalillo Co, NM
Edward Diana, County Executive -- Orange Co, NY
Gregory Edwards, County Executive -- Chautauqua Co, NY
Joel Giambra, County Executive -- Erie Co, NY
Kathleen Jimino, County Executive -- Rensselaer Co, NY
James Molinaro, County Executive -- Richmond Co, NY
Thomas Santulli, County Executive -- Chemung Co, NY
Scott Vanderhoef, County Executive -- Rockland Co, NY
Robert Larkin, Commissioner -- Washoe Co, NV
Mike Ryan, County Council -- Horry Co, SC

McCain
Hoss Mack, Sheriff -- Baldwin Co, AL
Wayne Gruenloh, Commissioner -- Baldwin Co, AL
Skip Gruber, Commissioner -- Baldwin Co, AL
Greg White, Commissioner -- Covington Co, AL
Mike Dean, Commissioner -- Mobile Co, AL
Don Stapley, Supervisor - Maricopa Co, AZ
Leroy Baca, Sheriff - Los Angeles Co, CA
Mary McCarty, Commissioner - Palm Beach Co, FL
Carlos Alvarez, Mayor - Miami-Dade Co, FL
Javier Souto, Commissioner -Miami-Dade Co, FL
David Gee, Sheriff -- Hillsborough Co, FL
Mark Sharpe, Commissioner -- Hillsborough Co, FL
Dennis Conrad, Sheriff -- Scott Co, IA
Joe McDonald, Sheriff - Plymouth Co, MA
Ruth Johnson, Clerk - Oakland Co, MI
Mike Anderson, Sheriff - Kalamzoo Co, MI
Dale Gribler, Sheriff - Van Buren Co, MI
Matt Lori, Sheriff - St. Joseph Co, MI
Bill French, Commissioner - Kalamazoo Co, MI
Jeff Heppler, Commissioner - Kalamazoo Co, MI
Bob Bezotte, Sheriff -- Livingston Co, MI
Bruce Woodbury, Commissioner -- Clark Co, NV
Maureen Barrows, Commissioner -- Rockingham Co, NH
Scott Carr, Sheriff -- Carroll Co, NH
David Sorenson, Commissioner -- Carroll Co, NH
Richard Foote, Sheriff -- Carroll Co, NH
Gerald Marcou, Sheriff -- Coos Co, NH
Bronwyn Asplund-Walsh, Commissioner -- Merrimack Co, NH
J.D. Colcord, Commissioner -- Merrimack Co, NH
Dan St. Hilarie, Attorney -- Merrimack Co, NH
Scott Hilliard, Sheriff -- Merrimack Co, NH
Donald Stritch, Commissioner -- Rockingham Co, NH
Ed Carroll, Sheriff - Barnwell Co, SC
PJ Tanner, Sheriff - Beaufort Co, SC
Bill Blanton, Sheriff - Cherokee Co, SC
Lane Cribb, Sheriff - Georgetown Co, SC
Steve Loftis, Sheriff - Greenville Co, SC
Dan Wideman, Sheriff - Greenwood Co, SC
Ricky Chastain, Sheriff - Laurens Co, SC
James Metts, Sheriff - Lexington Co, SC
James Singleton, Sheriff - Oconee Co, SC
Chuck Wright, Sheriff - Spartanburg Co, SC
Rock Adams, County Council -- Spartanburg Co, SC
Billy Baldwin, County Council -- Darlington Co, SC
Wesley Blackwell, County Council -- Darlington Co, SC
Curwood Chappell, County Council -- York Co, SC
Ron Charlton, County Council -- Georgetown Co, SC
Randy Crenshaw, County Council -- Pickens Co, SC
Bob Grabowski, County Council -- Horry Co, SC
Jonny Jeffcoat, County Council -- Lexington Co, SC
Marion Lyles, County Council -- Oconee Co, SC
Bill McAbee, County Council -- Anderson Co, SC
Carl Schwartkopf, County Council -- Horry Co, SC
Buzz Shaw, County Council -- Darlington Co, SC
Mario Suarez, County Council -- Oconee Co, SC
Scott Singer, County Council -- Aiken Co, SC
John Wells, County Council -- Kershaw Co, SC
Bailey Humphries, County Council -- Cherokee Co, SC
Steve Kelly, County Council -- Kershaw Co, SC


Obama
Wayne Clinton, Supervisor - Story Co, IA
Rod Sullivan, Supervisor - Johnson Co, IA
Ronald Chagnon, Commissioner - Strafford Co, NH
Jack Pratt, Commissioner - Cheshire Co, NH
Thomas Drayton, County Council -- Georgetown Co, SC

Richardson
Gloria Molina, Supervisor -- Los Angeles Co, CA
Michael Cryans, Commissioner - Grafton Co, NH
Chris Durkin, Clerk - Essex Co, NJ

Romney
Joe Arpaio, Sheriff - Maricopa Co, AZ
George Albright, Tax Collector - Marion Co, FL
Bruno Barreiro, Commissioner - Miami-Dade Co, FL
Ann Hildebrand, Commissioner - Pasco Co, FL
David Russell, Jr, Commissioner - Hernando Co, FL
Gary Wheeler, Commissioner - Indian River Co, FL
Sam Olen, Commissioner - Cobb Co, GA
Greg Adamson, Supervisor -- Scott Co, IA
Joni Ernst, Auditor - Montgomery Co, IA
Mary Mosiman, Auditor - Story Co, IA
Frank Cousins, Sheriff - Essex Co, MA
James Cummings, Sheriff - Barnstable Co, MA
Tom Hodgson, Sheriff - Bristol Co, MA
Vaughn Beck, Commissioner -- Bay Co, MI
Karen Buie, Clerk -- Muskegon Co, MI
Bill Bullard, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
Jan Bunting, Commissioner -- Gratiot Co, MI
Sue Ann Douglas, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
David Gorcyca, Prosecutor -- Oakland Co, MI
Scott Haines, Register of Deeds -- Midland Co, MI
Eileen Kowall, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
James Leibeg, Commissioner -- Midland Co, MI
Jerry Nielson, Sheriff -- Midland Co, MI
L. Brooks Patterson, County Executive -- Oakland Co, MI
Mike Rogers, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
Bret Witkowski, Treasurer -- Berrien Co, MI
Dan Collis, Sheriff -- Belknap Co, NH
Dan Linehan, Sheriff -- Rockingham Co, NH
Toni Pappas, Commissioner - Hillsborough Co, NH
Bing Judd, Commissioner - Coos Co, NH
Peter Heed, County Attorney - Cheshire Co, NH
Jim Reams, County Attorney - Rockingham Co, NH
Chip Maxfield, Commissioner - Clark Co, NV
Jason Booth, Sheriff - Saluda Co, SC
Joe Dill, County Council -- Greenville Co, SC
Henry Fishburne, County Council -- Charleston Co, SC
Paul Thurmond, County Council -- Charleston Co, SC

Making a name for themselves

This week, Tommy Thompson hits the waves - radio waves, that is, in Iowa. The ad focuses on Iraq and can be heard on his website. The full text appears below.

Also up, Bill Richardson continues his "job interview" commercials with a new spot on global warming.



And Chris Dodd has two ads...






Thompson's ad:

The Iraq War is the most important issue facing our country and our party. This is Tommy Thompson. My plan to win the peace in Iraq is straightforward. First, force a vote of the Al Maliki government as to whether they want our troops in the country. If they vote “yes” our stay is legitimate. If they vote “no”, then we begin redeploying our troops out of Iraq.

Second, they should establish 18 state governments where each major ethnic group can elect their own people. This would bring an end to much of the strife that currently divides Iraq. Finally, they must share their oil profits with every person in Iraq, just like the state of Alaska does with its oil revenues. This would spark an upsurge in their economy and give every man, woman and child a stake in the future of their oil industry and their country. I'm Tommy Thompson and my campaign for president is talking real solutions to real problems. Visit my Web site at Tommy2008.com to learn more.

The Twelve Commitments

Today in New Hampshire, Rudy Giuliani unveiled the foundation of his policy platform. Calling it the twelve commitments, Rudy promises to use these tenets to move America forward.

We're happy to see the Mayor speaking about emergency preparedness.

County governments are first responders dealing with all types of disasters – natural and man-made. Through their public safety, health, transportation, emergency management and other department’s, counties must develop and carry out detailed plans to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters. But they cannot do it alone. There must be support and coordination among all levels of government which ensures we’re all more prepared in case of emergency.

We hope that Giuliani fulfills these commitments by ensuring that first responders have the necessary training, equipment and proper communication channels to respond to disasters through adequate funding and support of county governments.

The Twelve Commitments:

1. I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us.
2. I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders, and identify every non-citizen in our nation.
3. I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending.
4. I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.
5. I will impose accountability on Washington.
6. I will lead America towards energy independence.
7. I will give Americans more control over, and access to, healthcare with affordable and portable free-market solutions.
8. I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our children.
9. I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.
10. I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
11. I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.
12. I will expand America’s involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.

GOP pre and post-debate pics

Sam Brownback in the Spin Room

Tommy Thompson after the debate

Jim Gilmore speaks to reporters

Mike Huckabee discusses his debate performance

Ron Paul works the Spin Room

Pre-debate rally point

Heavy rains left the huge puddles that the little supporters were enjoying

Ron Paul supporters were in prime position in front of the debate

A debate isn't a debate without pictures

Richardson in the Spin Room

Sen. Mike Gravel takes a question

Dennis Kucinich speaks to a reporter following Sunday's debate

Edwards supporters brave the rain to rally before the debate

Democratic supporters rally in front of Saint Anselm.

GOP gets local

For the first time in a debate, the word counties was uttered:

Tom Fahey from the New Hampshire Union Leader asked Duncan Hunter,

Congressman Hunter, whether we like it or not, in cities across America, counties across America, including your district in San Diego, illegal immigrants are doing jobs that American citizens don't want, working on farms, in hotels, restaurants.If you have your way and they all leave this country, who's going to fill those jobs?

Duncan Hunter disagreed with Fahey, but he made it known that the immigration debate comes down to border enforcement as a matter of national security. Several of his fellow candidate agreed with him while Ron Paul took it a step further acknowledging the burden that illegal immigrants put on county governments saying:

...we force our states and our local communities to pay for the health care, to pay for the education.

Paul later continued to promote local efforts:

We don't need somebody in Washington telling us what we can do, because we don't have perfect knowledge. And that's the magnificence of our Constitution and our republic. We sort out the difficult problems at local levels, and we don't have, you know, one-case-fit-all.

It's great to see local issues getting some oxygen in the debate. Keep up the great work of talking to the campaigns and educating them on county issues!

Updates from the debate

While most of the evening's Democratic debate focused on Iraq, candidates did have a few opportunities to discuss their domestic agenda and if you listened closely, you may have heard them saying a few things from the county playbook.

Counties have made great strides in cracking down on domestic meth labs, however, meth continues to be a problem as it is smuggled in from Mexico. During the discussion of immigration, Senator Joe Biden was asked about border security and recognized that in addition to curbing illegal entry into the country, stepped up patrols would help to curb drug trafficking across the borders.

In the realm of health care, John Edwards made a pitch for mental health parity. Obama and Clinton agreed to focus on lowering costs and making health care more effcient while Richardson has mandatory coverage for all funded by employers, state and federal government.

And just a fun piece of trivia, here's the top priorities, per the candidates, for their first hundred days:

Edwards: re-establish re-establish America's moral authority

Clinton: Bringing the troops home from Iraq

Obama: Ending the war, reforming healthcare

Richardson: Education, universal Pre-K and full day kindergarten

Biden: End the war in Iraq

Kucinich: Focus on peace and fair trade

Gravel: scold Congress about ending the war

Dodd: Restore constitutional rights

To see all of CNN's coverage of the debate, including video and transcripts, click here.

On the road with Hillary Clinton

Woodbury County Auditor & Recorder, Pat Gill shares his story about a recent event with Hillary Clinton:

Hillary Clinton was in Sioux City on Saturday May 26th. I had a chance to meet her one on one prior to a public event that drew about 400 people. During the public event there was a question at which time I was able to ask The Senator about her commitment to improving the partnership between local governments and the federal government and more specifically county government.

I explained to her that along with my other duties, I am also the county commissioner of elections and that I had read her bill on election reform. I told that reading her bill left me with a feeling that was very representative of the relationship between counties and the federal government. I told that I felt county governments could be very responsive to a lot of the problems that plague our country if they were recognized as a full partner when developing solutions to problems such as mental health issues, jail-overcrowding as well as election reform.

The Senator responded by saying that her intention was to do just that. She talked extensively and knowledgeably about the impact of unfunded mandates on county governments and that it was her intention to seek out innovative programs that counties are employing and also looking to individuals in county government who are considered experts and have ideas and experience in areas that could be useful throughout the country. It was apparent to me that this was not the first time someone from county government had stated their case to be included in needed solutions.

A big thanks to Pat for attending the events and making sure that the candidates are addressing county issues. And kudos to Senator Clinton for her willingness to make counties part of her campaign!