Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Gabrielle Giffords Interviewed - ABC Dianne Sawyer interviews Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Az.) who was shot in the head earlier this year.



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GOP Competition Intense in Iowa - Iowa holds the distinction of holding the first caucus in the Republican primary calendar and four candidates are essentially tied in a new Bloomberg poll.

Herman Cain has 20%, Paul 19%, Romney 18% and Gingrich 17%. Bloomberg.com has more here.

Romney has been publicly downplaying his chances of a win in Iowa, while highlighting New Hampshire and Florida. Quietly, Romney has built a strong ground campaign in Iowa

Caucuses are much different than going to the polls and casting a ballot, so those campaigns who understand the dynamics will fare better. The Obama campaign used their knowledge of caucuses to beat Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary.

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Obama Continues Asian-Pacific Trip - The president leaves Hawaii and heads to Australia where he will discuss his plans to expand the role of the U.S. in the region. Reuters.com has more here.

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Supreme Court To Rule on Health Care Law - in the middle of an election year, they will hear an appeal of a lawsuit filed by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Arguments will be heard early next year with a decision expected by summer. Both the Obama administration and Republican Party leadership expressed confidence the ruling will validate their position. TheHill.com has more here.

The ruling will definitely impact the election. Stay tuned..

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House and Senate to Vote On Latest Spending Bill - another continuing resolution is forthcoming from this dysfunctional Congress. Present funding authority expires Friday evening. The House is expected to vote Thursday and then the Senate will act. You can read more here.

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Chances for 2012 Recession 50% - the battle to climb out of the current worldwide economic morass is hardly over with forecasts of another recession in early 2012 exceeding 50 per cent. Bloomberg.com has more here.

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