A new a new L.A.Times/Bloomberg poll shows Rudy Giuliani trailing among Republicans in three critical states with early primaries, while Hillary Clinton maintains her substantial lead among the Democratic contendders.

Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, trails Mitt Romney in Iowa and New Hampshire among Republican voters, and he lags behind Fred Thompson in South Carolina. But Giuliani is only a few points behind the leader in New Hampshire and South Carolina--within the poll's margin of error--suggesting that the race in those two states is too tight for anyone to be declared a clear front-runner.

The poll also found that Republicans are only lightly committed to their favorite candidates. For example,

a sizable 72% of Iowa Republicans who favored a candidate said they might decide to back someone else.

It's a different story with the Democrats.

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The Democratic candidates held their first debate broadcast in Spanish on Univison. On immigration:

Clinton criticized the immigration bill proposed in the last Congress, dominated by Republicans. That legislation would have penalized those who help illegal immigrants. "I said it would have criminalized the good Samaritan. It would have criminalized Jesus Christ," she said.

Bill Richardson, showing off:

Richardson, one of two candidate who speak fluent Spanish, objected to the debate rules that required all candidates to answer in English. The rule was designed to make sure that no candidate had an advantage in appealing to the Spanish-speaking audience.

Mike Gravel:

"I honor everyone who comes to this country as an immigrant because we are all immigrants."

Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate endorsing Spanish as America's second language. Joe Biden didn't attend the debate.

The Washington Post has more on the debate.

See Joe Biden on Meet the Press this morning. Crooks and Liars has the video in which Biden says he won't vote to cut off war funding.

When asked by host Tim Russert if he would vote to cut off funding for Iraq if President Bush refuses to accept a withdrawal date, Biden moves directly to the “cutting off funding means you don’t support the troops” mentality pulled straight from the pages of the RNC playbook. Instead of speaking the truth, that it means appropriating funds to begin a safe and smart withdrawal from the country, not abandoning out troops, Biden instead says he won’t vote to cut off funding and chooses to chastise Democrats who support it.

It’s infuriating to say the least to see Biden falling for the White House framing– not one single Democrat in Congress wants to leave our soldiers stranded in the middle of the desert with no food, water, ammo or protection–and cutting off Bush’s funding would not do that–and Senator Biden should know better.

Update: See below for some of the reasons I've never favored Joe Biden.

It's not surprising that most Democratic bloggers (bloggers who are Democrats)have not endorsed a presidential candidate yet. It's too early. There is more than one that most of us could enthusiastically support.

In looking back at 2004, it wasn't until February, 2004 that Daily Kos endorsed John Edwards. Same for The Agonist. I was still undecided between Kerry and Edwards. On March 4, 2004, Edwards dropped out and Kerry had the nomination.

It's only September now. There are still three major candidates in the race, Hillary, Edwards and Obama.

While I've stated Hillary and Edwards are my favorites of the three, and that remains my position, I'll support whichever one gets the nomination. All are light-years better than the Republican candidates. All will bring change. All three will appoint judges and an Attorney General we can count on not to eviscerate our constitutional rights and to uphold the rule of law.

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(Chicago Sun Times Photo)

I think the Chicago Tribune has the most details about yesterday's Oprah-Obama fundraising event.

In addition to the normal dishy details, it has extended quotes by both of them on their new relationship, on why Oprah is supporting Obama and what Obama thinks Oprah's support for him can do.

It's a three page article that is well worth a read.

The New York Times, in A Streetwise Veteran Schooled Young Obama, details Barack Obama's unsuccessful attempt in 1999 to challenge Bobby Rush, a popular incumbent congressman and former Black Panther from the South Side of Chicago. Obama was in upscale Hyde Park.

The episode revealed a lot about Senator Obama — now running for president, against the odds again and with a relatively slim résumé. It showed his impatience with the frustrations of his state Senate job; his outsize confidence; his fund-raising powers; his broad appeal; and his willingness to be what Abner J. Mikva, a former congressman and supporter, calls “a very apt student of his own mistakes.”

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WaPo has a deceptive title on Bill Richardson's Op Ed piece. They call it "Why We Should Leave Iraq Now." It should be called "Watch Richardson Try To Exploit 'Differences' on 2009 Iraq Policy and NOT Talk About Leaving Iraq Now." Read the first three grafs of the piece:

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Rudy's right, it's a civil offense, not a criminal violation, to be in this country without proper documentation. Many of the persons the right blasts as being illegal entered this country legally and then overstayed their visas. Their initial entry was lawful. Staying past the expiration date on their visa is not a crime.

(Note: That's why the term "illegal immigrant" is a misnomer and "undocumented resident" is the correct term.)

Deportation proceedings (which are now called removal proceedings by the way) are also civil, not criminal.

Romney was appalled by his comments. Tancredo would probably be apopletic.

Meanwhile, Fred pretty much bombed in Iowa today.

The Republicans need a viable alternative to Rudy. Who will it be?

Why Matt Baii moderated the Yearly Kos Prtesidential forum still remains one of those unexplainable mysteries. Why Matt Bai's book is taken seriously by anyone actually familiar with the Netroots is another mystery. We have one final mystery to solve about Matt Bai - why is he considered a good reporter? This story on Rudy is simply appalling. Take this part for instance:

The logic of Giuliani’s pitch to voters on terrorism will feel familiar to anyone who paid close attention to his political ascent. When he first won office in 1993, New York was widely considered a city beyond governance, an uncontrollable metropolis where violent crime, entrenched bureaucracy and swollen welfare rolls were accepted as the grim but unshakable realities of urban decline.

Say what? You mean a reporter can just write whatever they want and say it was "widely considered?" This is not reporting - this is bloviating. And should be labelled as such. But it gets worse. More.

Former Denver Mayor Federico Pena, who served in President Bill Clinton's cabinet as Transportation and Energy Secretary, has announced he will be a co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

When asked about Obama's relative lack of experience, Pena didn't contend Obama was sufficiently experienced. Rather, he said, Obama has judgment and wisdom and those count for more than experience.

Pena's role:

He said one of his chief roles will be to help build Obama's Hispanic support.

[cross-posted at 5280.com]

The LA Times examines the (so far) lack of support for Fred Thompson in Hollywood.

I'd rather see Thompson or Romney get the Republican nomination than Rudy. For that reason, I'm not going to bash Thompson.

The thought of listening to Rudy from February to November of 2008 while he's on the campaign trail, should he get the nomination, is just about unbearable.

Here is John Edwards' strategy to root out and shut down terrorist cells, which I received from his campaign this morning. Click on the "more" button to read the whole thing.

JOHN EDWARDS’ STRATEGY TO ROOT OUT AND SHUT DOWN TERRORIST CELLS

“We need a bold new approach—one that is smart, tough, and targeted. This will require us to look beyond the structures of World War II and the Cold War to new tools that will allow us to target terrorism more precisely. It will require sustained U.S. leadership—but the kind that leverages the power of partnerships, rather than going it alone.”- John Edwards

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