Pure Horserace: The "Hired Gun" Defense

(CBS)  A few days ago, we reported on the growing controversy surrounding the claim that likely Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson once lobbied the first Bush administration on behalf of an abortion-rights group, asking the White House to loosen a restriction that prohibited clinics that received federal funds from providing abortion counseling.

We also were skeptical that Thompson's original response to the reports — "I'd just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing." — would be enough to quiet critics. And today, Thompson does have a new response, but it's not exactly a denial.

In a radio interview with conservative pundit Sean Hannity, Thompson was asked about the story and volunteered that, "You need to separate a lawyer who is advocating a position from the position itself." He added: "They will probably come at me, in 35 years of law practice, with some people I represented criminal defendants. I was a prosecutor. I had a general practice. So that in and of itself doesn't mean anything anyway."

Then, in typical Thompson fashion, he took his case directly to the conservative blogosphere, sending a letter to Powerline that waxes philosophical about the relationship between a lawyer and his client, citing John Adams, Abraham Lincoln and Chief Justice John Roberts. He writes, "It's fair to say that not all of my clients have been so praiseworthy. Some were, indeed, accused of crimes. Some were convicted against my best efforts."

Thompson doesn't mention the controversy at hand in the letter, and made only a passing reference to it on Hannity's program, saying former White House Chief of Staff John Sununu didn't remember being lobbied by Thompson when they spoke over the phone. Instead, the former senator is trying to rise above the entire thing.

Since Thompson is still not a declared candidate, his response isn't going to get as much attention as it would if he were officially in the race. And that might be a good thing — this controversy could linger until Thompson addresses it more directly. The good news for him is that he's still got time to figure out how to do so. — David Miller


McCain Drain Continues: John McCain's campaign is losing two more staffers according to The Associated Press, which reports that two strategists with close Iowa ties are leaving the presidential effort. Ed Failor Jr., who organized the state for President Bush's re-election, said he and Karen Slifka will be leaving the campaign, hampering McCain's push in the early caucus state. The campaign had already drastically cut back staff in Iowa following a disappointing second quarter fundraising report, although the campaign insists it will refocus efforts there as well as in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The loss of key staff, combined with McCain's decision not to compete in next month's Iowa straw poll, has some wondering whether he may eventually bypass the state, which relies heavily on organization, in favor of a New Hampshire-South Carolina strategy. McCain won the New Hampshire primary in 2000, largely with the help of independent voters, and is seen as friendlier territory than Iowa, where the process is dominated by core GOP activists. — Vaughn Ververs


"R" Is For Romney: The Massachusetts Democratic Party has joined the GOP presidential discussion with a montage of the state's former governor, Mitt Romney, on YouTube. The video features several statements by the then-gubernatorial candidate distancing himself from his party's label. In one clip, Romney tells a reporter that he was seeking to tell Massachusetts voters that "my 'R' didn't stand so much for 'Republican' as it does for 'reform.' " Romney is seeking to claim the conservative mantle in his run for the GOP nomination this time around.

This isn't the first time Romney has seen YouTube used as a tool to question his conservative credentials. Earlier this year, clips from his 1994 Senate debate called into question his opposition to abortion and drew plenty of coverage. Where most opposition to Romney at this point in the campaign would likely come from fellow Republicans, it's interesting that the Massachusetts Democratic Party would feel the need to weigh in. It's a point the campaign didn't miss. Romney spokesperson Kevin Madden told the AP, "You know you're making great progress and you're doing things right as a good Republican when the wrong-way crowd in the Democratic Party starts attacking you."

Meanwhile the Romney campaign is out with a new radio ad in Iowa and New Hampshire featuring the candidate's wife, Ann Romney. Along with the couple's five sons, Ann Romney has been a fixture on the campaign trail and is seen as an effective communicator of their family values.

That message is clear in the new ad, in which Ann Romney says, "Mitt says his greatest success is being able to say 'I've been a good father, and a good husband.' Sometimes, I'd be home with those five boys, and it was rough. They were, they were pretty crazy boys. And they were wild. He'd call home and remind me that what I was doing was much more important than what he was doing. Mitt says there's no work more important than what goes on within the four walls of the American home. And that's the way it was in our home."

Romney is the only top-tier Republican candidate without a divorce in his past, and has faced continuing questions about his Mormon faith, so be prepared to hear a lot more about Romney's picture-perfect family values. — Vaughn Ververs


Obama Does Things By The Book: Summer is a tough time for political candidates — a lot of the voters you want to meet just aren't around as much, possibly hanging out at the pool with some summer reading in tow. Barack Obama thinks he has a solution to this problem, however: He wants the summer reading to be his own life story.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Obama, taking a cue from Oprah Winfrey, has launched several book clubs in New Hampshire. Their first book is "Dreams From My Father," Obama's 1995 autobiography that became a huge bestseller after his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Obama's life story is perhaps his most compelling asset — reading about it in detail could make his supporters even more enthusiastic and bring undecided voters on board. But his timing might be a little off: In just over a week, Obama will face competition from someone with a life story that's perhaps even more interesting than his — Harry Potter. — David Miller


Tackling A Weighty Issue: On Wednesday we listened in as Republican Mike Huckabee held a conference call on his Iowa campaign and, for the most part, everything went as expected. That is, until Huckabee was asked if he had seen "Sicko," liberal director Michael Moore's indictment of the American health care system. After saying he probably wouldn't see the movie, Huckabee took Moore to task: "Frankly, Michael Moore is an example of why the health care system costs so much in this country," he said. "He clearly is one of the reasons that we have a very expensive system."

Removing no doubt that he was discussing Moore's eating habits, Huckabee — who famously lost over 100 pounds while serving as Arkansas governor — said his own health care costs were higher before he took up a diet and exercise regimen.

Think attacking Moore for his weight was a low blow? Maybe, but Fred Thompson got plenty of compliments from conservatives after saying Moore should consider committing himself to an insane asylum. Perhaps Huckabee, in single-digits in the polls, is on to something here. — David Miller


Editor's note: Pure Horserace is a daily update of political news as interpreted by the political observers at CBSNews.com. Click here to sign up for the e-mail version.
By David Miller and Vaughn Ververs

[leefromma]

Thompson needs to stick to acting, lobbying for an abortion right group is a Republican no-no. Romney was pro-choice until 2002 before turned into a pro-lifer just in time to run for President. Mike Huckabee is the only true conservative on the Republican ticket. He says what he believes and his pro-life position wasn't just found on the road to the white house. Huckabee is consistent in everything that he says. How can any of your trust Romney or Thompson? They say what they think you want to hear not what they truly believe...

[scribe7716]

So to Thompson money is more important than values and beliefs -- including his own. He is the ideal GOP candidate

[chris_umass]

Thompson has proved himself adept at one thing: getting media attention while doing little towards a platform. Do we really want a man for president so committed to America's future that he can not even decide whether to run or not? Mitt Romney is the most promising and most Republican of the candidates, despite what the DNC is able to dredge up from 10 years ago and portray out of context. Romney is the polar opposite of Thompson in many ways: he is the most committed.

[chris_umass]

Thompson has proved himself adept at one thing: getting media attention while doing little towards a platform. Do we really want a man for president so committed to America's future that he can not even decide whether to run or not? Mitt Romney is the most promising and most Republican of the candidates, despite what the DNC is able to dredge up from 10 years ago and portray out of context. Romney is the polar opposite of Thompson in many ways: he is the most committed.

[prinzowhales]

Thompson--a waste of perfectly good oxygen. Ron Paul is a declared Republican candidate and the CBSNBCABCPBSFOXCNN Banker's Network pointedly ignores him. I cancelled DISH service to make sure that the MSM didn't get one dime from me. I hope everyone who hates the voices of the Corporatist Regime in Washington will do likewise. TUNE THEM OUT!