The Senate sent the Iraq war supplemental to President Bush yesterday after voting 80 to 14 for its approval, with three presidential candidates (Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Chris Dodd) voting "nay." Joe Biden and John McCain voted "yea," while Sam Brownback was not present and did not record a vote.
Clinton managed to fit in a speech to George Washington University where she said her health care plan would save $120 billion in costs through preventative treatment, treatment of chronic diseases and computerized record keeping. The savings would be used to fund universal health care. Meanwhile, ABC News' Teddy Davis reports that an Obama campaign aide said the senator will unveil his health care plan on May 29.
Outside of the beltway, it was mostly the non-declared presidential candidates who made news yesterday.
Newt Gingrich drew 1,200 people to the Nixon Library in California last night, reports the Orange County Register's Martin Wisckol. Gingrich spoke about a new book for 19 minutes and then about foreign policy, immigration, Congress and politics generally for the remaining 30. The crowd was so large that 300 people watched Gingrich in another room on television. Gingrich answered questions prior to his speech.
In Connecticut, Fred Thompson spoke at a GOP fund raising dinner where he delivered a "well-received call" for his party to "stand firm in Iraq and demand secure borders at home," the Hartford Courant's Mark Pazniokas reports.
The New York Post's Carl Campanile reports Gore said during an interview with Charlie Rose in front of a packed auditorium: "Maybe at some point in the future I will have some interest in doing that [running for President] again. But I don't feel that right now."
Meanwhile, Bill Richardson flew through Washington state on a quick trip yesterday, where he strafed Congress' bills on Iraq and immigration, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Neil Modie. "It is wrong for the Congress to abandon a withdrawal timetable," Richardson said, adding that Congress (read: his Senate rivals) should de-authorize the war. On the immigration compromise, Richardson said it splits up families, provides no health care and finances a border fence that he opposes. Richardson said he's for a "sensible legalization program" and tighter border security.
Lastly, DNC chair Howard Dean and Florida Democrats remained at odds about what penalties, if any, Florida should face for breaking the primary schedule and holding its contest on Jan. 29., reports the St. Petersburg Times' Adam Smith.
Get these and today's other elections stories at RCP's Politics and Elections page.
