News and Notes: National Scene

NOTE: The following is cross-posted from my current blog, OhioDailyBlog.com, because for some reason LeftyBlogs.com/Ohio still has not picked up my feed. I will keep cross-posting until that gets worked out.

The latest:

Mine Rescue Effort Claims Three Lives - Rescue operations at the Crandall Canyon mine in Utah came to a temporary halt yesterday when an "underground seismic bump" caused a partial collapse and killed three rescuers. Six others were injured, including one in critical condition. Six miners are trapped in the mine, although the chances of them still being alive are slim. Drilling of another hole into the mine is continuing.

GOP House Resignations Continue - The latest veteran Republican Congressman to decide against running in 2008 is Rep. Charles W. “Chip” Pickering Jr. (R-MS), regarded as a potential successor to Sen. Trent Lott. (R-MS).

Thompson's First Iowa Visit Too Little, Too Late? - At least one commentator thinks so.

Giuliani's Claims About Time Spent at Ground Zero Challenged - The leitmotiv of former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani's bid for the GOP presidential nomination is his post-9/11 leadership, but his repeated comparisons of himself to actual first responders and rescuer workers is drawing heavy fire. Today, the New York Times announced the results of studying available records, which show that the mayor spent only about 29 hours at Ground Zero during the three month period of September 17 to December 16, 2001.

Clinton Ahead in USA, But Edwards Leads in Iowa - A new CBS News poll shows Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) leading in the Democratic nomination race nationally with 45%, well ahead of Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) at 25% and former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) at 14%, but a new poll in Iowa show Edwards leading there with 30% of caucus-goers while Clinton is at 22%, Obama is at 18%, and Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) is at 13%.