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The Clintons and Mr Rezko

Matt Drudge has posted this picture of the Clintons beaming alongside... wait, who is that? Ah yes, Tony Rezko, the indicted property developer whose past contributions (now donated to charity) to the Obama campaign have been the focus of numerous attacks by the Clinton camp in recent days.

In the South Carolina debate earlier this week, the former first lady attacked Obama for engaging in a land deal with Rezko while in the Illinois state legislature. Obama severed ties with the businessman after he was indicted on fraud, attempted extortion and money laundering charges for allegedly plotting to get campaign money and payoffs from firms seeking to do business before two state boards.

The 53-year-old businessman also faces a separate federal charge of conning the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10 million in connection with the sale of pizza restaurants.

Mrs Clinton was confronted with the photo during an interview on NBC News today.

She insisted she did not know Rezko, saying “I probably have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures. … I wouldn’t know him if he walked in the door. I don’t have a 17-year-relationship with him,” alluding to Obama’s links to Rezko.

Clinton — who was herself forced to cut ties with and return contributions from businessman Norman Hsu after it emerged that he was evading fraud charges — was asked if it was fair to attack her rival in such a way in light of the fact that Rezko was an established contributer to the Democratic party. Didn't she know from personal experience that it was impossible to completely vet all political contacts?

“There’s a big difference between standing somewhere taking a picture with someone you don’t know and haven’t seen since and having a relationship that, you know, the newspapers in Chicago have been exploring,” she replied.

Still, something about beams and motes springs to mind...

Could Hillary quit after New Hampshire?

The Drudge Report, one of the most influential blogs in US politics, is running a story claiming that Hillary Clinton is considering pulling out of the Democratic race if, as expected, she takes another beating from Barack Obama in New Hampshire.

Faced with the prospect of a second double-digit defeat at the hands of the ascendant young senator from Illinois, along with plummeting poll ratings and a fast-diminishing war chest, the former first lady and one-time presumptive nominee might act to forestall further damage to "the Clinton brand," one top campaign insider is quoted as saying.

Her inner circle is apparently split on the wisdom of such a move, with top advisers such as James Carville advising her to stick it out until at least February 5, when a tranche of delegate-rich states vote in what has come to be known as Super Tuesday.

Mrs Clinton herself is denying the rumours, insisting she is in for the long haul, as reported in my story on Times Online today. So where did the report come from?

Less Than A Snowball's Chance

Ron Paul won't even come close to becoming the Republicans' "dark horse".  As Tom Baldwin writes in today's Times:

"Like Howard Dean four years ago, it is the Internet and a host of unofficial websites that are propelling him forward: Mr Paul’s name is the most searched of any candidate, his YouTube videos are the most watched and he regularly wins online polls after Republican presidential debates.

Unlike Mr Dean, who came close to winning the 2004 Democratic nomination, Mr Paul stands no chance of becoming the Republicans’ 2008 nominee. In national opinion polls he barely registers, and even in New Hampshire – the “live free or die” state – he gets an average of only 3.6 per cent support, according to Real Clear Politics.com which tracks such surveys."

It's tough to be a frontrunner. . .

Tim Reid's story in today's Times details Hillary Clinton's wobbly performance in Tuesday night's Democratic candidates debate.   Her campaign staff complains that the debate was unfair: the other candidates ganged up against her, and the debate moderators were only interested in producing a "gotcha!" moment.

Now, the Clinton campaign has new concerns.  A group of conservative bloggers filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over possible illegal fundraising by Hillary Clinton.  The complaint, based on stories in the New York Post and Los Angeles Times, alleges that her campaign accepted donations from illegal immigrants and straw donors (activities expressly prohibited by campaign finance laws).

Once the FEC reviews the complaint, the campaign will have 15 days to respond.

Dodd Strikes Out

Third-tier Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Chris Dodd came up with a brilliant idea for his floundering campaign to cash in on baseball fever:

On Oct. 10, he announced that those donating at least $20.04 to his campaign (to honor the Boston Red Sox’s last World Series Win in 2004) would be entered in a drawing to win airfare, hotel, and two tickets to watch the Red Sox in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park with Sen. Dodd.

Unfortunately, those spoilsports at Major League Baseball nixed the plans the next day---such contests are against league rules.

The Dodd campaign is offering rebates for people who donated just for a chance at the tickets.  No word on what percentage of the donations they’ll actually get to keep . . .