Giuliani - 49%; Clinton - 44%
Thompson - 46%; Clinton - 46%

Obama - 52%; Giuliani - 43%
Obama - 56%; Thompson - 35%

FAVORABLES:
Barack Obama - 59%
John Edwards - 53%
Hillary Clinton - 50%

UNFAVORABLES:
Hillary Clinton - 48% (40% of whom registered as "strongly unfavorable")
John Edwards - 35% (22% of whom registered as "strongly unfavorable")
Barack Obama - 27% (15% of whom registered as "strongly unfavorable")

One candidate had the judgment to oppose the war from the start.
One candidate knows it's irresponsible to send troops to war without a plan to bring them home.
One candidate believes it's naïve to believe we can resolve conflicts without talking to our adversaries.

Ready for a new direction?

"As president, my most solemn responsibility is to keep the American people safe."

According to reports out today, Al-Qaeda is reconstituted and ready to go. So, even if the President believes he's fighting "the war on terror" by fighting in Iraq, he's failing. And even though Michael Chertoff believes that terrorists are not at pre-9/11 levels, his gut is feeling otherwise.

"So on my orders, good men and women are now fighting the terrorists on the front lines in Iraq."

I would encourage you to listen to the "good men and women" who are giving you intelligence. Last I heard (as reported in the liberal-loving, terrorist-sympathizing Washington Times), Osama and the gang was hiding out along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan - quite a distance away from Iraq.

"I believe we can succeed in Iraq...."

But according to the Initial Benchmark Assessment Report for Iraq that was released today, we have thus far only had ANY measure of success on eight out of the eighteen benchmarks. That equals 44%. Last time I checked, that percentage would earn you a big fat "F" in school. As in "FAIL."

And even in the benchmarks deemed satisfactory, there is failure. One of the benchmarks given a satisfactory mark was "Establish 'supporting political, media, economic, and services committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan.'" While these committees have been established, the report goes on to state that “the purpose for which they were created as their contribution to date has not been adequate."

One of the benchmarks graded as satisfactory was reducing sectarian violence. The report, however, states that "...though sectarian violence has been reduced, it is not yet reduced to a level the Coalition judges acceptable."

And where are the areas where the report deemed efforts unsatisfactory? Little things. You know. Eliminating militia control over local security. Providing even-handed enforcement of the law. Supporting Iraqi security forces. That type of thing.

* Republicans state that Clinton never took action against those responsible for the initial World Trade Center attack in 1993 - HOWEVER, four suspects were tried and convicted in 1994, each being sentenced to 240 years in prison. In addition, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef was captured in 1995 and was sentenced to 240 years in prison in 1997.

* Republicans state that Clinton never took action against those responsible for the attack in Riyadh in 1995. HOWEVER, the Saudi government arrested and put to death four Saudi nationals who confessed to that bombing - the Clinton Administration was denied authority to question them.

* Republicans state that Clinton never took action against those responsible for the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996. HOWEVER, once again Saudi officials took thirteen Saudis into custody and the United States was refused the ability to extradite these suspects.

* Republicans state that Clinton never took action against those responsible for the bombings at the embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998. HOWEVER, four suspects with ties to Osama bin Laden were captured and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

* Republicans state that Clinton never took action against those responsible for the bombing of the USS Cole in October, 2000. HOWEVER, the FBI was never allowed to interrogate Yemeni officials, and even if they had been allowed, the chance that the investigation would have been conplete by the time Clinton left office three months later is absurd.

* Republicans state that Clinton failed to take action against Bin Laden. HOWEVER, when he DID order missle strikes against Bin Laden, Republicans such as Arlen Specter accused him of trying to divert attention away from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

* Republicans state that Clinton ignored terrorism. HOWEVER, under the Clinton Administration, the federal budget on anti-terrorism initiatives nearly tripled to $6.7 billion dollars. Reminding you, of cousre, that this was a PRE-9/11 budget increase. And when Clinton closed Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House following the Oklahoma City bombing, Republicans accused him of hysteria.