Mike DuHaime

The McCain campaign says that its decision to pull his campaign operations out of Michigan is no big deal, because there are plenty of other states to compete in. The Obama campaign begs to differ, and jumped on the news today, portraying it as an omen of McCain’s undoing.

In a conference call before the debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden here at Washington University in St.  read more »

With Mitt Romney increasing his lead New Hampshire, Giuliani campaign manager Michael DuHaime just argued in a conference call that the former mayor is still the candidate best positioned to win the Republican nomination because he's pursuing "multiple paths to victory."

The Giuliani campaign has been seeking for months to lower expectations about their performance in the early primary states, and DuHaime fleshed out that line of thinking in the call.

DuHaime listed Giuliani's double-digit leads in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut as evidence of his strength beyond Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. "Some of those leads are momentum-proof," he said, adding, "Conventional wisdom had not guided this campaign."  read more »

Rudy Giuliani's first quarter fund-raising numbers are in at more than $15 million. While that is a good deal less than Hillary's $26 million, Giuliani raised the bulk of his total, about $10 million, in March. Giuliani supporters have been telling me for days that while he got a late start, his March receipts would be encouraging, and that they foreshadow huge contributions in the second quarter.

The Giuliani campaign's statement is after the jump.  read more »

--Jason Horowitz

The news that Rudy Giuliani has signed a fast-rising and highly regarded Republican operative to hea  read more »

Jason Horowitz has a story about forgotten presidential candidate John Edwards. The former vice presidential candidate told Horowitz that he is unsurprised at being overshadowed by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but also said that the only question the national press should be asking is, "How are you doing in Iowa and New Hampshire?"

Steve Kornacki writes about the real test of Rudy Giuliani's seriousness as a presidential candidate (hint: it's not Michael DuHaime) and examines the political upside to John McCain's advocacy of a increase of troop levels in Iraq. Lizzy Ratner spends some time with Bill Samuels - son of Howard - who is sinking the family fortune into the creation of a New Tammany.

Joe Conason thinks that Newt Gingrich's ideas on combating terrorism are a little crazy.

Tom Scocca says that the Knicks aren't looking for respect, but pity.

And finally, an announcement: This week's Observer is a "double issue," which means, most significantly, that the staff is taking a week off. (Except for Azi, who is constitutionally incapable of not working.) We're therefore turning the Politicker for the next few days over to Andrew Rice, distinguished Observer alumnus, Uganda expert and Philadelphia sports fan. Treat him just as you'd treat us. Or, on second thought, be nice to him. Happy dark week!

-- Josh Benson

Senator Tim Johnson has been hospitalized after having a stroke, placing the Democratic takeover of the Senate in jeopardy.

Rudy Giuliani hired RNC political director Mike DuHaime.

Adam Nagourney said DuHaime should silence questions about how serious his presidential bid is.

John McCain's finance committee is starting to take shape.

Here's a new Draft Obama ad that will start running in New Hampshire.

A college Republican club in Massachusetts that already endorsed McCain for president got an earful from a Mitt Romney supporter.

The architect of Eliot Spitzer's investigations of Wall Street may be the state's new superintendent of insurance .

Greg Sargent says the last line in the Times editorial today means they're calling for troop withdrawal from Iraq.

A former CNN news division chief is launching an all-Iraq news site next week.

Before referring questions to his lawyer, the twice-indicted state Senator from the Bronx, Efrain Gonzalez, Jr., said he's innocent.

New addition to the city comptroller's race in 2009: Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr., according to Crain's.[subscription]

Chuck Bennett has an early look at the Transport Workers Union vote for union president, which closes on Friday.

And Yoda wonders about another, less-covered Albany scandal.

-- Azi Paybarah