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[However, Kennedy adjusted the numbers to account for undecided black voters, who overwhelmingly vote for Democrats, and said the runoff election currently stands in Blanco's favor. With that adjustment, Blanco would get 53 percent of the vote, compared to Jindal's 47 percent]
Republican Primary Trial Heat (among Republican voters): Cecil Underwood 30% Robin Capehart 8% Sarah Minear 8% Dan Moore 3% Monty Warner 3% Doug McKinney 2% Other 3% Undecided 43%
Democratic Primary Trial Heat (among Democratic voters): Joe Manchin 46% Darrell McGraw 11% John Perdue 5% Jim Humphreys 4% Lloyd Jackson 3% Jim Lees 3% Spike Maynard 2% Robin Davis 2% Other 1% Undecided 25%
"I informed President Bush last week that after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics ... that I have decided that my time has come to leave the White House. And I will leave later this summer, most likely in July," Fleischer said.
Even so, that's not the only story here. It seems that Fleischer is the 11th high profile Bush-minion to leave the Administration in the last year and a half.
Al Qaeda Arms Traced to Saudi National Guard (Washington Post) Saudi authorities are investigating suspected illegal arms sales by members of the country's national guard to al Qaeda operatives in the country, U.S. and Saudi officials said. The weapons were seized in a May 6 raid on an al Qaeda safe house and were traced to national guard stockpiles, the officials said. The Saudi interior minister said today that officials have identified three of the suicide bombers involved in attacks last week on three residential compounds in Riyadh, which led to the deaths of 34 people, including eight Americans. He said they were part of a group of 19 people wanted in connection with the May 6 raid.
Targeting Iran (CBS News) U.S. officials say they have evidence the bombings in Saudi Arabia and other attacks still in the works were planned and directed by senior al Qaeda operatives who have found safe haven in Iran, reports CBS News Correspondent David Martin. Osama bin Laden himself is still believed to be hiding out in the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan. But two of his key lieutenants, Saif al Adel and Mohammed al Masri, are known to be in Iran. Al Adel was once bin Laden's chief of security and al Masri ran the al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. A handful of senior al Qaeda leaders, including one of bin Laden's sons, now use Iran as a sanctuary, which, for the moment at least, is safe from American attack. At secret meetings in Geneva, the U.S. has demanded Iran turn over the al Qaeda leaders, but the Iranians have denied knowing anything about them.
Middle-East Road Map is "Unworkable", says Israel (UK Telegraph) Israel believes the "road map" to peace with the Palestinians is at present unworkable. But it hopes that today's first meeting between the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the new Palestinian prime minister will encourage the resumption of essential negotiations. The Israeli foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, said Israel had 14 "contributions" aimed at amending the peace plan, which Britain played an important role in creating. "These are not to put obstacles, but to narrow the gaps in order to implement the initiative," he said.
Palestinian Premier's Credibility Is Shaken (Washington Post) The three Palestinian suicide bombers who touched off an 11-hour burst of overnight violence against Israelis have paralyzed a nascent peace effort and undercut the credibility and authority of the new Palestinian prime minister, whose reputation is linked to curtailing terrorist attacks, officials on both sides of the conflict said today. The suicide bombings, which killed nine Israelis and the three bombers, occurred just as Palestinians and Israelis were taking the first tentative steps toward reengaging in a long-dormant peace process. The attacks hardened the positions of both sides and brought into focus the daunting obstacles that threaten to scuttle the latest peace effort in its infancy.
More Troops Deployed as New Iraqi Government Postponed (Washington Post) Alarmed by rampant crime and remnants of Iraq's vanquished leadership, the United States has signaled its intention in recent days to use a firmer hand in directing this country's political future and filling a worrisome security vacuum that has undermined U.S. credibility here in the weeks since the end of the war. The security measures, including new troop deployments, stepped-up military patrols and targeted raids, reflect a growing concern among U.S. officials and everyday Iraqis over disorder in a capital still partly without electricity or telephone service. The number of U.S. troops in Baghdad has risen from 16,000 to 25,000 over the past month, military officials said today.
U.S. Adviser Says Iraq May Break With OPEC (Washington Post) The U.S. executive selected by the Pentagon to advise Iraq's Ministry of Oil suggested today that the country might best be served by exporting as much oil as it can and disregarding quotas set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. His comments offered the strongest indication to date that the future Iraqi government may break ranks with the international petroleum cartel. "Historically, Iraq has had, let's say, an irregular participation in OPEC quota systems," said Philip J. Carroll, who formerly headed Royal Dutch Shell in the United States and now chairs a commission advising Iraq's oil ministry. "They have from time to time, because of compelling national interest, elected to opt out of the quota system and pursue their own path. . . . They may elect to do that same thing. To me, it's a very important national question."
Caution: Tax Cuts Are Bigger Than They Appear in Budget (WSJ) Republicans in the Senate, at the quiet but intense urging of the White House, massaged their own budget accounting rules to fit a $400 billion tax cut through a $124 billion hole. The tax cut approved by the Senate, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote, would repeal the tax that shareholders pay on dividends. It would allow investors to shield half their dividends from income taxes this year and all dividends in the three following years. After that, the bill says the dividend tax would return in full unless Congress acts to repeal it again. That's called "sunsetting" in Beltway patois. But neither friends nor foes of the dividend tax expect Congress to reinstate the tax in 2007.
Pakistan asked to join Iraq peacekeeping force (FT) Pakistan is considering a request from the US and UK to contribute troops to a multinational peacekeeping force in Iraq, as Washington steps up efforts to develop a Muslim military contingent alongside proposed Nato peacekeepers. A senior Pakistani official on Friday night confirmed that the request had been made. A response from the government of General Pervez Musharraf, the military ruler, would depend on what kind of international mandate would be given to the force. "The question is: if a Muslim country was to offer its forces, there has to be some multilateral mandate. This is an important legality issue," the official said.
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Sun Tzu Files 
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indicate whether the poll numbers are up or down from the previous poll. Incumbents are in italics. (prior results in '()')