Making News

Edwards to Stay in Race despite Wife's Recurring Cancer ()

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina today, Elizabeth Edwards announced the return of cancer, saying it's incurable but treatable. Former Senator John Edwards said that means his presidential campaign can continue. A breast cancer survivor who will require bone cancer treatment for the rest of her life, Mrs. Edwards says she's "ready" to go back on the campaign trail. Also today, the Senate Judiciary Committee has authorized subpoenas for White House aides after some heavy debate.  Ron Brownstein is a political columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Guests:

• Ron Brownstein: National Political Reporter for the Los Angeles Times

Main Topic

The Republican Presidential Field ()

Republican presidential politics are in a state of confusion. The party base is conservative on economics, national security and social issues, but the most socially liberal of three leading contenders is leading in party polls: pro-choice, three-times-married, Rudi Giuliani has the edge at the moment over John McCain and Mitt Romney. Conservative Republicans have booed McCain and evangelicals are openly skeptical of Romney's Mormon religion. Will the party base give up its "litmus test" on social issues to get a hawk on national security?  Are both moderates and conservatives looking for new faces?  We hear from journalists, politicians and evangelicals.

Guests:

• Charlie Bass: President/CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership
• Barrett Duke: VP of Public Policy for the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
• Michael Scherer: Washington Correspondent for Salon.com
• Matthew Continetti: Associate Editor of the Weekly Standard

Links:

• Weekly Standard article on Fred Thompson
• Scherer's article on John McCain
• Sam Brownback's presidential campaign
• Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign
• Weekly Standard article on GOP 'litmus test' (let's make a deal)
• Continetti's article on Newt Gingrich
• Speeches from CPAC 2007

Reporter's Notebook

Governor Bill Richardson Eyes the White House ()

Bill Richardson has an extraordinary resume.  ongressman; Secretary of Energy; Ambassador to the UN; now, Governor of New Mexico.  Unofficially, he's been a successful negotiator in several international emergencies, including one that brought him face to face with Saddam Hussein.  His English name came from his father, his mother's Hispanic, and he's on tour for his book called, Between Worlds.  He's also a Democratic candidate for President.

Guests:

• Bill Richardson: Governor of New Mexico