With Only 23 Months Left, Undeclared Candidates Are Positioning

The 2008 U.S. presidential race is already taking shape. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rudy Giuliani "are lining up on opposite sides of their home state's debate over a controversial nuclear power plant," reports The Hill. Giuliani, "whose security firm works for the plant's owners," supports the Indian Point plant's re-licensing bid. Clinton has called for "an independent safety assessment," while "three House Democrats and Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer (D-N.Y.) have called for Indian Point's closure," due to radioactive leaks and the 9/11 Commission's finding that "al-Qaeda members considered hitting Indian Point on their way to the World Trade Center." But what about campaign advertising? Sen. John McCain "will likely be lining up with Mark McKinnon, who headed the Bush Maverick Media ad team," reports Advertising Age. Gov. Mitt Romney will turn to Alex Castellanos of National Media, Inc., and Sen. Sam Brownback will use Wilson Grand Communications. Clinton "looks to be aligning with Mandy Grunwald," while Sen. Barack Obama "is expected to go with David Axelrod's AKP Media & Message," and Sen. Joe Biden will likely tap Joe Slade White.