Clinton offers $70 billion economic "jump-start"

BONITA, Calif. — With voters' fears of recession overtaking concern about the Iraq war, Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday unveiled a $70 billion plan to "jump-start America's ailing economy" as she took her campaign west.

"We have an economy that, despite the happy talk from the White House and from the Republicans, is not working for most Americans," the New York senator said at a union hall in City of Commerce, near Los Angeles.

Clinton's plan includes emergency-housing funds to combat the foreclosure crisis and a 90-day freeze on subprime foreclosures. It also would help pay low-income families' heating bills, subsidize energy efficiency and extend unemployment insurance.

She said she would ask Congress to provide an additional $40 billion in direct tax rebates if the economy continues to falter.

Kucinich loses on two fronts

WASHINGTON — Friday was a bad day for Dennis Kucinich's campaign.

A federal judge ruled against the Ohio congressman's challenge of a Texas Democratic Party requirement that Democrats who appear on the state's presidential primary ballot agree to unconditionally support the eventual nominee.

And NBC executives told Kucinich he'll be excluded from a debate for Democratic candidates on Tuesday in Las Vegas. A network spokesman said it decided to limit the debate to candidates with double-digit support in New Hampshire and Iowa, which would include only Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.

The Texas decision will be appealed Monday, said Kucinich lawyer Donald McTigue, and the campaign is weighing legal action against NBC. When ABC excluded Kucinich from a debate last week, he filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.

The Texas decision came after the state's Democrats denied Kucinich a spot on their presidential primary ballot for crossing out a section of their primary application form that promised he'd support the party's nominee. Kucinich told the party he'd only back someone "who would not employ war as an instrument of foreign policy."

Female governor endorses Obama

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Friday, citing his message of hope in supporting his candidacy over rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards.

"This endorsement is based on my belief in your leadership and vision and the fact that we need a new message of hope and solidarity of coming together in Washington, D.C.," Napolitano said.

The endorsement is a major gain for Obama. Napolitano is the most prominent Democrat in Arizona. Her endorsement could be significant in a state regarded as winnable by a Democrat after decades as a near-lock for Republicans; the state's primary is Feb. 5.

Also

Former President Clinton said Friday that his comment about Barack Obama telling a "fairy tale" about opposing the war in Iraq has been misconstrued as a criticism of the senator's run for the Democratic nomination. In a phone interview for the Rev. Al Sharpton's talk show, Clinton said his remark Monday was not a sign of "personal disrespect."

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