Vasquez challenges Craig in Idaho

James Carville was spotted in St. Louis, Missouri today. I get asked what is he doing there. How am I supposed to know the answer.

Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez has announced his intentions to challenge U.S. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) in the 2008 primary election.

Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez, known for his battles against illegal immigration, announced Wednesday that he would be challenging fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Larry Craig in the 2008 election. Vasquez said he was taking on Craig - now in his third term as a U.S. senator - in part because of Craig's stance on immigration reform.

Vasquez also said he needed to start early to raise enough money to take on Craig.

"It's going to take at least a year to try to generate a million dollars, which is what I anticipate it's going to cost," Vasquez said. "Certainly Sen. Craig has a considerable war chest at his proposal and I assume he has greater access to corporate PAC money than I ever will."

Craig has promoted an immigration plan that would allow some of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the United States to apply for citizenship if they meet certain requirements, including having been in the country at least two years and having paid taxes. Vasquez has condemned such plans, saying they give amnesty to those in the country illegally.

Craig's spokesman, Dan Whiting, said Craig had not yet decided if he would run in 2008 and instead was focused on offering support for colleagues in the 2006 election.

Mark Warner recently stumped for Jim Davis in Florida.

Sallai Meridor is the next ambassador from Israel to the United States of America.

How did the Jews, as a whole, do in the session of Congress before the annual election recess? JTA reports.