The candidates together on stage in Miami.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton insisted Sunday night it's time to start pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq as she and her Democratic presidential rivals debated the war on the eve of a much-awaited assessment by U.S. commanding Gen. David Petraeus.

In the first presidential debate ever broadcast in Spanish, the protracted war in Iraq competed for attention with the swirling argument over immigration. At the outset, Gov. Bill Richardson retorted that Clinton's suggestion of a phased withdrawal was not a
workable idea.

"I'd bring them all home within six to eight months," the New Mexico governor said in the debate, which took place in south Florida and was broadcast on Univision, the nation's largest Spanish-language network. "There is a basic difference between all of us here … This is a fundamental issue," he said.

Clinton said that a report being presented in Washington by Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker this week won't change the basic problem that there is no military solution in Iraq. "I believe we should start bringing our troops home," she said. "We need to quit refereeing their civil war and bring our troops home as soon as possible."

All who were asked about immigration at the debate on the campus of the University of Miami said they would address this vexing issue in their first year in office.

Clinton criticized the immigration bill proposed in the last Congress, dominated by Republicans. That legislation would have penalized those who help illegal immigrants. "I said it would have criminalized the good Samaritan. It would have criminalized Jesus
Christ," she said.

That the Democratic Party held the debate here is the clearest sign yet of the growing influence of Hispanic voters. Candidates in both parties are reaching out to Hispanics with an intensity that speaks to the importance of the nation's largest and fastest-growing minority group in the campaign.

Anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas posed questions in Spanish and the candidates had earpieces to hear simultaneous translations into English. The candidates' responses were simultaneously translated into Spanish for broadcast, and English-speaking viewers could watch using the closed caption service on their televisions.

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Dean criticized GOP candidates for not appearing on a candidate forum on a spanish language network.

(CNN)–On the evening the Democratic presidential candidates appeared in a candidate forum on a Spanish language network, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean blasted the GOP candidates for not doing the same.

"Every Democratic candidate, through their participation at tonight's forum," the former Vermont governor said, "made it clear that the Democratic Party is the party that welcomes Hispanics and that shares their values."

"The refusal of Republican candidates to address the Hispanic community not just at this forum but in national Hispanic gatherings in recent months, speaks volumes," Dean continued in a statement released Sunday night. "Sadly it is consistent with the Republican Party's strategy to scapegoat Hispanic immigrants for political gain."

Most of the Democratic candidates appeared Sunday night on the campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, for a candidate forum on the Spanish language network Univision.

A similar forum with the GOP Presidential candidates was supposed to take place next Sunday night. But only one of the Republican candidates, Senator John McCain of Arizona, accepted the invitation. That forum has been cancelled, although Univision hopes it can reschedule with the Republican candidates.

– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford

Thompson is raising questions for some evangelical leaders.

(AP)–Prominent evangelical leaders who spent the summer hoping Fred Thompson would emerge as their favored Republican presidential contender are having doubts as he begins his long-teased campaign.

For social conservatives dissatisfied with other GOP choices, the "Law & Order" actor and former Tennessee senator represents a Ronald Reagan-like figure, someone they hope will agree with them on issues and stands a chance of winning.

But Thompson's less-than-clear stance on a federal gay marriage amendment and his delay in entering the race are partly responsible for a sudden shyness among leading evangelicals.

"A month or two ago, I sensed there was some urgency for people to make a move and find a candidate," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a Washington-based conservative Christian group. "Right now, I think people are stepping back a little and watching. The field is still very fluid."

A loose network of influential evangelical leaders known as the Arlington Group met privately Wednesday and Thursday in Washington to discuss presidential politics and other issues, participants said.

Although the group does not endorse candidates, individual members have done so in the past, and one of the organization's founding principles is to get the movement's leaders on the same page when possible.

Some in the meeting shared their presidential leanings, but the consensus was that more time is needed to gauge Thompson's performance, according to a participant.

A clearer picture may develop Oct. 19-21 during a "Values Voter Summit" in Washington that will include a presidential straw poll.

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Huckabee took on Romney's spending habits Sunday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee took on fellow Republican candidate Mitt Romney's spending habits Sunday on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer. The former Arkansas governor said: "I would be worried if I were a voter if a person is spending millions and millions of dollars to barely be in double digits. I'd be beginning to think I don't want that person in charge of the Federal Treasury."

Huckabee was responding to comments Romney gave Friday in an interview with the Associated Press: "If Huckabee raises $20 million this quarter, like we did in the first quarter, then he'll become a front-tier candidate."

Huckabee doesn't think that degree of funding is necessary. He told Wolf Blitzer, "I appreciate his budget advice but we're not spending money like he is. We don't have to raise it, and we're getting where we're going by being frugal just like I would want to be with the Federal Treasury."

– CNN Associate Producer Jennifer Burch

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Arlen Specter on Sunday likened Sen. Larry Craig's guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in a Minneapolis airport men's room to a motorist paying an undeserved parking ticket and reiterated his contention that the Idaho Republican should stay in the Senate and fight to overturn his conviction.

"Frequently, you get a parking ticket and the meter is broken, but you enter a guilty plea, you sign off, you pay a small check and not to fight it," Specter told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

"He thought that this matter would not be publicly disclosed, and that was very foolish," Specter said. "Now look here, you have 27 years in the Congress, you have his reputation, you have his whole life on the line. I think he's entitled to his day in court. Maybe he will be convicted, but I doubt it."

Under Minnesota law, a guilty plea may be withdrawn "if there is manifest injustice, and that is defined that a plea can be withdrawn if it was not intelligently made," Specter said. "And what Senator Craig did was by no means intelligent."

The 62-year-old legislator pleaded guilty last month to disorderly conduct after his June arrest for allegedly making sexual advances to an undercover police officer in a bathroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

He has said he paid a $500 fine by mail to settle the case without consulting an attorney or even telling his own family because he wanted the matter "to go away."

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McCain was the only GOP candidate to accept an invitation for a Republican debate on Univision.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Democratic presidential candidates face off tonight in Miami, and that could be bad news for the Republicans. The Democratic White House hopefuls are taking part in a Spanish language presidential forum at the University of Miami which is expected to focus on Hispanic and Latino issues. The forum is being sponsored and will air on Univision, the largest Spanish language television network in the U.S.

A similar forum with the GOP Presidential candidates was supposed to take place next Sunday night. But only one of the Republican candidates, Senator John McCain of Arizona, accepted the invitation. That forum has been cancelled, although Univision hopes it can reschedule with the Republican candidates.

Most of the GOP Presidential hopefuls also skipped two other major Hispanic and Latino conferences, The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and the National Council of La Raza. Most of the Democratic White House hopefuls showed up at those two events.

Hispanics are one of the nation’s largest minority and the fastest growing minority as well. And they play a larger and larger role in American politics with each election.

President Bush made major gains with such voters from his first election in 2000 to his re-election in 2004. But those gains were erased in last year’s midterms. The reason appears to be the Republican Party’s image as anti-immigration.

“According to the exit polls, immigration was more important to Latino voters in 2006 than to voters of any other race, and 70% of the Latinos who cared about immigration voted Democratic. If both of those trends hold up in 2008, that could be very bad news for the Republicans,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

A bill that would have given some illegal immigrants here in the United States a pathway to citizenship went down in flames earlier this summer. All four Democratic senators running for President voted for the bill. Other Democratic White House candidates, such as New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who’s hoping to become the nation’s first Latino President, opposed the bill because it would have divided families trying to come to the U.S.

But other than McCain, just about all of the GOP Presidential contenders were dead set against the immigration reform plan. And while that’s music to conservatives, it could hurt Republican chances of keeping control of the White House.

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

Petraeus is to deliver a report on the progress of the troop 'surge' in Iraq this week.

(CNN)–With the long awaited Iraq progress report set to be delivered this week to Congress by General David Petraeus, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the Sunday morning political talk shows were full of debate about what the report may ultimately say.

On Monday, the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org, is set to publish an ad in the New York Times that claims Petraeus is not giving an objective, independent view of the situation on the ground. The ad says 'General Petraeus or General Betray us? Cooking the books for the White House."

On ABC's 'This Week,' moderator George Stephanopoulos, asked GOP presidential hopeful John McCain what he thought about the attacks on Petraeus' credibility. "I know this man, and many people know this general. He's not going to allow politicization of the dedication and service that not only he is providing, but the brave young men and women under his command."

"He served his country with honor and distinction," the Senator from Arizona said, "and if we have to sink to that level to besmirch the reputation of a very fine and wonderful American, then I lament the level of dialogue. I hope that my Democrat friends will not be guided by move.org."

Over on 'Fox News Sunday,' moderator Chris Wallace asked Senator Dianne Feinstein about recent attacks on Petraeus' credibility. "Well, I don't think General Petraeus has an independent view in that sense," the Democrat from California said. "General Petraeus is there to succeed. He may say the progress is uneven. He may say it's substantial."

"I don't know what he will say," Feinstein said. "You can be sure we'll listen to it. But I don't think he's an independent evaluator."

Petraeus, the top American military commander in Iraq, will deliver a progress report, written by the White House, to Congress this week. Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador, will deliver his assessment on political progress there.

– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford

Giuliani campaigned in Texas over the weekend.

HOUSTON (AP) — Rudy Giuliani took his coffee black, with artificial sweetener. Charlie Pagan took his Nestle's chocolate milk straight from the bottle.

But, for a few moments in a crowded and noisy restaurant on Sunday, the Republican presidential candidate and the 4-year-old boy seemed to have a lot in common. They talked about baseball and the weather before ending their chat with a solid high-five.

Their tete-a-tete, captured by a crush of television cameras, photographers and reporters, was part of a 30-minute campaign stop by Giuliani, who visited the Buffalo Grille to shake hands, pose for pictures, sign autographs and rally his supporters.

He also restated his stand on immigration, reaffirmed the importance of capturing Osama bin Laden and recalled the lasting imprint of September 11. Tuesday marks the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it three or four times a day," Giuliani told reporters. "There are so many memories, so many friends that I lost and so many heroic brave things I observed. I've always described it as the worst day of my life, and the most inspirational day of my life."

On immigration, Giuliani emphasized his support for legal immigration, suggesting it should even be expanded. However, he said there should be greater emphasis at stopping illegal
immigration at the border by building a fence and instituting required ID cards.

"We've got to get control of our borders," he said.

Giuliani's brief breakfast-time visit elicited raves from supporters, who greeted him with applause and cries of "Hi, Rudy!"

"He's so energetic, and enthusiastic," said Elizabeth Pagan, Charlie's mother. "He's very charismatic. I absolutely plan to vote for him."

On Saturday, Giuliani threw the first pitch at the Texas Rangers-Oakland A's game after a rally at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Hagel's retirement may make GOP task of taking back Senate even tougher.

WASHINGTON (CNN)– First John Warner. Now Chuck Hagel. Two moves by two Republican Senators that they’re going to retire after next year rather than run for re-election makes the GOP’s tough task of trying to take back the Senate in the 2008 election even tougher.

A source close to Hagel told CNN Saturday that the Republican Senator from Nebraska will leave the Senate when his term ends in January 2009. Hagel, who is a vocal critic of the Bush Administration on the Iraq War, will make his future plans official when he holds a news conference in Omaha Monday.

Nebraska’s a red state. President Bush handily won re-election there in 2004. But an unpopular war and an unpopular President could give the Democrats hope next year even in Nebraska. The state does have a Democratic Senator, Ben Nelson, and a former Senator and Democrat, Bob Kerrey, may be interested in running if Hagel makes it official Monday that he’s retiring.

National Republicans are hoping that former Nebraska Governor and current Bush Administration Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will jump into the race. A Kerrey – Johanns race would be a bruiser. But Johanns may not have the Republican field to himself if he decides to run. Hagel’s criticism of the war prompted Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning to mount a primary challenge to Hagel, and there are no guarantees Bruning would step aside for Johanns.

In Virginia, the 80 year old Warner announced over a week ago that he won’t run for re-election. Democrats have won three major state wide elections in Virginia this decade, and if Former Governor Mark Warner, no relation to the Senator, decides put his hat into the ring, Democrats hope they can grab the seat away from the GOP.

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Obama was the guest of honor at Winfrey's Saturday evening gala.

MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Oprah Winfrey was rolling out the red carpet Saturday for Barack Obama and the high-wattage stars invited to a gala "celebration" expected to raise $3 million for the Democratic presidential candidate.

The most powerful woman in show business was set to celebrate her favorite candidate at her palatial estate in this coastal enclave south of Santa Barbara. Tickets to the sold-out private event went for $2,300 apiece, keeping them within campaign finance limits. Stevie Wonder was scheduled to perform for the guests, who were expected to include actors Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Halle Berry.

Visitors were bused to Winfrey's secluded home from an equestrian center about 10 miles away. A solid line of limousines, BMWs, Bentleys and a few hybrid Priuses disgorged well-dressed guests. Some sported stiletto heels despite official instructions to wear flat shoes for walking on Winfrey's meadow.

Visitors were subjected to strict security procedures and relieved of cameras and recording devices. Instructions sent to guests noted that Winfrey and Obama would not be accepting gifts.

Earlier in the day, Obama made a quick, lunchtime stop to speak to a crowd of about 1,000 eager supporters who gathered on a hillside overlooking the Pacific at Santa Barbara City College. It was his only public appearance of the day.

Obama, wearing his usual white shirt open at the collar and sleeves rolled up, shook his way down a line of outstretched hands as the song "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" blared from speakers.

He spoke for about 20 minutes, hitting his core themes of optimism and accountability.

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Edwards was critical of Clinton's involvement with lobbyists and special interest groups.

NASHUA, N.H. (CNN) — Former Senator John Edwards blamed lobbyist, corporate insiders and special interest groups, Saturday, for preventing change in America and discussed why his stance on these groups—and his ideas for revamping the political system– conflict with presidential hopeful, Senator Hillary Clinton.

“Look, Senator Clinton is right. You can’t pretend the system doesn’t exist, but you also can’t pretend that it works. And this is where she and I part company because I believe that if you defend the system that defeats change, you can’t be the President who will actually bring change, “ the Democrat from North Carolina added, “When it comes to the Washington influence game, we need to end it, not defend it.”

Speaking before hundreds of cheering union members, the Senator, sporting a pair of jeans and a blue blazer, received the official endorsement from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters for President of the United States. In front of the boisterous crowd, Edwards continued after his opponent.

“She says you bring change by working within the system established by the Constitution. I think the system has been corrupted by corporate powers never contemplated by the Constitution. This is not the government of, by and for the people that our founding fathers intended. There is no principled compromise between the ways things have always been and the way things can be.”

“In the America I believe in, we don’t compromise on our principles, we fight for them with every single thing that we got,” Edwards said.

– CNN New Hampshire Producer Sareena Dalla

Senator John McCain, R-Arizona.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain warned Saturday that U.S. failure in Iraq would eventually pull America into a "wider and more difficult war" in the troubled region.

"To concede defeat as many leading Democrats now advocate would strengthen al-Qaida, empower Iran and other hostile powers in the Middle East, unleash a full scale civil war in Iraq … and destabilize the entire region," the Arizona senator told activists at a state Republican convention.

"The consequences would threaten us for years," he added. It "would eventually draw us into a wider and more difficult war that would impose even greater sacrifices on us."

McCain later told reporters, "If we set a date for withdrawal, that's a date for surrender."

McCain's comments largely echoed his previous remarks on the war: he lashed out at Democrats, criticized earlier mistakes by civilian and military commanders; and asserted the troop increase in Iraq was succeeding.

He evoked Ronald Reagan's struggle against communism, saying the U.S. won the Cold War "on our terms."

"The war in Iraq has not gone well and the American people have grown sick and tired of it. I understand that," McCain said. "Like you, I want our troops to come home, but I want them to come home with honor."

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, will update Congress next week on the situation in Iraq.

Richardson said the U.S. should begin withdrawing from Iraq.

(CNN)–New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says United States troops need to begin leaving Iraq immediately.

Writing in an Op-Ed that appeared in the Washington Post Saturday, Richardson drew a sharp contrast between his position, and that of some of his fellow rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Clinton, Obama and Edwards reflect the inside-the Beltway thinking that a complete withdrawal of all American forces somehow would be 'irresponsible'," he said. "On the contrary, the facts suggest that a rapid, complete withdrawal — not a drawn out, Vietnam-like process — would be the most responsible and effective course of action."

"The American people need answers," he said. "If we elect a president who thinks that troops should stay in Iraq for years, they will stay for years–a tragic mistake."

Richardson, a former United States ambassador to the United Nations, said continued American military presence, would delay any political reconciliation among Iraqi factions.

"The presence of American forces in Iraq weakens us in the war against al-Qaeda," he went on to say. "It endows the anti-American propaganda of those who portray us as occupiers plundering Iraq's oil and repressing Muslims. The day we leave, this myth collapses, and the Iraqis will drive foreign jihadists out of their country."

Richardson wrote that it was logistically possible to withdraw from Iraq in six to eight months. "After the Persian Gulf War, we re-deployed nearly a half a million troops in a few months," he said. Some of his rivals for the nomination have said in previous debates that a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq would be a timely enterprise. Delaware Senator Joe Biden said it would take one year logistically to get all U.S. troops out.

Richardson also proposed regional security negotiations among all of Iraq's neighbors, and donations from wealthy nations in order to help rebuild Iraq.

Richardson is scheduled to appear in a debate with the other Democratic candidates in Miami Sunday, for a debate sponsored by the Univision network.

– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford