Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testified before Congress Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Do Americans trust the top U.S. military commander in Iraq to report what’s really going on in Iraq without making the situation sound better than it is?CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation asked Americans that very question last month. The answer? 53 percent do not.

The USA Today-Gallup poll just asked the public again this month whether they thoughtGen. Petraeus's report would be independent and objective. Again, 53 percent did not.

The public is skeptical.

Petraeus sought to convince Congress Monday that the situation in Iraq is improving. He has some well known supporters of the surge echoing his sentiments. “In a short period of time, we have seen significant success,” said Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who’s also a Republican candidate for president.

The public is skeptical of that, too.

Asked whether the troop increase is succeeding in improving conditions and ending violence in Iraq, most Americans say it's not in a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Monday. At the joint House Armed Services and Foreign RelationsCommittees hearing, Petraeus reported some military progress. “To summarize, the security situation in Iraq is improving,” Petraeus testified.

But few see much political progress by the Iraqi government.

Read the rest of this entry »

Romney's Boston headquarters was burglarized over the weekend.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A television and eight laptop computers were stolen from Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign headquarters, according to a Boston Police official.

The break-in took place late Sunday night or early Monday morning, campaign spokesman Kevin Madden told CNN

“We won’t comment on anything past that because it is a police investigation,” Madden said. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor now seeking the GOP presidential nomination, main political headquarters is located at 585 Commercial Street. The intruders entered through a third floor window. The building does have 24 hour security and police are now interviewing people on the scene.

It is the second burglary in recent weeks of a presidential hopeful’s office. Sen. Chris Dodd’s, D-Connecticut, Senate office in Hartford was broken into and police have since charged a homeless man with that crime.

– CNN’s Dan Lothian and Lauren Kornreich

Bush announces Rumsfeld's resignation November 8, 2006, the day after the midterm elections.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Donald Rumsfeld served as President Bush's Secretary of Defense for six years, but he told GQ magazine he doesn't miss his old boss and the two now rarely talk.

In an issue set to hit the newsstands on Sept. 25, Rumsfeld tells the magazine he still likes Bush but can't recall the last time he spoke with the president.

And asked directly if he misses the president, Rumsfeld told the Magazine, "Um, no."

But Rumsfeld offered Bush praise, and claimed that he is a victim of the media not giving him enough credit in a similar fashion that previous Republican presidents have had to endure.

"Just think, in my lifetime, the Republican presidential candidates: Dwight D. Eisenhower, considered to be a bumbler, bad syntax. Gerald Ford, the best athlete they had in decades, and they called him a stumblebum and demeaned him and made fun of him. Said he wasn't smart, which he was. He'd gone to Michigan, he'd gone to Yale Law School. I mean… And Ronald Reagan. You read his diaries now, and the man is remarkable — and yet he was dismissed as a movie actor and not very smart.”

Rumseld added, "So, I mean the fact that President Bush is demeaned is no different than Eisenhower or Ford or Reagan. And the fact that people believe that to be the case is not a surprise when they're told it day in, day out, by the, uh, eastern media."

Read the rest of this entry »

Before hitting South Carolina, Thompson watched the Patriots battle the Jets in a New Hampshire bar Sunday.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Former senator and Republican White House hopeful Fred Thompson called on Democratic presidential candidates Monday to refund all donations received from MoveOn.org after the liberal advocacy group ran an ad attacking Gen. David Petraeus in The New York Times.

"I understand there's a front page ad that's been taken out by this outfit called MoveOn.org in the New York Times today," said Thompson at a campaign rally at Doc's Barbecue in this capital city. "And it basically accuses our general who's leading our troops in Iraq right now of betraying his own country. This outfit basically, in large part, funds the Democratic party. I call upon the Democratic party and all those Democratic contenders for the White House to disavow this libel against this brave American." (Related: Dems join GOP in slamming ad attacking Petraeus)

Moveon.org supporters have contributed over $108,000 to Democratic presidential candidates this year through the group’s political action committee, according to Federal Election Commission records. Sen. Barack Obama lead his party’s field in contributions received through Moveon.org, with just over $30,000 received since the start of his campaign. Rep. Dennis Kucinich received almost $25,000 compared to just over $23,000 for former Sen. John Edwards and $18,000 for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden each received between $5,000 and $6000, while Sen. Chris Dodd received just under $1000.

Earlier in the day, Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called on Democratic Senate candidates to return MoveOn.org donations. So far, only one Democratic Senate candidate, Tom Allen of Maine, has received money from the group, though the amount he has received, almost $250,000, makes up nearly half of the group’s total campaign contributions this year.

FEC records also show that Moveon.org has collected $176,000 from its supporters and distributed them to four vulnerable House Democrats.

Watch protesters interrupt the hearing.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Several protesters were removed Monday from a joint hearing of the House Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees where top General in Iraq David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker were testifying.

Related: Petraeus: Troop withdrawals by year's end

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, criticized MoveOn.org Monday for taking an ad out in The New York Times criticizing Gen. David Petraeus. The general is testifying before Congress today about the situation in Iraq. (Related: Dems join GOP in slamming ad attacking Petraeus)

“I don’t like any kind of characterizations in our politics that call into question any active duty, distinguished general,” Kerry told CNN, adding “who I think under any circumstances serves with the best interests of our country.”

Kerry is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who was awarded two Purple Hearts. In his 2004 presidential campaign, Kerry was attacked by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who questioned his service in the war.

Kerry called the MoveOn.org ad “over the top” and specifically noted that he did not like the wording in the text.

“I didn’t like the terminology,” he said. “I didn’t like it.”

The ad shows a picture of Petraeus with the words “General Petraeus or General Betray us?”

-- CNN’s Ted Barrett and Xuan Thai

Watch Sen. Hagel announce his decision to retire.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. Chuck Hagel’s decision Monday not to make a run for the White House means the Republican field will stay at nine candidates for now.

“I’m here with my family to announce I will not seek re-election,” the Republican two-term Senator from Nebraska said at a news conference in Omaha, adding “nor will I be a candidate for any office in 2008.”

Hagel, who is one of his party’s most vocal critics of the Bush Administration’s handling of the Iraq War, had flirted earlier this year with the possibility of making a bid for the presidency.

But Hagel said his commitments as a senator was one reason he decided not to run for the White House.

Full story

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

Gen. David Petraeus listens to opening statements before testifying at a congressional hearing Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The long awaited testimony of General David Petraeus on the status of the Iraq war, took even longer Monday as the microphone for the top commander malfunctioned.

After opening statements from the Democratic chairmen and ranking Republicans at the Joint Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Armed Services Committee, the room fell silent as Petraeus began to speak. And it stayed silent, as the general waited for technicians to fix the problem. Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton called a five minute recess.

But not all the microphones were broken. Skelton’s microphone was live and it picked him up saying, “That really pisses me off,” about protesters in the room, followed by a stronger expletive.

Related: Petraeus: Troops withdrawals by year's end

– CNN Political Desk Managing Editor Steve Brusk

WASHINGTON (CNN) – As General David Petraeus reveals his much-anticipated report on progress in Iraq Monday, most Americans don't think the increase in U.S. troops is helping to improve security in the war-torn country.

A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows that 54 percent of Americans think the troop surge is failing to improve conditions and ending violence in Iraq. Only 40 percent believe the increase in troops is succeeding.

Petraeus might have difficulty in selling the American public that the surge is working in Iraq. An August CNN/Opinion Research Poll showed that 53 percent of Americans don't trust him and think he will make the situation in Iraq sound better. Only 43 percent of those surveyed in August said they trusted that Petraeus would give an honest assessment.

– CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich

Craig announced September 1 he planned to resign his post at the end of the month.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — On the same day that lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig formally seek to withdraw his misdemeanor guilty plea, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll indicates an overwhelming majority of Americans think the Idaho Republican should stick with his decision to resign.

According to the poll released Monday, 67 percent of Americans think Craig should resign, while only 26 percent say he should hold on to his seat. Solid majorities of both Republicans and Democrats said that the embattled Idaho senator should go. 7 percent said they were unsure.

The poll, conduced on September 7-9, surveyed 1,017 Americans and carries a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Craig, 62, announced September 1 that he would resign at the end of the month. He then appeared to backtrack a bit when he told Senate leaders last week that he would remain in office if he is able to get the plea overturned.

Craig's court papers will argue that the senator essentially pleaded guilty to facts that did not constitute a crime, said a source with knowledge of the case. The source, who asked for anonymity because the pleadings had not yet been filed, told CNN on Sunday that Craig waived his rights to trial and counsel and never saw a judge before entering a plea by mail.

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Related: Attorney: Stress from investigation made Craig plead guilty

Craig's attorney, Billy Martin, tells CNN how he plans to get Craig's guilty plea withdrawn.

(CNN) – Attorneys for Sen. Larry Craig filed papers Monday to withdraw his guilty plea to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from allegations that he made sexual advances to an undercover police officer in an airport men's room.

Craig's attorney, Billy Martin, said the filing argues that the Idaho Republican suffered a "manifest injustice" at the hands of the police officer who arrested him in a men's room at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in June.

Martin told CNN that Craig wishes that he had sought legal council in the months between his arrest and entering his guilty plea.

Full story

TIME.com: The Psychology of Hypocrisy

Hagel announced Monday his plans to retire from the Senate.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska, announced Monday he will not run for president and will not seek a third term in the U.S. Senate.

“I’m here with my family to announce I will not seek re-election,” Hagel said at a news conference in Omaha. “Nor will I be a candidate for any office in 2008.”

Hagel has been a vocal critic of the Iraq war. He joins Sen. John Warner as the second Republican in recent weeks to announce he would retire when his term ends in Jan. 2009. Earlier this year, Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colorado, said he would not run for re-election.

Hagel wouldn’t close the door to going back into public service, but offered no hints as to what position he would be interested in filling.

“I hope to have another opportunity in some capacity to serve my country,” he said. “Somewhere down the road.”

– CNN Political Ticker Producer Xuan Thai

MoveOn.org slammed Petraeus in a full page New York Times ad.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A liberal advocacy group's print ad attacking Gen. David Petraeus drew a firestorm of criticism from both sides of the aisle on Monday.

The ad, running in Monday's edition of the New York Times, shows a picture of Petraeus. Bold letters spell out "General Petraeus or General Betray us?"

Moveon.org Political Action, which paid for the ad, accuses Petraeus of "cooking the books for the White House" on progress being made in Iraq and calls him "a military man constantly at war with the facts."

Full story

GREENVILLE, South Carolina (CNN) — Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson took on the issue of illegal immigration Monday, drawing loud applause from the crowd when he called for securing the nation's borders.

"Friends, there is a major disconnect between Washington and the people of this country," said Thompson, a former Tennessee senator. "There is no better example than this recent immigration fight. We are a nation of immigrants we all know that we all came from immigrants … But we now get to decide who comes into our home. We haven't come to terms with the fact that a nation that cannot secure its borders will not remain a sovereign nation."

In this part of South Carolina, illegal immigration is a touchstone issue. South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has suffered politically with some conservative Republicans for supporting this summer's failed immigration bill.

That political damage has partially extended to Thompson's rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Sen. John McCain, a friend and close ally of Graham in the Senate.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

GREENVILLE, South Carolina (CNN) — Former Sen. Fred Thompson was just introduced to the crowd here by Rep. Gresham Barrett, who represents the 3rd District of South Carolina.

The campaign then played an upbeat, slickly produced video called "The Hunt for Red November," a reference to one of the senator's film roles. It played up the presidential hopefuls biography as a Tennessee native, federal prosecutor and Washington outsider, with references to Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater.

Thompson then came on stage to loud applause and country music.

"I'm glad to be in South Carolina. I feel closer to home, not only geographically, but in all the other ways," Thompson said.

— CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Richardson meets voters in a Manchester, New Hampshire diner over the weekend.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — He may be in the lower tier in the national polls, but New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is the clear favorite in a new presidential survey in his home state.

The Democratic White House hopeful registers at 44% in a new Albuquerque Journal poll of likely Democratic primary voters. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, is a distant second at 17%. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and former Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, are each tied at 8%.

Richardson is a former congressman, who also served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary under President Bill Clinton. He returned to New Mexico and won election as governor in 2002 and was easily re-elected last year.

While Richardson is the front runner in his home state, it’s a different story for him nationally. The governor is in single digits in just about every national poll taken recently.

As for the early voting states, Richardson is showing promise in Iowa and New Hampshire, though he is not doing as well in South Carolina. In Iowa, the man who hopes to be America’s first Latino president, is now registering in double digits. Richardson has campaigned extensively and advertised heavily in this kick-off state in the presidential nominating process.

He is in fourth place in most recent state polls in New Hampshire, the site of the nation's first primary. But in South Carolina, which holds the first Southern primary, Richardson is in single digits.

The Albuquerque Journal poll, conducted by Research and Polling, questioned 407 likely Democratic Primary voters in New Mexico between September 4th and 7th. It’s margin of error is plus or minus five percentage points.

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

CNN's Ed Henry reports this week will be crucial in the Iraq war debate.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Congress is expected this week to pick apart U.S. military data suggesting attacks and civilian casualties in Baghdad have sharply decreased in recent months.

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, is scheduled to testify before Congress beginning Monday, and he is expected to tell lawmakers the troop buildup is producing results.

Full story

GREENVILLE, South Carolina (CNN) — The banquet room at the Greenville Marriott is very, very crowded, and this is not a small space. Staffers for former Sen. Fred Thompson say this is a bigger crowd than they expected for his official South Carolina debut on this Monday morning.

The "Fred '08″ bus is parked in the back of the Marriott, perhaps because the FairTax.org bus is taking up about eight parking spots out front.

Meanwhile, the GOP presidential hopeful welcomed guests to staples of 80's rock music, such as ZZ Top and Van Halen. Lenny Kravitz just came on, taking the soundtrack into the 90's. Does the Thompson campaign know "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" was a nominee for Hillary Clinton's campaign song?

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Thompson is making his first trip to South Carolina as an official presidential candidate.

GREENVILLE, South Carolina (CNN) – Fred Thompson makes his South Carolina debut as an official presidential candidate Monday, hoping to appeal to conservatives here that remain ambivalent about the current crop of GOP candidates.

South Carolina could prove to be the former Tennessee senator's most important early state in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Since 1980, the winner of the South Carolina primary has gone on to win the GOP nomination. Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, and George W. Bush all used South Carolina as a springboard.

But unlike the other Republican candidates in the 2008 race, Thompson has a significant card to play— he’s the only Southern candidate in the race. This could prove to be a huge asset in the Palmetto State.

And while Thompson will venture to Columbia later this afternoon for another event at Doc’s Barbecue, his appearance at the Greenville Marriott may be more scrutinized. This is the most reliably Republican part of the state, the Upstate region that launched the careers of popular former Gov. Carroll Campbell and legendary political operative Lee Atwater.

The church-going, socially conservative voters in the Greenville-Spartanburg area make up the bedrock of the state’s Republican Party, and the candidate that can win their trust on illegal immigration, national security and social issues could break away from the rest of the Republican pack. As the race stands now according to state polls, Thompson closely trails Rudy Giuliani, with John McCain in third place.

So how will Thompson perform on his southern swing? The CNN Political Ticker will be providing updates throughout the day, so check back often.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby