Nation in brief: Poll shows Romney leading in N.H.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the Republican presidential field by double digits in New Hampshire, site of the nation’s first primary, according to polls conducted since the state’s first debates last week and made available to McClatchy Newspapers and NBC News.
The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research found that Romney had the support of 27 percent of likely primary voters. Sen. John McCain of Arizona had 16 percent, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had 15 percent and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson had 12 percent.
Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York had 26 percent, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois had 21 percent, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards had 18 percent and Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico had 9 percent.
New York
More sought in airport plot
The investigation into the thwarted plot to bomb Kennedy International Airport is widening beyond the four men in custody, with more suspects sought outside the U.S. for their suspected roles, a law enforcement official said Friday.
The defendants identified last weekend were “just a piece of it,” the official told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because of not being authorized to speak publicly. “We are definitely seeking more players. We are targeting others overseas.”
The official declined to provide details about the possible suspects, or in what countries they are being sought.
Washington
Congressman says he’s innocent
Rep. William J. Jefferson, D-La., spoke publicly Friday for the first time since Monday’s indictment on bribery, racketeering and money-laundering charges, vowing to “sell every stick of furniture in our home and anything else we may own” to fight the government’s accusations.
“I am absolutely innocent of the charges that have been leveled against me and I’m going to fight my heart out to clear my name,” Jefferson said in a prepared statement outside the U.S. District Courthouse in Alexandria, Va.
Jefferson entered a not guilty plea during a 30-minute arraignment before U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III.