I am doing away with the daily news part of the blog which brought you a daily listing of just headlines spit from a database in a rather uninteresting way. You can still see the days headlines on the sites primary page and check out individual candidate pages for news links.

The News
- Democratic fundraiser Normal Hsu is in custody after failing to appear at a California court hearing. FBI agents nabbed him in Colorado on charges of unlawful flight. Hsu has been easily recognized as a major contributer to Sen. Hillary Clinton by the media but this weekend it also came out that in addition to giving money directly to Barack Obama’s senate campaign, Hsu also held a fundraiser for Obama’s PAC and brought major donors and further problems for the Democrats at large.

- Another Republican Senate seat wide open? As reported friday Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel will announce his plans future plans monday but according to “sources” close to Hagel he will definitely call it quits.

- Associated Press is reporting Frederico Pena, former Secretary of Energy and Transportation under Bill Clinton, is becoming a co-chairman of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

- Mitt Romney is starting to give more details on his plans for tax cutting if he reaches the White House. The former Massachusetts governor would remove taxes on all interest, dividends and capitol gains for Americans who make less than $200,000 a year. That would bring tax relief to an estimated 95 percent of Americans and Romney hopes would encourage savings.

Descriptive Headlines
Giuliani turns heat on Fred … Edwards Slams Clinton on Health Care

Not so Important, Importance

- All eyes are on Oprah Winfry and Barack Obama this weekend as the very popular TV talk show host throws a fundraising bash at her home. Why is this not important? Because there is little evidence that celebrities really do much, fundraising aside, to help or hurt candidates.

Why is it important? Because it is Oprah. Obama is trailing Senator Hillary Clinton with women, an audience that Oprah dominates. Many watching would be surprised if Oprah didn’t have an effect on the campaign IF she decides to take a larger and more visible role. This fundraiser might be the first step.

- What will it take to win the GOP nod? $20 Million more dollars says Mitt Romney, at least for his rivals Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee. So reports the AP. Why is it important? It’s not but it is kind of true.

In the Blogosphere
- The Moderate Voice asks “Should 9/11 families tell Rudy Giuliani how to campaign?”

In House
- ElectionGeek was linked from a wonderful site called The Issue on Saturday.

- I wrote a continued exploration of official campaign blogging which also appears on techPresident