Conressman Ron Paul, who was excluded from tonight’s Republican debate on FOX News, will be appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno show tomorrow night.

Also in a bit of counter-programming the Paul campaign is hosting their own LIVE Town Hall meeting at the campaign Web site. Sorry I did not get this up sooner.

Just a reminder that republicans are debating in a half hour on FOX News

Tonight FOX News will run a brand new debate between Republicans and to counter-program CNN will be re-running two previous debates. It is a move Wolf Blitzer just described as “unprecedented”.

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that Bill O’Reilly was nearby at a Clinton campaign stop. Turns out more was going on than the Associated Press noted. Clinton was speaking to an overflow crowd according to Marc Ambinder 500 people had RSVP’d to the Clinton event while over 1000 showed up. Clinton pleaded with the Fire Marshall to find ways to accomodate more of the crowd and told her daughter Chelsea to open up a barrier set by the secret service.

Clinton began taking questions from the crowd one of which mentioned FOX News commentator Bill O’Reilly was in house. Clinton said hello to O’Reilly who then was jeered by the crowd. “Oh no, no no — he gets at least some credit for being here” called out Clinton.

Meanwhile Lynn Sweet reports that O’Reilly also made his way to visit Barack Obama who had his own overflow crowd to deal with. Unlike the civil Clinton appearance though O’Reilly got himself into a scuffle with the Secret Service.

The incident was triggered when O’Reilly–with a Fox News crew shooting–was screaming at Obama National Trip Director Marvin Nicholson “Move” so he could get Obama’s attention, according to several eyewitnesses. “O’Reilly was yelling at him, yelling at his face,” a photographer shooting the scene said.

O’Reilly grabbed Nicholson’s arm and shoved him, another eyewitness said. Nicholson, who is 6′8, said O’Reilly called him “low class.”

“He grabbed me with both his hands here,” Nicholson said, gesturing to his left arm and O’Reilly “started shoving me.” Nicholson said, ” He was pretty upset. He was yelling at me.”

Secret Service agents who were nearby flanked O ‘Reilly after he pushed Nicholson. They told O’Reilly he needed to calm down and get behind the fence-like barricade that contained the press.
Obama had his back turned at this point and did not see any of this.

Make sure to check Sweet’s entire post for more information.

Also Huffington Post has pictures and will soon have video.

The Politico is reporting that barring a surprise showing today in Iowa former Senator Fred Thompson will drop out and give his support to Senator John McCain.

Iowa – Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday’s Iowa caucus.

Thompson’s campaign, which last spring and summer was generating fevered anticipation in the media and with some Republican activists, has never ignited nationally, and there are no signs of a late spark happening here in Iowa, where even a third-place finish is far from assured.

However on two morning shows today Thompson denied the report:

CNN: Denied story about possibly dropping out, backing McCain. “I’ve never said that, I’ve never implied that, in public or in private.” Talked oil prices, CIA tapes. Repeated that having too much “personal ambition” is a danger for candidates.

Fox: Again denied story about dropping out, saying it was probably planted by rival campaign. “There is no such Thompson adviser. It is not something I have thought about or discussed with anybody.” Maintained he’s doing well in Iowa, said he didn’t get in the race late, others got in early. “We’ll see whether being in everyone’s face for two years and spending $100 million is necessary.”