Saying he had no regrets, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson on Sunday dropped out of the crowded race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination after a poor showing in a straw poll in Iowa.

Republican Mitt Romney won the first test of the 2008 White House race on Saturday, using a big wallet and broad organization to muscle aside a field of second-tier rivals in a low-turnout Iowa straw poll.

Today's presidential Republican debate in Iowa showed that the Republican candidates offer nothing more than a continuation of George Bush’s failed policies for America. The nine candidates on stage either ignored or criticized policies that would benefit Iowans. Instead they focused on their support for the Bush Administration's failures to improve health care, lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and change the strategy in Iraq.

Hillary Clinton, who is one of the democratic party hopefulls for U.S. Presidential elections in 2008 spoke in front of Silicon Valley executives and outlined her technology plan. Hillary's technology plan includes increased spending on basic research and efforts to create more high-paying jobs to keep in them in USA.

The Draft Fred Thompson 2008 Committee announced today that U.S. Representative Steve Buyer, Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, has joined the committee's Leadership Team. Rep. Buyer is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina , a decorated veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

The war in Iraq continues to be the focus of debate in the early stage of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington. Iraq remains the top issue among both Democratic and Republican presidential contenders.