New York Has No GOP, Murdoch Says; Lott Says Jeb Would Not Beat Hillary In '08

Rupert Murdoch, head of the FOX empire and owner of the New York Post, told one of his talking heads yesterday that it seems as if New York State has no Republican Party.

The comment came in response to a question from show host Neil Cavuto, who had the boss on the air yesterday. Cavuto, one of the FOX Network's many Hillary bashers, asked Murdoch why he was hosting a fundraiser for the Democratic senator - who often is the subject of barbs both on FOX and in the Post. The Daily News' political blog, The Daily Politics, posted a transcript of the exchange.

LOTT SAYS JEB SHOULD STAY OUT OF '08 RACE OR FACE LOSS TO HILLARY

At about the same time Murdoch was on the air, Trent Lott was on "another network" - MSNBC - telling Hardball's Chris Matthews he didn't think it was a very good idea for Jeb Bush to consider a run for president in 2008. The National Journal's The Hotline quotes Lott, who was responding to President Bush's recent comments that he thinks his little brother should run.

"Well, certainly you would say that about your own brother. Otherwise your mother might discipline you," said Lott as quoted by Hotline.

Lott said he did not think Jeb would beat Hillary if the two were to face each other in '08


MORE VENOM IN GOP SENATE RACE

If there really is no more state GOP, as Murdoch suggests, it could be because they keep killing each other off. The race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate is a good example. The New York Times has a piece on the downright nastiness of that campaign between former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer and former Reagan administration official K.T. McFarland.

THE THIRD-PARTY SOLUTION

If New York has no second party, can it have a third? CBSNews.com's Dick Meyer lays out a victory plan for a third party in 2008 - a party he says should be headed my New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

'INSIDERS' STILL THINK THEY HAVE WINNERS - HILLARY OR McCAIN

The latest poll of political insiders, conducted by The National Review and published also on The Hotline, shows party stalwarts put Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton at the top of their tickets for '08. GOP insiders say they like McCain because they think he can beat Clinton.

CHINKS IN THEIR ARMOR

Taking a look at the 2006 mid-terms, two separate articles in the Washington Post today point out problems for both parties. In one piece Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker look at the damage being done to the GOP as the party's base sours on George Bush and the GOP-run Congress.

In another piece, Thomas B. Edsell reports the Democrats are at odds over strategy, with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean trying to lay long-term plans for the rebirth of the party and the heads of the party's 2006 Congressional campaign committees looking to score a big - and quick - win in 2006.