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Politics

John Edwards to anounce presidential bid

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 27, 2006

John Edwards is planning to announce Thursday what has been clear to much of the world since the end of the last presidential election: He is running for president in 2008. A similar declaration is expected shortly from Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, likely followed by Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. When Edwards announces, with morning talk show interviews and a news conference in New Orleans, he will become the second major candidate to formally declare, following Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa, another Democrat. Nearly a half-dozen other people have formed exploratory committees.

HOUSTON

Oil pipe spills 21,000 gallons into gulf

Workers Tuesday were trying to contain an oil spill that dumped 21,000 gallons into the Gulf of Mexico after a pipeline ruptured. The U.S. Coast Guard said the spill, about 30 miles southeast of Galveston, came from a rupture in a medium crude oil pipeline owned by Plains All American Pipeline of Houston. The company detected a pressure loss in the High Island Pipeline System and shut the line down early Sunday, Coast Guard Petty Officer Mario Romero said. The company was trying to contain the spill Tuesday and suctioning oil from the line. The cause of the rupture was under investigation.

CHICAGO

Obama intern linked to indicted fundraiser

An intern in Sen. Barack Obama's office last year was recommended by an Illinois Democratic fundraiser later indicted for seeking kickbacks on government deals. Obama has denied doing any favors for Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs told the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times in reports published Sunday that Rezko recommended the intern to Obama but contended that the internship did not contradict Obama's statements about not doing any favors for Rezko. The intern's father, Joseph Aramanda, once served as chief operating officer of a Rezko company and had a long-term business relationship with Rezko, according to court records and business filings.

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.

Schwarzenegger has surgery for broken leg

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's broken leg was put back together with wires and screws Tuesday, and the Terminator star should make a full recovery, though he will probably be on crutches during his inauguration Jan. 5, officials aid. The 59-year-old former bodybuilder broke his right thigh bone over the weekend while skiing.

[Last modified December 27, 2006, 12:17:46]