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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Chicago businessman Antoin Rezko

Graphic courtesy of The Page

Now, it turns out that one of Hillary’s national Co-chairmen of her Presidential campaign has also accepted political contributions from him.

The donations could prove to be a political embarrassment for Clinton, who accused Obama in a South Carolina debate of representing Rezko “in his slum landlord business” when Obama was a young Chicago lawyer.

Rezko has been a patron of Illinois politicians for years and Obama’s connections to Rezko go back more than 15 years. Rezko has contributed thousands of dollars to the campaigns of both Obama and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Neither has been accused of any wrongdoing.

Fancy that.

Hillary might be embarassed.

Flap wonders if Obama will mention Norman Hsu who is serving time in a California prison for fraud while he is being investigated and indicted by the Feds for illegal Democrat campaign contributions.

Oh yeah, Obama took money from Hsu too.

So, never mind.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, endorses Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani looks on at left, after a tour of Solar Integrated Technologies in Los Angeles, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008.

Arnold, the Governator, endorses Senator John McCain for President today. When asked by reporters why Schwarzenegger had not endorsed McCain previously for President he blamed Rudy Giuliani (with a laugh) who he called a friend, also.

An endorsement is one thing but will Arnold and the GOP establishment in California start to open their wallets for McCain. And, will Rudy Giuliani who endorsed McCain yesterday also help in bolstering McCain’s woefully poor campaign coffers?

Arnold was good for another chit. Tonight show host and Arnold friend Jay Leno will be hosting both McCain and Giuliani tonight on the NBC Tonight Show.

In the meantime, Mitt Romney has upped the financial ante by scheduling millions of dollars in ad buys in Super Tuesday states that go to the polls in less than a week.

Update:

Texas Governor Rick Perry has just announced his endorsement of John McCain. Perry last October had endorsed Mayor Rudy Giuliani and, in fact, on Monday of this week was campaigning for Rudy in Florida.

Wow. This is a quick transition.

Looks like a tidal wave of endorsements for the Arizona Senator.

Nancy Reagan is on board for Team McCain, Rudy Giuliani endorsed the Senator yesterday and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a few minutes ago endorsed John McCain for President.

In the press remarks, Senator McCain mentioned that Texas Governor Rick Perry will be endorsing him later today.

The mainstream GOP is lining up for McCain as Mitt Romney’s campaign has announced a massive advertising buy in Super Tuesday states.

The campaign for the nomination is on…….

Day By Day by Chris Muir

The higher brain functions definitely will NOT be in evidence tonight when Hillary and Obama face off in Hollywood.

It will be down and dirty……..

What will be “LEAKED” this afternoon?

• HALPERIN’S TAKE: 10 Things Giuliani Could Have Done Differently The Page – by Mark Halperin – TIME
  And, Rudy should have aggressively created BUZZ for his campaign when his poll numbers started to tank. Giuliani had celebrity and he squandered it.
  (tags: 2008 Giuliani)
• Schwarzenegger to Endorse McCain – News from The Associated Press
  This helps McCain in California in which he has already a solid lead.
  (tags: 2008 McCain romney)
• Romney not buying more ads? – First Read – msnbc.com
  Did Romney’s wife finally say NO….
  (tags: 2008 romney)
• Rudy drops out, throws support to McCain – First Read – msnbc.com
  (tags: 2008 McCain Giuliani)
• Rudy Giuliani: “I’m not running and I’m supporting John McCain” « FOX Embeds « FOXNews.com
  (tags: 2008 Giuliani)
• Romney Campaign Has Yet to Buy Ad Space in Feb 5th States « FOX Embeds « FOXNews.com
  Why throw good money after bad. Mitt lost the debate tonight….. put a fork in him – He’s done!
  (tags: 2008 romney)
• With Giuliani Aboard, Is Straight Talk Express Moving at Warp Speed? – The Fix
  (tags: 2008 Giuliani McCain romney)

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, left, announces he is bowing out of the presidential race and endorsing Republican hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., during a news conference before the Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008.

Rudy bows out and endorses his friend Senator John McCain for President.

“I am very proud to endorse my friend and fellow republican, and hero, John McCain, for President of the United States of America,” Giuliani said during a Wednesday evening news conference. “John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States.”

Giuliani promised to help McCain campaign across the country as long as the Republican frontrunner needed him to.

“If I’d endorsed anyone else, you would say I was flip-flopping,” Giuliani said, mentioning an oft-repeated criticism of McCain’s chief rival, Mitt Romney.

McCain, standing at Giuliani’s side Wednesday, acknowledged his former rival as “my strong right arm and my partner.”

“This man is a national hero and I’m honored by his friendship,” he said.

Many Giuliani supporters are jumping on board Team McCain. Flap is not so sure he can make this leap from Rudy to McCain – at least not now.

Rudy: “I called some of our strong supporters and thanked them earlier today and also told them what I think you all now know, which is I am gonna endorse John McCain. It’s disappointing to lose a race for president because you believe you’re the best candidate, but I had made it clear before I had to make this decision who I thought the other best candidate was. I think I made it clear during a debate that if I had not been running, I would be supporting John McCain. So I’m not running, and I’m supporting John McCain and he is far away the best person to be the commander in chief of the United States.”

Unlike Rudy, McCain does not have as much personal baggage but his stand on the issues, particularly McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, taxes and illegal immigration bother Flap mightily.

However, this endorsement is not a good omen for Mitt Romney who will be battling McCain on Super Tuesday next week.

Stay tuned for the GOP debate sans Rudy at 5 PM Pacific time. Flap will comment on Twitter – viewable on the right sidebar or here.

Republican former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with his wife Judith talk to his supporters after conceding the Florida Primary Election in Orlando, Florida January 29, 2008.

Rudy Giuliani will announce his withdrawal from the Presidential race today at 3 PM in an event at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California and, in turn, endorse the candidacy of Senator John McCain.

Rudy will be addressing the press after his announcement.

Unfortunately, Flap will not be there since he has a doctor’s appointment at 2 PM.

I will return to comment upon the withdrawal, endorsement and deliver a post mortem to the Giuliani campaign.