The Morning Read: Wednesday, January 17, 2007

The New York Post handicaps the 2008 race, with Hillary Clinton at 3:1, Obama at 5:1 and Chris Dodd at "He jumped in last week. Did anyone notice?"

Mike Lupica of the Daily News writes, "Clinton would rather be photographed with soldiers than do anything for them."

The New Republic profiles John Edwards, the "accidental populist." [subscription]

"We have eliminated member items as they have been known to exist over the past number of years," said Eliot Spitzer.

Mike Bloomberg plans to cut real estate taxes, which is a departure from how he used a surplus last year to pay down future health care costs.

State pension funds were invested in a company connected to Joe Bruno.

Republican state Senate candidate Maureen O'Connell has union support.

The Times editors say the new comptroller should have "fearless independence," and financial expertise.

Congressional restrictions on lobbying doesn't include spouses of lawmakers.

The head of the police union stopped a break-in at his own house.

And Lower Manhattan residents have until March 30 to get free testing and clean-up of WTC dust from the EPA.