Bhutto assassination heats up race

As the most controversial opposition leader and who her supporters call the last bastion of peace and hope in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, was bloodily murdered yesterday immediately following a campaign event, presidential hopefuls in Iowa find themselves demonstrating their political savvy-ness – or ignorance – in the midst of what has become a much more sober campaign.

The front-runners in both parties issued statements decrying the assassination and some spoke publicly about their personal relationships with Bhutto, who was the first female leader of an Islamic state and removed from her position in 1999 in a military coup.

Hillary Clinton demonstrated her personal relationship, which has been called the closest one of all the presidential candidates, with somber condolences to the Bhutto family and Bhutto’s idealistic Pakistan People’s Party.

And some candidates were accused by news organizations and political strategists of receiving campaign boosts from the assassination, as each of them –– sans Chris Dodd and Fred Thompson –– released strong statements that outlined how they will handle the unraveling international crisis if elected president.

John McCain became the man of the hour in Iowa, citing his long political resume and the fact the Rudy “Giuliani has never been to Iraq.”

Mike Huckabee, lending a hand the border security cause, said the desperate situation perfectly illustrates the need for a Mexico border fence.

The politicians’ political game, played today on the desperate fight between Islamic militants and the PPP, has become a big weapon in the fight for votes, downplaying what is probably the most significant international crisis since 9/11.