Inside Politics

The singer met Mr. Clark a few weeks ago for more than an hour. In an interview last week with CNN’s Denise Quan, Madonna said they discussed his becoming president.

The singer told the reporter that she had decided to support the retired general and she felt Mr. Clark was a natural-born leader.

“As it stands right now, he’s got my support,” Madonna said.

The two were introduced by “Bowling for Columbine” filmmaker Michael Moore, an early supporter of Mr. Clark.

Knee test for Bush

Suffering from knee pain that forced him to curtail his running, President Bush will have his knees examined today using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, Reuters news agency reports.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters traveling to North Carolina yesterday the president would undergo the MRI exams on both knees during a previously scheduled visit to Walter Reed Medical Center to meet with wounded U.S. troops.

Asked if Mr. Bush would be willing to undergo surgery before the election next November, Mr. McClellan said, “Let’s let the MRI take place.”

Mr. Bush, who has a cardiovascular system in the top 1 percent for 57-year-old men, suffered a minor muscle tear in his calf in late April and tried to ignore it, but eventually was sidelined from running.

Mr. Bush continues to work out on an elliptical trainer, a machine used for walking and running like a treadmill, but which is easier on the knees. He is also lifting weights and swimming.

Rowland vows fight

Gov. John G. Rowland, Connecticut Republican, vowed again yesterday to “finish what I started” as governor despite the furor over his admission that he took gifts from employees and state contractors, the Associated Press reports.

In a speech to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Rowland apologized again for what he said were “failures” on his part.

Story Continues →