US: The Bush administration is facing a revolt from conservatives over spending which, with tax deductions, has led to new projections of a record budget deficit of over $500 billion this year, writes Conor O'Clery in New York.
The figure was increased by about one fifth after White House officials disclosed that Mr Bush's prescription drug program and Medicare overhaul would cost many billions more than previously estimated.
The conservative Wall Street Journal complained yesterday of "ideological dry rot" in the Republican Party, and popular talk show host Rush Limbaugh, usually supportive of the Republican White House, has been sounding off about increased funding for the Endowment for the Arts.
Meanwhile, Democratic presidential front-runner Senator John Kerry is leading in Arizona and Missouri, two of seven states holding Democratic polls on "Super Tuesday" next week. In Arizona he has 38 per cent to 17 per cent for retired general Mr Wesley Clark and 12 per cent for Mr Howard Dean. He leads in Missouri with 45 per cent over Senator John Edwards at 11 per cent and Mr Dean at 9 per cent. Mr Clark leads in Oklahoma with 27 per cent to 19 for Mr Kerry and 17 for Mr Edwards.
In South Carolina, Mr Kerry and Mr Edwards are competing for the lead at around 25 per cent.
In a low key debate in South Carolina Mr Dean challenged Mr Kerry's effectiveness in the Senate, saying none of 11 bills Mr Kerry introduced on health care had passed.