On The HUSTINGS

GROUP MUST DISCLOSE DONORS OR SCRAP ANTI-CLINTON ADS

A federal three-judge panel ruled yesterday that a conservative group must disclose its donors in accordance with campaign finance rules if it wants to run ads to promote a film critical of Senator Clinton. In a unanimous ruling, the panel rejected the argument of the group, Citizens United, that its film was the same as documentaries that air on television newsmagazine shows, such as "60 Minutes." The 90-minute film, "Hillary: The Movie," was produced solely "to inform the electorate that Senator Clinton is unfit for office, that the United States would be a dangerous place in a President Hillary Clinton world, and that viewers should vote against her," the panel wrote. An attorney for the group, James Bopp, said he expected an appeal, which would go directly to the Supreme Court, the Associated Press reported. Citizens United had wanted to run television ads in key primary states during the coming months, but now it must either scrap the spots or disclose its donors in compliance with federal law regulating campaign advertising by corporations and unions close to an election.

CLINTON LAUNCHES 'HILL FORCE 1' WITH JOKES TO PRESS

Senator Clinton got off to a flying start on her new charter plane, playing the role of flight attendant and regaling reporters with a self-deprecating riff on her campaign message. The campaign plane has been dubbed "Hill Force 1," and Mrs. Clinton joked over the aircraft's public address system that reporters were prohibited from using wireless devices "that may be used to transmit negative stories about me," Politico reported. After instructing journalists to fasten their seat belts and warning them of turbulence, she quipped, "And in the event of an unexpected drop in poll numbers, this plane will be diverted to New Hampshire." The maiden flight took her and the journalists from Las Vegas to Reno, and the scribes responded to her speech with applause, according to Politico.

HUCKABEE SOFTENS IMMIGRATION STANCE

Michael Huckabee is softening his tone on immigration after recently suggesting that immigration be suspended from countries that sponsor terrorism, the Associated Press reported.

The Republican presidential hopeful told reporters yesterday that America needs to "do a more thorough job of ensuring that when people come here, and they come from nations that the State Department has designated as terrorist nations, that we are diligent in background searches," a less drastic proposal, the AP reported. Mr. Huckabee, who was known for moderate immigration policies as governor of Arkansas where he supported giving children of illegal immigrants in-state college tuition, has taken a more conservative tone on the issue in recent months. In December, he proposed making it a crime for Americans with dual citizenship to vote in foreign elections, serve in foreign armies, or use foreign passports.

ENDORSEMENT WATCH

Fresh off a loss in the Michigan Senator McCain collected two key endorsements yesterday as he looks to gain momentum with a strong showing in the South Carolina primary on Saturday.

Senator Coburn of Oklahoma announced he was backing Sen. McCain. Mr. Coburn is a strident abortion opponent popular with conservatives who could help Mr. McCain gain a stronger footing with the party's base after posting a weak showing among Republicans in Michigan.

Mr. McCain also picked up an endorsement yesterday from the Myrtle Beach Sun News, a South Carolina paper. The editorial says that, for South Carolina Republicans, McCain "represents their best hope of retaining the presidency and retaining a sane political balance in Washington."