GIULIANI LOSES NATIONAL LEAD IN NEW POLL

Mayor Giuliani has lost his front-runner status in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination, according to a national NBC/Wall Street Journal survey. Mr. Giuliani and Mitt Romney tied at 20% in the new poll, while Mr. Huckabee came in slightly behind at 17%. Senator McCain of Arizona drew 14%. Fred Thompson had 11%.

The poll showed Senator Clinton holding her strong lead nationally over Senator Obama of Illinois. A total of 45% of Democratic primary voters chose her, while Mr. Obama had 23%. John Edwards trailed at 13%. The poll had a sampling error of plus or minus 5% among those registered or planning to vote in the GOP primary and 4% among Democrats or those planning to vote in that contest.

UNION RIVEN OVER ANTI-OBAMA MAILER

Some members of a government workers’ union, the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, are upset about a mailing from their own union attacking Senator Obama’s health care plan. The mailing to Iowa voters, first reported in The New York Sun, blasts Mr. Obama’s prescription “a band-aid solution” that would be “no change at all” for those without health insurance. According to the Chicago Tribune, the director of a Chicago Afscme council, Henry Bayer, said he told the union’s president, Gerald McEntee, to stop the criticism of the Illinois senator. “Just be for Clinton, don’t be against anybody else,” Mr. Bayer quoted himself as telling the national official. “Our members here have a great fondness for Barack Obama, and our members are going to be upset if you do anything negative.” The Chicago council backs Mr. Obama, while Asfcme has endorsed Senator Clinton.

In what could be an effort to shield Mrs. Clinton from fallout from the mailing, the Afscme mailer doesn’t mention her at all, but quotes a third candidate, John Edwards, criticizing Mr. Obama’s plan. It’s unclear whether Mr. McEntee has authority to rein in his union’s efforts. For legal reasons, union officials usually keep their distance from the kind of independent expenditure operation responsible for the mailing.

Another puzzle: the critical mailer alludes to Mr. Obama’s decision not to call for a so-called individual mandate for health insurance, which Mrs. Clinton favors. Mr. McEntee and many union leaders have opposed such a mandate.

Union officials did not return calls and e-mails seeking comment last night.

VIDEO SHOWS OBAMA BLASTING KENNEDY

A video of Mr. Obama questioning the political courage of Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts surfaced on the Internet yesterday. “We’ve got to call not just Republicans. We’ve got to call up Ted Kennedy and say, ‘Ted, you’re getting a little old now, and you’ve been a fighter for us before I don’t know what’s happening right now. Ted, get some spine. Stand up to the Republicans,'” Mr. Obama declares in the shaky video, shot at an AFL-CIO event in 2003. The Illinois senator was referring to Mr. Kennedy’s role in negotiating Medicare prescription drug legislation at the time. Mr. Kennedy ultimately voted against the bill. The Huffington Post Web site, which was first to publish the video online, did not say where it obtained the 14-second clip.

CANDIDATES RELEASE SYRUPY CHRISTMAS ADS

In a possible sign that presidential campaigns are overfunded, nearly all the major candidates have produced holiday-themed television ads. Mrs. Clinton’s shows her arranging presents labeled “universal health care,” “alternative energy,” and “bring troops home.” “Where did I put ‘universal pre-K?'” she says, before finding a box with that label, which refers to government-funded “pre-kindergarten” programs. Senator Obama’s holiday foray shows him, his wife, and his daughters in front of a Christmas tree and roaring fire. The kids close the spot’s closing lines of “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.”

Clad in a red sweater for his video, Mayor Giuliani offers “everyone” gifts such as “secure borders,” “strict constructionist judges and probably a — a fruitcake or something.”

None of the ads explicitly refers to “Jesus Christ” except Michael Huckabee’s. Mrs. Clinton’s ad doesn’t refer to Christmas at all, though an instrumental version of the Carol of the Bells plays in the background.

KUCINICH’S BROTHER FOUND DEAD

The youngest brother of Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, Perry Kucinich, 52, was found dead at his Cleveland home, the Associated Press reported. Police said there was no sign of foul play.