WASHINGTON (AP) - The top executive at the Democratic National Committee notified his GOP counterpart Monday that a Republican Party Web site set up to recruit GOP volunteers does not hide users' e-mail addresses from prying eyes. The addresses can be accessed with a few simple computer key strokes after logging on to the Republican National Committee Web through a standard registration process available to all users.
In his letter to RNC chief of staff Kelley McCullough, DNC executive director Tom McMahon said: "In this time of heightened concern over the security of critical personal and financial information, participants in our political process should have every confidence that our political organizations and parties are taking every possible precaution to protect them from fraud and identity theft."
The RNC Web site appears to give access only to e-mail addresses, not other private information. Republican officials said users are protected and have the option to unsubscribe from certain lists.
"Our Web site is completely secure," RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said. "This is another cheap political stunt not grounded in reality."
McMahon assured McCullough that the DNC did not store any of the RNC's user data. "Nor were you 'hacked,'" he added. "This flaw was found through normal usage of your Web site and any GOP.com user could do the same."
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)—Ignoring the calendar, Republican Gov. George Pataki of New York is the first potential presidential candidate to open a campaign office in Iowa.
The caucuses aren't until January 2008, but Pataki plans to open an office this week in Des Moines and one in Manchester, N.H., soon after. He's also in preliminary discussions with officials in South Carolina about an office in that state, spokeswoman Alicia Preston said Monday.
"He wants to really help Republicans" in this year's midterm elections, Preston said.
Pataki has been a frequent visitor to Iowa. He decided not to seek another term as governor as he explores a bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Pataki is a moderate GOP governor who supports abortion rights and gun control, stands that puts him at odds with the Republicans' conservative base.
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Associated Press writer Mike Glover in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
