Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is an excerpt from an article by The Associated Press, and is being released today by the Republican National Committee:

    (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/RNCLOGO )

    October 10, 2008

Indiana's top election official wants an investigation of allegations that perhaps thousands of fraudulent voter registration forms have been submitted in Lake County.

In a letter to Attorney General Steve Carter, Secretary of State Todd Rokita says he's received "credible evidence" of voter fraud involving the Association of Community Organizations for Reform

Now, or ACORN, a group that works to recruit low-income voters, who tend to lean Democratic. ...

He says he's received detailed complaints from Lake County residents of "hundreds, perhaps thousands" of violations of registration laws, including fraudulent applications, wrong names on registrations or absentee ballots and fictitious registrations or ballots themselves. ...

    To View The Entire Article, Please Visit:
http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9161088&nav=menu593_2


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SOURCE Republican National Committee

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is an excerpt from an article from the Tampa Tribune, and is being released today by the Republican National Committee:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/RNCLOGO )

When DeeAnn Athan received a new voter registration card at her downtown law office a few weeks ago, she figured it must be a mistake.

The card had her age and middle initial wrong and a different Social Security and driver's license number. The only things correct were her gender and party affiliation.

After making a few calls, Athan discovered she had two voter registrations on the books at the Hillsborough County elections office. One had her place of residence listed as her West Shore Boulevard home; the other her Kennedy Boulevard office. ...

Hillsborough County Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson said the discrepancy is likely a case of voter registration fraud by a third party group that pays people to register voters. ...

Hillsborough elections officials have come across numerous other questionable voter registration applications in the run-up to the Nov. 4 general election, which has seen hundreds of thousands of new voters added to election rolls across the state. ...

With the general election only weeks away, scores of fraudulent voter registrations are being investigated across the country, most of them submitted by third party groups.

One group, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which has registered some 1.3 million voters nationwide, is facing allegations of fraud from elections officials in Wisconsin, North Carolina, New Mexico, Michigan, Ohio and Missouri. ...

To View The Entire Article, Please Visit: http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Local+Voter+Frau d+Claims+Rise&expire=&urlID=31616429&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.tbo.com%2Fcont ent%2F2008%2Foct%2F11%2Fna-local-voter-fraud-claims-rise%2F&partnerID=97476

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SOURCE Republican National Committee

*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chief Counsel Sean Cairncross and Communications Director Danny Diaz will hold a conference call today on the recent developments in Pennsylvania regarding ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

    WHO:       RNC Chief Counsel Sean Cairncross
               RNC Communications Director Danny Diaz

    WHAT:      RNC Conference Call On Recent Developments In
               Pennsylvania Regarding ACORN

    WHEN:      TODAY, Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. EDT

    CALL-IN:   888-843-9977

    PASSWORD:  RNC


    CONTACT:   Press Office
               202-863-8614


                Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
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SOURCE Republican National Committee

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of the weekly radio address by President Bush to the nation:

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Over the past few days, we have witnessed a startling drop in the stock market -- much of it driven by uncertainty and fear. Many Americans have serious concerns about their economic well-being.

Here's what the American people need to know: the United States government is acting -- and will continue to act -- to resolve this crisis and restore stability to our markets. The Federal government has a comprehensive strategy and the tools necessary to address the challenges in our economy.

Here are the problems we face and the steps we are taking: first, key markets are not functioning because there is a lack of liquidity. So the Federal Reserve has injected hundreds of billions of dollars into the system. The Fed has joined with central banks around the world to coordinate a cut in interest rates -- a step that should help free up credit. The Fed has also announced a new program to provide support for a vital tool that many American businesses use to finance their day-to-day operations -- the commercial paper market, which is freezing up. As this program kicks in over the next week or so, it will help revive a key source of short-term financing for businesses and financial institutions.

Second, some Americans are concerned about whether their money is safe. So the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Credit Union Administration have significantly expanded the amount of money insured in savings accounts and checking accounts and certificates of deposit. That means that if you have up to $250,000 in one of these insured accounts, every penny of that money is safe. The Treasury Department has also acted to restore confidence in a key element of America's financial system by offering government insurance for money market mutual funds.

Third, we are concerned that some investors could take advantage of the crisis to illegally manipulate the stock market. So the Securities and Exchange Commission is launching rigorous enforcement actions to detect fraud and manipulation in the market.

Fourth, the decline in the housing market has left many Americans concerned about losing their homes. My administration launched the HOPE NOW Alliance, which brings together homeowners and lenders and mortgage servicers and others to find ways to prevent foreclosure. We're also making it easier for responsible homeowners to refinance into affordable mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Americans listening today can know that if you're struggling to meet your mortgages there are ways you can get help.

These actions are helping to address a key problem in the housing market: the supply of homes now exceeds demand. And as a result, home values have declined. Once supply and demand balance out, our housing market will be able to recover -- and that will help our broader economy begin to grow.

Fifth, we have seen that problems in the financial system are not isolated to the United States. So we're working closely with partners around the world to ensure that our actions are coordinated and effective. Today, I'm meeting with the finance ministers from our partners in the G-7 and the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. And Treasury Secretary Paulson is also hosting finance ministers from the world's 20 leading economies.

Finally, American businesses and consumers are struggling to obtain credit. So my administration worked with Congress to pass a $700 billion financial rescue package. This new law authorizes the Treasury Department to use a variety of measures to help banks rebuild capital -- including buying or insuring troubled assets and purchasing the equity of financial institutions. The Department will implement measures that have maximum impact as quickly as possible. Seven hundred billion dollars is a significant amount of money, and as we act, we will do it in an effective way.

In the short term, we'll continue to face challenges. But in the long run, Americans have reason to be confident. We have the strongest and most resilient economy in the world. When we have faced difficult tests in the past, the American people have always risen to meet them. And that is exactly what we're going to do again.

Thank you for listening.

SOURCE White House Press Office

BOSTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MedImmune announced today it will present four abstracts at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2008 National Conference & Exhibition that add to the company's growing body of research into the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of viral respiratory infection among preterm infants.

"As we gain data that further demonstrate the burden of RSV disease on preterm babies, the benefits of preventive care become more evident," said Jessie R. Groothius, M.D., vice president, medical and scientific affairs, infectious disease. "We look forward to presenting studies that demonstrate the importance of better identifying and helping to protect preterm infants from of RSV."

MedImmune abstracts to be presented at AAP include:

    -- Increased Burden from Late-Preterm Births During the First Year of 
       Life - Kimmie K. McLaurin, MS, Saturday, October 11, 2008, from 10:20 -
       10:30 a.m.

       BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that late-preterm infants (between
       33 and 35 weeks gestation) are associated with higher medical costs and
       greater morbidity than full-term infants during and shortly after
       birth. The effects of late-preterm births beyond this period, however,
       are unknown. This retrospective cohort study examined the use of
       medical resources by late-preterm and full-term infants through their
       first year of life to determine whether differences in medical costs
       exist.

    -- A Multi-Center Prospective Study of the Occurrence and Burden of RSV-
       Associated Illness in the Emergency Department: September-October 2006
       and 2007(Poster #927) - Aleta B. Bonner, MD, Friday, October 10, 2008,
       from 2:45 p.m.

       BACKGROUND:  According to the Centers for Disease Control and
       Prevention, RSV activity is considered widespread in a community when
       greater than 10-percent of all specimens tested by antigen detection
       for RSV are positive. Traditionally, widespread activity has been
       defined as occurring between November and March, yet there is growing
       evidence that RSV outbreaks vary by geographic region and from year to
       year. This prospective, multi-center surveillance study examined data
       recorded in the high-volume outpatient setting of hospital emergency
       departments (in contrast to hospital inpatient data typically used to
       demonstrate the burden of RSV-associated illness) to analyze RSV
       activity in September and October over two consecutive years.

    -- Identifying Residual Risk of Severe RSV Disease Among Unprophylaxed 
       Preterm Infants (Poster #36) Doris Makari, MD, Friday, October 10,
       2008, from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.

       BACKGROUND: The majority of preterm infants are born between 32 and 35
       weeks gestation; RSV prophylaxis with Synagis(R) (palivizumab) has
       resulted in significant reductions in RSV-associated hospitalizations
       (RSVH) among this population. The use of Synagis has been restricted,
       however, due to cost concerns associated with prophylaxis. This
       retrospective cohort study examined whether risk factors outside of
       current AAP Red Book guidelines - young chronological age, smoking and
       overcrowding - could identify a subset population of infants born
       between 32 and 35 weeks gestation that may be at high risk for RSVH,
       but not currently recommended for prophylaxis under the AAP guidelines.

    -- Cost Implications of Expanding Risk Factors for RSV Prophylaxis with 
       Palivizumab for Infants 32-35 Weeks Gestation (Poster #29) - Leonard
       Krilov, MD, Friday, October 10, 2008 from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.

       BACKGROUND: AAP Red Book guidelines recommend RSV prophylaxis with
       Synagis for infants born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation with two or
       more of five risk factors: school-aged siblings, childcare attendance,
       severe neuromuscular disease, congenital airway abnormality, and
       exposure to environmental air pollutants (except smoking). Adding
       select risk factors may help identify a new subset of infants between
       32 and 35 weeks gestation at high risk for RSV hospitalization, yet the
       impact on cost to include those risk factors is not clear. This study
       examined the cost implications of increasing current risk factor
       criteria. 

Additional information about the 2008 AAP National Conference & Exhibition can be found at http://www.aap.org/nce/.

About RSV

Each year, up to 125,000 infants in the U.S. are hospitalized with severe RSV infections, the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants in the United States. RSV is the most common respiratory infection in infancy or childhood. Approximately one-half of all infants are infected with RSV during the first year of life, and nearly all children have been infected at least once by the time they reach their second birthday. Children born prematurely as well as those with chronic lung disease (CLD) or congenital heart disease (CHD) are at highest risk for severe disease and hospitalization due to RSV. The virus may also cause severe illness in other high-risk groups such as the elderly, those with underlying respiratory or cardiac disease, and those with compromised immune systems (e.g., bone marrow transplant patients).

About Synagis(R) (palivizumab)

Synagis is the only monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA to help prevent an infectious disease. Synagis is indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in children at high risk of RSV disease.

Synagis was approved for use in the United States in 1998, Europe in 1999, and Japan in 2002. Synagis is currently available in 62 countries.

The safety and efficacy of Synagis were established in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, infants with a history of prematurity (less than or equal to 35 weeks gestational age), and children with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. The first dose of Synagis should be administered prior to commencement of the RSV season, which usually starts in the fall and runs through the spring. Synagis is administered by intramuscular injection. Patients, including those who develop an RSV infection, should continue to receive monthly doses throughout the season. Abbott has exclusive rights to Synagis in markets outside the United States. MedImmune promotes Synagis in the United States.

Important Safety Information

Synagis(R)(palivizumab) is indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease and is administered by intramuscular injection. Safety and efficacy were established in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), infants with a history of premature birth (less than or equal to 35 weeks gestational age), and children with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (CHD). Synagis has been used in more than one million children in the U.S. since its introduction in 1998. The first dose of Synagis should be administered prior to commencement of the RSV season. Patients, including those who develop an RSV infection, should continue to receive monthly doses throughout the season.

Synagis should not be used in pediatric patients with a history of severe prior reaction to Synagis or its components. Cases of anaphylaxis were reported following re-exposure to Synagis and severe acute hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported on initial exposure or re-exposure. If a severe hypersensitivity reaction occurs, therapy with Synagis should be permanently discontinued. If milder hypersensitivity reactions occur, caution should be used on re-administration of Synagis. In post-marketing reports, cases of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 50,000/microliter) have been reported.

In clinical trials, the most common adverse events occurring at least 1% more frequently in Synagis-treated patients than controls were upper respiratory infection, otitis media, fever, and rhinitis. Cyanosis and arrhythmia were seen in children with CHD. There have also been post-marketing reports of injection site reactions.

For full prescribing information for Synagis, see the company's website at: http://www.medimmune.com/products/synagis/index.asp.

About MedImmune

MedImmune is a leading innovation-focused biotechnology company whose mission it is to provide better medicines to patients, new medical options for physicians and rewarding careers to employees. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live better lives, the company is focused on infection, oncology, respiratory disease and inflammation, cardiovascular/ gastrointestinal disease and neuroscience. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, MedImmune has approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and is the wholly owned biologics business for AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more information, visit MedImmune's website at http://www.medimmune.com.

CONTACTS: Media - Tor Constantino, +1-301-398-5801, Investors - Peter Vozzo, +1-301-398-4358, both of MedImmune

SOURCE MedImmune