Republican U.S. Senate Leader Bill Frist, a potential 2008 White House contender facing a federal probe of his stock sales, launched a sharp defense of his leadership during a weekend visit to the early caucus state of Iowa. Frist asked Iowa Republican leaders and activists to ``look at our track record'' in the Senate on issues like trade, taxes and energy and said his Democratic opponents were practicing ''tired old scare tactics.''
``I hear you, I understand your concerns,'' Frist told the Iowa Republican Party's annual Ronald Reagan dinner on Saturday night. ``Times are tough, but we're going to get through it.'' It was the Tennessee Republican's first visit of the year to Iowa, the state that traditionally kicks off the presidential nominating season. He met privately with Iowa activists before the dinner and scheduled private sessions before his departure on Sunday.
Frist, who is retiring from the Senate next year, said he will decide after the 2006 congressional elections whether to seek the White House. His visit was overshadowed by a federal investigation into his stock sales, one of a series of ethics allegations that have hit prominent Republicans. The Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into the sale of Frist's stock in HCA Inc., a health care company founded by his father. The sale of the stock, which was held in a blind trust, came just days before it dropped in value.
Frist has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and told reporters in Iowa he would be exonerated. ``In my particular case I want the process to hurry up as quickly as possible,'' Frist said. ``I acted properly throughout every step of this process. I'm confident of the outcome.''
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-frist.html
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