Candidates React To Benazir Bhutto Assassination

USA Today is collecting the official reactions pouring fast and furiously out of the major Presidential campaigns to today's assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Most candidates put out press releases, but some (including Clinton and McCain) used pre-planned Iowa campaign stops to address the situation in real-time.  The Romney campaign has posted a YouTube video of the candidate's reaction.

Giuliani:  Her death is a reminder that terrorism anywhere -- whether in New York, London, Tel-Aviv or Rawalpindi -- is an enemy of freedom.  We must redouble our efforts to win the terrorists' war on us.

Huckabee:  On this sad day, we are reminded that while our democracy has flaws, it stands as a shining beacon of hope for nations and people around the world who seek peace and opportunity through self-government.

McCain: I would be on the phone. ... I would be meeting with the National Security Council. ... I know the players, I know the individuals and I know the best way to address this situation.

Clinton:  I will certainly do anything I can to support the continuing efforts to democratize a very important and critical nation to the future of that region and the world. ... When I think about our democracy and the intensity of feeling that people have demonstrated already in our election ... we take our elections seriously.

Richardson:  We must use our diplomatic leverage and force the enemies of democracy to yield: President Bush should press Musharraf to step aside, and a broad-based coalition government, consisting of all the democratic parties, should be formed immediately.

Romney:  For those who think Iraq is the sole front in the war on terror, one must look no further than what has happened today. America must show its commitment to stand with all moderate forces across the Islamic world and together face the defining challenge of our generation –- the struggle against violent, radical jihadists.

Obama:  She was a respected and resilient advocate for the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. We join with them in mourning her loss, and stand with them in their quest for democracy and against the terrorists who threaten the common security of the world.

As for the domestic electoral impact (specifically as regards Iowa), barring any reaction gaffes, and dependent on how the situation shakes out, the primary effect will presumably be one of increased focus on foreign policy in general.  Who makes the most hay of that is up in the air, but the focus shift would seem to be most harmful to foreign policy neophytes Obama and Huckabee (which, in Iowa, tends to benefit Clinton and Romney).