Citizens are already hearing about some of the presidential hopefuls for the 2008 election, even though the earliest contests are still months ahead. With no incumbents, interested vice presidents or otherwise pre-ordained candidates in either party, the need for some to build name recognition is fueling the early beginning of air war action. Significantly, according to the Associated Press, candidates keeping their powder dry thus far include Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the Democratic side, and John McCain and Rudy Giuliani on the Republican side.

The reason is simple: they do not suffer from a lack of name recognition. That foursome will be expected to do well in the two earliest contests, the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary, but for all other candidates, a reasonably strong showing may well be necessary just to make it to Super Duper Tuesday on 2/5/08.

Significantly, two of the biggest spenders so far come from the ranks of the nation's governors, who are known in their own state but whose fame may not necessarily have spread much further. Massachusetts Republican Mitt Romney and New Mexico Democrat Bill Richardson are said to be leading both packs in early spending. Also said to be in the early fray are John Edwards (D-NC) and Chris Dodd (D-CT). Romney is said to have already spent 2M.

RBR observation: The best-funded campaigns can afford to keep their powder dry now, but they are sure to unleash impressive barrages toward the end of this year and into 2008. Those already firing can be expected to intensify their activity. And the poorer campaigns will have no choice but to shoot off their entire arsenal and hope to generate enough of a showing to attract survival money after the early delegates are claimed. Cash should be flying hot and heavy in all directions. The combination of almost 20 serious candidates and a front-loaded schedule are unprecedented. We will all be sitting back and watching history being made, with the exception of broadcast traffic managers, who may well need counseling once this blows over.

Cox Enterprises announced the death Monday of Barbara Cox Anthony, the younger daughter of company founder James Cox. Barbara Cox Anthony and her surviving sister, Anne Cox Chambers, had continued family ownership of nearly all of Cox Enterprises stock, a company founded 108 years ago and now a multimedia giant in newspapers, radio, TV and cable, plus auto auctions and publications. Barbara Cox Anthony never held an executive position with Cox Enterprises, but served on its board of directors for many years. The company was headed, in succession, by her father, her brother (who died childless in 1974), her husband and, since 1988, her son. "She inspired me both personally and professionally. As we mourn my mother's passing, we will always be grateful to her for her leadership and constant support of Cox employees," said current Cox Enterprises Chairman and CEO James Cox Kennedy.

According to the company's obituary, Barbara Cox Anthony played a key role in expanding Cox Enterprises into the media giant it is today. Describing her brother, James Cox Jr., as "tight," she had to convince him to overcome his fear of debt to make some important media acquisitions back in the 1960s.

While she left the direct management of the media businesses to others, Barbara Cox Anthony was an active cattle breeder. She died in Hawaii, where she had spent much of her life overseeing all aspects of a 7,500-acre ranch. In addition to cattle, the ranch produces cut flowers and coffee beans.

RBR observation: As the Cox legacy begins to pass officially to the third generation, it is still a tight-knit family holding the reins of this media empire. James Kennedy has only one sister, Blair Parry-Okeden of Australia, and both siblings were at their mother's bedside when she died. Their aunt, who is 87, has three children. Despite being among the wealthiest people in the world, each with a fortune estimated at 12-13 billion, both sisters shunned the limelight.

"Although frequently named one of the world's wealthiest people and the co-owner of a large, highly visible company, Mrs. Anthony managed to maintain a low public profile. Never a celebrity, she shunned limousines whenever possible. She delighted in the fact that she could fly by private plane into Sydney and walk unnoticed past the gathered paparazzi who were looking for the more famous media owner, Rupert Murdoch, who used the same airport facility," the company obituary noted. Cox Enterprises has also posted a photo retrospective of Barbara Cox Anthony on its website. We particularly like the shot of her as an adventurous young woman with her race car and helmet.

George Noory, host of Premier Radio Networks' "Coast to Coast AM," has been booked for a late-night video special on NBC Universal's SciFi cable channel. "Into The Unknown with George Noory," will air Wednesday, June 13 at 11:00 pm (ET/PT). For years Noory has riveted radio listeners with his discussions of paranormal phenomena, time travel, alien abductions, conspiracies and all things curious and unexplained, but this will be his first TV special.

In the 30-minute show, taped in front of a live audience, Noory interviews actor Gary Busey about the star's own near-death experience and his claims that angels spoke to him, changing his life forever. Noory also examines a report from Florida in which the sound of a dead woman's singing has been recorded on tape and interviews paranormal expert Joshua P. Warren about the Paranormal PC – a computer designed specifically to record ghostly activity. Executive producers are Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey.

We were right with our call that Tribune Company would not be completing its 73 million bucks sale of two Connecticut newspapers to Gannett anytime soon, after an arbitrator ruled that Tribune could not close the sale unless Gannett assumed the existing United Auto Workers union contract for employees at the Advocate of Stamford, CT. In fact, the deal is not going to close at all. Gannett has refused to do the deal if it has to accept the union contract, so the companies announced Friday that the deal has been terminated. Tribune says it will seek another buyer for the Stamford daily and the Greenwich Time.