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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Getting ready to go national
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Clark and Edwards might want to smile less at Kerry to increase their own ratings.
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Stay with CNN-USA for frequent updates and comprehensive live coverage in the run-up to Tuesday's seven-state contest in the Democratic presidential primaries.
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CNN's Joe Johns on Al Sharpton and South Carolina's African-American vote.
CNN's Frank Buckley on John Edwards use of his Southern credentials.
CNN's Kelly Wallace on John Kerry's efforts to fend off criticism of his fund raising.
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| UPCOMING PRIMARIES |
• Tuesday, February 3: Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona, Delaware, South Carolina primaries; North Dakota and New Mexico caucuses • Saturday, February 7: Michigan and Washington caucuses • Sunday, February 8: Maine caucuses • Tuesday, February 10: Tennessee primary and Virginia primaries When is your primary? For more key dates in the 2004 election season, see our special America Votes 2004 Election Calendar |
SPECIAL REPORT
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
KERRY'S KID GLOVES: Is frontrunner John Kerry getting off too easy? Since Iowa, candidates have chosen to raise virtually no argument against Kerry's possible nomination or even establish any sharp contrasts with him on issues. Although each campaign worries that challenging Kerry may drive down their own candidate's favorability ratings, one of the clearest lessons of the last two weeks is that unless voters are given a good reason to abandon the frontrunner, in most places most of them will flow toward him. Clark and Edwards have slowly noticed this, stepping up criticism of Kerry in the last weekend.
The Los Angeles Times: Treating Kerry with kid gloves can only boost momentum
COURTING THE HISPANIC VOTE: With Arizona holding a Hispanic population of 25 percent and New Mexico with 42 percent, the Democratic presidential candidates are heavily courting the surging number of Hispanics who are about to go to the polls in what some have labeled "Latino Super Tuesday." How Hispanics will vote remains unclear, polls in Arizona and New Mexico show a large number of undecided voters.
The New York Times: A vital bloc, realizing its power, measures its suitors
DECLARING PARTY LOYALTY: In an effort to deter Republicans from voting in the contest and creating mischief, South Carolina will require voters to declare they are Democrats if they want to participate in Tuesday?s presidential primary. Many voters are turned off by this idea and strategically, the move could throw a damper on turnout and hurt the chances of candidates John Edwards, Wesley Clark and Joe Lieberman - who are hoping to attract independent voters and disaffected Republicans.
The State: Primary oath faces criticism
DEAN'S NEW STRATEGY: In a strategy that defies conventional political wisdom and marks another attempt by his unconventional campaign to plow a new course to the presidency, Howard Dean's goal is not to steamroll his rivals, but to outlast them, hoping for a one-on-one shot at the front-runner, John Kerry, before Kerry wins enough delegates to be nominated. Dean and his new campaign chief, Roy Neel, have focused on February 17 when Wisconsin puts its 72 delegates at stake and say that the true test of their campaign may not come until the contests on March 2 and March 9.
The Boston Globe: New Dean strategy raises eyebrows
THE FIRST EVER POSSIBLE SKULL AND BONES MATCHUP: "Rest assured, there are no pictures of them dancing together naked," said David Wade, Mr. Kerry's spokesman. Ok, so maybe not. But both George Bush and John Kerry are graduates of Yale and fellow members of the university's most elitist secret society, Skull and Bones. So if Mr. Kerry becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, the 2004 campaign will represent the first skull-to-skull match-up of Bonesmen in history.
The New York Times: Nude wrestling? Good practice for politics
INQUIRY SOUGHT IN HOUSE VOTE ON DRUG PLAN FOR MEDICARE: A leading House Democrat has called on Speaker J. Dennis Hastert to initiate an ethics investigation into accusations of bribery during last November's vote on the new Medicare drug plan, warning that Democrats will conduct their own inquiry if the House leader does not act. This comes after Rep Nick Smith, said groups and lawmakers had offered support for his son's Congressional campaign if Mr. Smith backed the measure, which passed 220 to 215. Republicans say it's politics, Democrats say that the investigation is needed to protect Smith's reputation.
The New York Times: Inquiry sought in House vote on drug plan for Medicare
HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE: In what many are considering a "must-win" state, John Edwards' parents, Bobbie and Wallace, spend time in Edwards' hometown Senaca, South Carolina, stressing his South Carolina roots. Edwards is counting on these roots to help him score a breakthrough victory in his native South Carolina.
Raleigh News and Observer: S.C. hometown remembers a young Edwards
ARIZONA -- "INFORMATION KEY": Recent polls in Arizona show that Kerry is clearly the man to beat. A statewide poll has about one-third of voters planning to vote for him. One in five is still undecided. Some voters who were once for other candidates say that they have moved into the Kerry camp for the mere reason that they hae received more information on Kerry. A forum tonight in Phoenix on issues of interest to Hispanics could change those numbers, giving candidates a chance to speak directly this crucial block of voters.
The Arizona Republic: Kerry has big edge in Arizona
KERRY'S LOAN, KEY TO REVIVAL: Less the 3 months ago, John Kerry's campaign was all but written off. A sudden infusion of cash, made possible by Kerry's decision to invest a fortune, $6.4 million, of his own money helped to revive a campaign that was surviving financially from fundraiser-to-fundraiser. With the borrowed money, Kerry's campaign ended 2003 with $1.6 million in the bank. Without it, the campaign would have been $1.29 million in debt.
The Washington Post: Kerry's loans were key to his revival
GORE HITS CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOR DEAN: Howard Dean got help Sunday from a Democratic Party heavyweight, former Vice President Al Gore, who campaigned for Dean in several Detroit churches on Sunday. Dean stepped up his attacks on President Bush and his fellow candidates, calling them "Washington Insiders" and "Bush-lite." This was Dean's second trip to Michigan in four days, spotlighting how crucial he feels Saturday's Michigan caucuses are to his campaign survival.
Detroit Free Press: Democrats in metro Detroit: Dean counting on Michigan
THE "HOLLYWOOD PRIMARY": There is no clear frontrunner. In previous elections, Hollywood was a major financial player in Democratic politics. But as of Sept. 30 of last year, the last period for which complete figures are available, donors in the entertainment industry had given a total of $6.6 million, compared with more than $9 million in the same period in 1999. Many in Hollywood say they are taking a "wait and see" approach, wanting to throw their resources behind the person they feel can unseat George Bush.
The New York Times: So far, candidates' show-biz reviews are lukewarm
Compiled by Heather Riley
