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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Gearing up for Super Tuesday
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The John Kerry and John Edwards camps see the "Super Tuesday" primaries on March 2 as a head-to-head contest.
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Stay with CNN-USA for reactions and analysis all evening to the Ralph Nader candidacy -- and for live updates on the run-up to Tuesday's primary in Utah and caucuses in Hawaii and Idaho.
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VIDEO
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CNN's Candy Crowley on Ralph Nader's announcement of a run for president.
CNN's Kelly Wallace on John Kerry's challenge to President Bush for a debate.
CNN's Dan Lothian on John Edwards' message about jobs and trade.
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| UPCOMING PRIMARIES |
• Tuesday, February 24: Hawaii, Idaho Democratic caucuses; Utah primary • Sunday, February 29: Puerto Rico Republican primary • "Super Tuesday," March 2: Primaries in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia; caucuses in Minnesota 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.
RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK: Time is running short for John Edwards as he tries to erase the imposing leads that John Kerry has in the most recent polls in virtually all 10 states voting on Super Tuesday, March 2, for the Democratic presidential nominee. Late surges propelled Edwards to victory in the South Carolina primary and surprisingly strong second-place finishes in Iowa and Wisconsin, and he believes that he can create similar rallies in coming primaries and even overtake Kerry if time does not run out.
The New York Times: For Edwards, it's a race against Kerry and time
CANDIDATE BUSH: President Bush will significantly ramp up his drive for reelection over the next week, senior aides say, with a speech tonight intended to sharpen his differences with his Democratic rivals over the economy and national security and the long-awaited launch of his television advertising campaign next week. On March 4, the campaign will dip into its roughly $104 million war chest for the Republicans' first television commercials of the reelection campaign. Although many Democrats have been bracing for a television barrage from Bush criticizing the party's eventual nominee, Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman said the initial ads would feature a positive message about the president's record.
The Los Angeles Times: Bush to rev up campaign in speech, TV ads
NADER'S RATIONALE: After announcing he will make his fourth run for the White House, consumer advocate Ralph Nader predicted that his candidacy would hurt President Bush more than the eventual Democratic nominee. He said he expects to get more votes from Republicans and independents than from Democrats -- votes that otherwise could have gone to Bush.
The Washington Post: Nader to run as independent
DEMOCRATIC DISTINCTIONS: Edwards draws contrasts with Kerry along class lines, pointing to his mill-town background and letting voters compare that with Kerry's patrician upbringing. Sweeping through the industrial Midwest before returning for another day campaigning in New York, Edwards made it clear Sunday he was relishing two campaign debates in the coming week, one in California and one in New York, both to be attended by Kerry and the other remaining Democratic candidates.
The Associated Press: Edwards anticipates clashes with Kerry
ISSUES POTPOURRI: Heading into Super Tuesday, Democratic presidential hopefuls must find ways to address voter concerns in dozens of metropolitan areas on a staggering array of issues. The economy and foreign policy are national concerns, yet Ohio is particularly abuzz about the loss of manufacturing jobs. In Georgia there is a fight over the Confederate flag. In New York, candidates are being asked to address racism in the police department. And in California, where defeating Bush is the Democrats' No. 1 issue, the biggest news story of the week has been San Francisco's gay marriages.
The San Francisco Chronicle: Super Tuesday super task for candidates
DEANIACS FOR EDWARDS: Edwards, who is way behind Kerry in New York polls, got a bit of a boost yesterday from New York members of Howard Dean's now-defunct campaign. Eric Schmeltzer, a former Dean spokesman, launched a Web site boosting the North Carolina senator's candidacy -- DeaniacsForEdwards.com.
The New York Daily News: Dem hopefuls flock to city
EDWARDS' UPSTATE BARB: Campaigning in Rochester on Sunday, Edwards took a not-so-subtle shot at Kerry following his 20-minute speech, knocking him for canceling a planned stop in Rochester. Kerry and his wife both dumped plans to be in Rochester on Saturday. "I care about this part of the state," Edwards told reporters. "If you care about it, you come here and campaign."
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Edwards comes to Rochester
GEORGIA GENERAL ELECTION PREVIEW: Kerry's weekend of campaigning in Atlanta for the Democratic nomination sounded more like a preview of a general election campaign as the Massachusetts senator and Republican officials traded barbs. When Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, said in a conference call with reporters Saturday morning that Kerry had a "32-year history of voting to cut defense programs and cut defense systems," it drew an immediate and sharp response.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Candidates come calling
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY: Kerry's Atlanta campaign appearance showed that Kerry has no trouble winning over audiences of blacks and liberal voters, as well as those who are angriest about President Bush's leadership. But Atlanta is hardly representative of Georgia, let alone the South at large: the first question Kerry faced was from a transgendered veteran who wanted to know whether Kerry would leave no transgendered American behind. Kerry said he favored hate-crime legislation and the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
The New York Times: On foray into the South, Kerry gets a spirited welcome
DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT DESIGNS: Democrats are honing an election-year strategy of using record federal deficits to try and undermine the credibility of President Bush and Congress' majority Republicans.
The Associated Press: Democrats will use deficits to attack Bush, GOP credibility
ARNOLD FOR PRESIDENT?: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Washington for a meeting with his fellow governors, told a national television audience Sunday that the U.S. Constitution should be amended so he and other foreign-born Americans would be eligible for the presidency.
The Los Angeles Times: Gov. backs idea of foreign-born U.S. president
LOOKING TO 2005: Democrat Fernando Ferrer courted homeowners in Queens yesterday, setting the stage for his expected 2005 run against New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- who raised property taxes 18.5 percent.
The New York Post: Ferer woos Queens homeowners with eye on Mike's job
Compiled by Mark H. Rodeffer
