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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Early lesson: 'Mo' trumps 'O'
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John Kerry made a strong showing in Arizona, despite lagging poll numbers in recent weeks.
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Stay with CNN-USA for comprehensive analysis and ongoing coverage of developments in the run-up to the weekend's presidential caucuses in Michigan, Washington and Maine.
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VIDEO
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CNN's Candy Crowley on '04 Dems' hopes of slowing John Kerry.
CNN's Dan Lothian on Wesley Clark taking his campaign to the South.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien talks with John Edwards on 'American Morning.'
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SPECIAL REPORT
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
• ELECTION SCHOOL: The first rounds of Democratic primaries and caucuses have taught one lesson above all: In the party's compressed nomination calendar, momentum trumps money and organization.
The Los Angeles Times: Democrats get quick lesson on early calendar
• TARGETING KERRY: John Edwards, bolstered by his strong victory in South Carolina, rolls into the next contests with new fund-raising momentum and a selective strategy -- focusing on front-runner John Kerry, and picking his targets in more moderate and conservative states.
The Boston Globe: Picking his spots, Edwards eyes Kerry
• GOP RIPS KERRY: Republicans and their allies have begun laying the groundwork for a familiar line of attack against John Kerry -- that he is "out of sync" with most voters and a man who votes with "the extreme elements of his party," as Ed Gillespie, the Republican chairman, has put it in recent days.
The New York Times: GOP revives line of attack against Kerry
• LISTEN HERE: The Rev. Al Sharpton believes he can be a winner in Saturday's Michigan Democratic presidential caucuses without winning. During two stops in Detroit, Sharpton argued that votes for him will force the Democratic Party to take a hard look at issues affecting minorities and the working class.
The Detroit Free Press: Sharpton to voters: Be heard
• NO PLACE LIKE HOME: One day after disappointing defeats in Tuesday's round of primaries, Joe Lieberman returned to his home state to give what was possibly the most bittersweet speech of his career.
The New York Times: After a run ends, glad to be home
• NO QUITTER: Dean prepared his supporters for yet another loss this Saturday in Michigan but said that he would not quit the race if that happened. Dean denied that any party officials have asked him to leave the race and is sticking to his plan of slow accumulation of delegates.
The New York Times: Dean vows to continue but prepares for a loss
• THE NOOSE TIGHTENS: This is the stage in the presidential nomination fight in which money flows to winners and steadily dries up for the rest of the field. The pinch is becoming clear to some candidates: about 250 members of Wesley Clark's staff voted yesterday to forgo $240,000 in salaries to pay for TV ads in Tennessee and John Edwards is using previously produced ads to save money.
The Washington Post: As money flows to Kerry, challengers must scrimp
CLAIMING TENNESSEE: While John Kerry spent the day resting in Boston, John Edwards and Wesley Clark focused their energy on the Tennessee primary, seeing it as their ticket to take on Kerry in the fight for the nomination.
The Washington Post: Rivals stake claim to Tennessee
Compiled by Heather Riley
