Breaking Story

Clinton and Obama Square Off in Wisconsin

02.19.08 -- 7:18 AM

By John Whitesides - Reuters

Democrats in Wisconsin and Hawaii make their choices on Tuesday in a heated presidential battle, with Hillary Clinton hoping to snap Barack Obama's winning streak ahead of big contests in March.

The pair's hard-fought nominating duel featured a sharp exchange on Monday over Obama's uncredited use of a political ally's speech lines, the latest in a series of sometimes harsh charges between the two White House contenders.

Public opinion polls show Obama and Clinton in a tight race in Wisconsin, where Obama aims to extend his string of eight straight victories in Democratic nominating contests. Obama, a Hawaii native, is a heavy favorite in that state.

McCain Gets 50 Delegates From Mich., La.

02.17.08 -- 7:11 AM

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN and DOUG SIMPSON - Associated Press

Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, picked up a total of 50 GOP national convention delegates from Michigan and Louisiana Saturday.

Republicans met in both states to resolve how to divvy up delegates to the national convention in September.

Thirty-two of Louisiana's 47 delegates told The Associated Press they intend to vote for McCain, and three others also are expected to back him.

Likewise, a majority of Michigan's presidential delegates also say they'll back the Arizona senator now that primary winner Mitt Romney is out of the race, although it's still unclear how many will go to the national convention.

As a result, McCain has 903 total delegates nationally, according to an Associated Press tally. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has 245, while Romney's total dropped to 253. A total of 1,191 are needed to secure the nomination.

Black Lawmakers Rethink Clinton Support

02.15.08 -- 7:15 AM

By David Espo - Associated Press

In a fresh sign of trouble for Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of the former first lady's congressional black supporters intends to vote for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, and a second, more prominent lawmaker is openly discussing a possible switch.

Rep. David Scott's defection and Rep. John Lewis' remarks highlight one of the challenges confronting Clinton in a campaign that pits a black man against a woman for a nomination that historically has been the exclusive property of white men.

"You've got to represent the wishes of your constituency," Scott said in an interview Wednesday in the Capitol. "My proper position would be to vote the wishes of my constituents." The third-term lawmaker represents a district that gave more than 80 percent of its vote to Obama in the Feb. 5 Georgia primary.

Analysis: Evangelical Message to McCain

02.12.08 -- 7:09 PM

By Liz Sidoti - AP

Mike Huckabee's recent refrain about believing in miracles makes the ordained Baptist minister appear almost prophetic.

Christian evangelicals in Virginia who favored him in droves seemed to send the would-be Republican presidential nominee John McCain a message from on high - they won't roll over so easily.

Although the Arizona senator has effectively sealed the GOP nomination, Huckabee and his faith-focused followers waged a fierce fight to overtake McCain in what should have been a stronghold for the Vietnam prisoner of war given the state's long military tradition and Virginia Sen. John Warner's backing.

In the end, McCain captured Virginia - and its 60 delegates - but the primary was surprisingly hard-fought and underscored just how much work he still has to do to get a critical portion of the Republican Party base on board before the general election.

Obama Defeats Clinton in Maine Caucuses

02.10.08 -- 5:58 PM

By Glenn Adams - AP

Barack Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in Maine presidential caucuses Sunday, grabbing a majority of delegates as the state's Democrats overlooked the snowy weather and turned out in heavy numbers for municipal gatherings.

Democrats in 420 Maine towns and cities were deciding how the state's 24 delegates will be allotted at the party's national convention in August. Despite the weather, turnout was "incredible," party executive director Arden Manning said.

With 99 percent of the participating precincts reporting, Obama led in state delegates elected over Clinton, 2,079 to 1,396, with 18 uncommitted.

McCain Refines Plan for General Election

02.08.08 -- 5:48 PM

By Liz Sidoti - Associated Press

Republican John McCain plans to run a general election campaign as steadfast protector of the United States in the face of terrorism as well as a crusader against big government. The Democrats, he says, offer neither.

"They would govern this country in a way that will, in my opinion, take this country backward," the likely GOP nominee said this week in a speech to conservative activists that served as his opening argument for a fall showdown with either Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama.

With chief rival Mitt Romney out of the race, McCain is gearing up for the most wide-open presidential election in half a century and the first since 1960 in which a senator will win the White House.

McCain Reaches Out to Conservatives But Only So Far

02.07.08 -- 8:25 AM

By Steve Holland - Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican front-runner John McCain is trying to gain his party's presidential nomination by convincing conservatives he is one of them, without hurting support from moderate voters who have propelled his candidacy.

The Arizona senator who scored major Super Tuesday victories is making clear that a key goal will be to energize the Republican base, but that he will never be able to placate all of his critics on the right.

"I think my record indicates that I'm a solid conservative," McCain said, while noting that with some in his party, "we've got disagreements on specific issues from time to time."

Analysis: Clinton-Obama Battle Goes On

02.06.08 -- 6:16 AM

By Nedra Pickler - Associated Press

So much for the quick victory the early primaries were expected to bring.

With a split decision on Super Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have entered into a protracted campaign that may not end for weeks. This isn't how it was supposed to play out in the compressed primary calendar.

The result is that far more voters across the country will have their say in deciding the Democratic nominee - the first woman or the first black - instead of just the early state residents who usually pick the winner.

Clinton was long positioned as the presumptive nominee, then Obama won Iowa and appeared to be on his way to toppling her. Since then, they have taken turns resurrecting themselves with surprising victories that have set up the most competitive Democratic presidential primary since 1984.

Delegate Races Tight

02.04.08 -- 5:22 PM

By Stephen Ohlemacher - AP

Both political parties have relatively close delegate races heading into Super Tuesday, when voters in nearly half the states and American Samoa will vote in primaries and caucuses.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has the overall lead in delegates to the Democratic convention, with 261, according to an Associated Press analysis of delegate totals. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has 196.

Obama has won more delegates in the primaries and caucuses held to date. But Clinton leads in endorsements from superdelegates - party and elected officials who automatically attend the convention and can support whomever they choose, regardless of the outcome of the primaries.

A total of 1,681 Democratic delegates in 22 states and American Samoa will be up for grabs Tuesday. However, it will be difficult for either candidate to take a decisive lead because the Democrats award delegates proportionally in every state. That means the second-place finisher in every state will also win delegates, as long as they get at least 15 percent of the vote.

A total of 2,025 delegates are needed to secure the Democratic nomination.

Sen. John McCain has an even narrower lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the race for delegates to the Republican convention. McCain has 102 delegates, including endorsements from party leaders who automatically attend the convention. Romney has 93 delegates and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has 43, according to the AP analysis.

A total of 1,023 Republican delegates will be at stake in 21 states Tuesday.

The Republicans have a better chance of crowning a clear front-runner because nine Super Tuesday states award all their delegates to the candidate who wins the primary or caucus. Other Republican states award delegates based on vote totals in individual congressional districts.

A total of 1,191 delegates are needed to secure the Republican nomination.

The AP tracks the delegate races by projecting the number of national convention delegates won by candidates in each presidential primary or caucus, based on state and national party rules, and by interviewing unpledged delegates to obtain their preferences.

In some states, like Iowa and Nevada, local precinct caucuses are the first stage in the allocation process. The AP uses preferences expressed in those caucuses to project the number of national convention delegates each candidate will have when they are chosen at county, congressional district or state conventions.

Romney Expects to Fight on Past Tuesday

02.03.08 -- 11:42 AM

By Glen Johnson - Associated Press

Despite John McCain's building political momentum, Mitt Romney said Saturday he does not expect the Republican presidential nomination to be settled during the coming week and he is planning to continue campaigning beyond Super Tuesday.

The former Massachusetts governor said the number of states up for grabs, his prospects of succeeding in some of the 20-plus GOP contests that day, as well as a growing concern within the Republican Party about conferring the nomination on McCain give him reason to fight on.

Romney said he plans to speak Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference convention in Washington, although he conceded he may pare his staff after Tuesday's elections surpass the halfway point in the nomination battle.

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