TOMORROW, NEW HAMPSHIRE

I was in Manchester, New Hampshire tonight and had the chance to see the madness that is the First-in-the-Nation Primary. There is, as has been reported, excitement about change. I attended the Hillary Clinton rally. She talks alot about change, but is still running a 2004 campaign. Rather than pump up her troops for tomorrow, she blasted George W. Bush and gave detailed policy lectures. Not exactly the thing to pump up a crowd at ten o'clock the night before the do-or-die day. Barack Obama did not fail to fill his hall with energy and excitement, and that is why I think Obama will win today.

For the Republicans, it will be John McCain. Voters aren't willing to be duped by Mitt Romney anymore, and polls are showing McCain to be the comeback kid in this cycle.

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THE FIELD

Clinton Braces for Second Loss; Union, Senators May Back Obama

By Jackie Calmes
Wall Street Journal
January 8, 2008

NASHUA, N.H. -- With Barack Obama strongly favored -- even within Hillary Clinton's camp -- to win a second straight victory in today's New Hampshire Democratic primary, both rivals are looking to the next battle grounds. But his momentum threatens to swamp her in the next two states as well and shows signs of fracturing her support in the party establishment…

In N.H., Obama may be out of Clinton's reach

Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

As voters prepare to go to the polls, new data boosts the Illinois Sen. to the top of the Democratic charts…

CLINTON

Tears Have Turned Campaigns
Emotional Clinton Moment Could Change Perceptions, But in Which Direction?

By Amy Chozick
Wall Street Journal
January 8, 2008

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- After weeks of trying to soften her image, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's teary response yesterday to a voter's question could do more than any ad campaign or posed photo op. The question now: Did it help her cause? Or did she project the weakness that could be fatal for a presidential candidate?

Clinton’s Campaign Shows Stress Before Primary

By Patrick Healy
Wall Street Journal
January 8, 2008

If Hillary Rodham Clinton loses in New Hampshire, everything will be on the table, including replacing officials and changing strategy, her advisers say…

Clinton’s Civil Rights Lesson

By Sarah Wheaton
New York Times
January 7, 2008

Clinton campaign hits a bump over a recollection of the civil rights era…

Why I Still Back Hillary Clinton

By Robert Farmer
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

Early last year John Kerry called me to say he was not going to run for president in 2008. I had served as his national treasurer in 2004 and was among those who felt he should consider running again. He would have made a great president. But it is almost impossible to overcome $450 million in negative advertising…

A Chink in the Steely Facade of Hillary Clinton

By Robin Givhan
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

For a brief moment at a campaign stop in Portsmouth, N.H., Hillary Clinton let slip a glimpse of uncontrolled emotion. In response to a question from an empathetic voter who wondered how she remains upbeat and "so wonderful," Clinton's voice cracked as she conceded that the nonstop campaigning -- and all it entails -- is not easy…

Dartmouth Students Walk Out on Bill

By Jose Antonio Vargas
Washington Post
January 7, 2008

HANOVER, N.H. -- About thirty minutes into Bill Clinton's nearly two-hour stop here at Dartmouth College, a steady stream of students started walking out of the venue…

Question draws out a usually guarded Clinton

By Peter Nicholas
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

'It's not easy,' says the Democratic candidate in an emotional response to how she keeps up appearances. Voters at the event react with praise…

Clintons fight for primary rebound

By Mark Z. Barabak, Peter Nicholas and Robin Abcarian
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

The senator and her husband cross New Hampshire to challenge Obama. There are signs of a crumbling strategy…

Bill Clinton defends wife's experience

By Robin Abcarian
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

In New Hampshire, the former president marvels that public service could be held against her. He sees the New York senator as the winner of Saturday's debate…

Villaraigosa gives pep talk to Clinton troops

By Scott Martelle
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

The Los Angeles mayor, in New Hampshire, tells volunteers that the candidate's experience separates her from the pack…

Clinton gets emotional, then tears into front-runner

By Mike Dorning and John McCormick
Chicago Tribune
January 8, 2008

Hillary Clinton's eyes welled with tears at a campaign event Monday in a rare display of public emotion from the former first lady, one measure of the toll that the opening phase of the presidential campaign has taken on her candidacy…

Clinton responds to seemingly sexist shouts

Associated Press
January 8, 2008

Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign stop was interrupted Monday when two men stood in the crowd and began screaming, "Iron my shirt!" during one of her final appearances before the New Hampshire primary…

EDWARDS

Underdog Edwards says he won't give up the fight for the White House

By Seema Mehta and James Rainey
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

Lacking the money and poll numbers of Obama and Clinton, the former senator launches a bus tour of New Hampshire…

OBAMA

The Color Of an Advantage

By Anne Applebaum
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

WARSAW -- "Will Americans vote for a black man for president?"

Getting Behind Obama
Pr. George's Residents Rally Around Man They Call The First Viable Black Presidential Candidate

By Avis Thomas-Lester
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

They gathered their boots, mittens and earmuffs, rented a van and headed north on Interstate 95 out of Prince George's County to support their candidate for president…

Ready to give Barack the part
From the beginning, Hollywood has loved Obama's story -- his "pitch" as they say -- but was wary of his real box office potential.

By Tina Daunt
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

ON desks all over Hollywood, there's a note this morning waiting to be sent…

For black skeptics, Obama cites Iowa

By Peter Wallsten and Richard Fausset
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

His victory there proves whites are ready for an African American president, his camp tells South Carolina voters…

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McCAIN

Establishment Favor May Hurt Maverick McCain

Wall Street Journal
January 8, 2008

The good news for Sen. John McCain is that he suddenly looks pretty good to a Republican establishment eager to have somebody/anybody other than Mike Huckabee as its presidential standard bearer. The bad news is that this may not be a great year to be the establishment choice…

Retracing Steps, McCain Is Feeling Rejuvenated

By Adam Nagourney and Marc Santora
New York Times
January 7, 2008

John McCain, who won the New Hampshire primary in 2000, is in many ways a different candidate now…

The Guy With the Bus Is on a Roll

By Dana Milbank
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

For the moment, at least, the John McCain of yore has returned…

ROMNEY

Alas, Mitt Romney Doesn't Get the Boot At Timberland
Lagging in Race, He Passes on New Footware

By Kevin Merida
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

STRATHAM, N.H., Jan. 7 -- Mitt Romney carried his presidential dreams to one of the cultural symbols of cool today, the Timberland headquarters. He did not emerge with a pair of boots. He told CEO Jeff Swartz he didn't have time to shop at the discounted store on the grounds and declined Swartz's offer to shop for him…

Romney comes out swinging

By Michael Finnegan and Scott Martelle
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

McCain, Huckabee and Thompson scuffle with the former Massachusetts governor. Giuliani stays on the sidelines…

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BLOOMBERG

Bloomberg in Spotlight but Still Not in Fray

By Ben Casselman
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. -- Michael Bloomberg's noncampaign for president had its most public moment to date yesterday, even though many observers said the window for a Bloomberg run is closing as independent voters begin to settle on declared candidates…

Bloomberg remains on the fence

By Erika Hayasaki
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

New York's mayor keeps insisting that he will not run for president. Why do so many people not believe him?

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ARG Poll: Obama, McCain Hold Solid NH Leads

PoliticalWire.com
January 8, 2008

The final American Research Poll in New Hampshire shows Sen. Barack Obama beating Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, 40% to 31%, with John Edwards at 20%...

Candidates make last push before N.H. primary

By Jill Lawrence
USA Today
January 8, 2008

MANCHESTER, N.H. — New Hampshire voters make their presidential picks today in an environment transformed in less than a week. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has lost her national lead on the Democratic side, a new Gallup Poll shows, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has wrested the top Republican spot from Rudy Giuliani…

In state where independents rule, GOP losing sway

By Martha T. Moore
USA Today
January 8, 2008

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — Kevin Duval, who works behind the counter at Roy's convenience store here, voted for George W. Bush in 2004. The country was at war and he felt he should "leave the apple cart the way it is."

Tired candidates head for first primary

By Mark Z. Barabak and Maria L. La Ganga
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

Record turnout of more than a half-million is expected as presidential race interest mounts…

New Hampshire turning 'blue'

By Ariel Sabar
Christian Science Monitor
January 8, 2008

Most independents say they'll vote Democratic…

Candidates Find It Hard to Get Grip on State in Political Flux

By Alec MacGillis
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire is a tough place to get a handle on -- endearingly so, say its boosters. It can claim such New England icons as Robert Frost and Yankee magazine, yet it also boasts the region's premier NASCAR track, and one of its biggest draws is the raucous Motorcycle Week in June, when the drone of bikes takes over the town of Laconia…

For McCain and Obama, Echoes of 2000 and 2004

By David Broder
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

New Hampshire voters are poised to make history by repeating history…

Little New Hampshire Could Hold Big Significance for Both Parties

By Dan Balz
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 7 -- Only a few months ago, New Hampshire's reputation for delivering spellbinding primary elections was in danger. But if trend lines hold, a pair of contested primaries Tuesday will deliver outcomes with potentially enormous significance…

Obama Brings Momentum to N.H.
Clinton Looks To Feb. 5; McCain Aims To Top Romney

By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael D. Shear
Washington Post
January 8, 2008

LEBANON, N.H., Jan. 7 -- A buoyant Sen. Barack Obama, anticipating a victory in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, told voters Monday that he is "riding a wave, and you're the wave," as presidential candidates in both parties started to look beyond the campaign here to extended nomination fights through at least the beginning of February…

In Final Push for Votes, Pledges From Both Sides to Change Washington

By Adam Nagourney
New York Times
January 8, 2008

On a day that crackled with historical possibility, the presidential contest, for the moment at least, coalesced around a dominant theme…

To Get Attention In New Hampshire, Dress as an Ostrich
Pink Pigs Work for PETA, Santa for Global Warming; Catching McCain's Eye

By Brody Mullins
Wall Street Journal
January 8, 2008

NASHUA, N.H. -- Dozens of interest groups have spent millions of dollars in the 2008 campaign to help candidates and promote issues they support…

Political Markets Foresee Turning Point
Pundits and Prediction Markets Agree, New Hampshire Is Do-Or-Die

By Justin Wolfers
Wall Street Journal
January 8, 2008

On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, pundits are already asking whether Tuesday's vote will ring the death knell for certain candidates. Trading in prediction markets, both real-money betting sites and "play" money markets such as the WSJ Political Marketplace says that it could be…

A Blizzard of Ads in New Hampshire

By Katharine Q. Seelye
New York Times
January 7, 2008

If you live in the Boston/Manchester media market and you think you’ve been bombarded with political ads this year, you’re right…

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Republicans Set Sights on Obama
Recent Success Recasts The Collective Focus; New National Email Push

By Alex Frangos
Wall Street Journal
January 8, 2008

SALEM, N.H. -- Republican presidential contenders duked it out over immigration and taxes on the final day of campaigning before today's New Hampshire primary, but one candidate in particular shifted the focus of the entire group: Democrat Barack Obama…

2 Hopefuls Share Little but Appeal to Youth

By Michael Powell
New York Times
January 8, 2008

A tidal wave of young voters are buoying the campaigns of both Senators Barack Obama and John McCain…

Arkansas Proves Its Worth as a Political Testing Ground

By Adam Nossiter
New York Times
January 8, 2008

To win election in Arkansas, a state twice as rural as the national norm, is to study at a deeply challenging school of tactile politics…

Chamber of Commerce vows to punish anti-business candidates
The group indicates it will spend in excess of the approximately $60 million it put out in the last presidential cycle.

By Tom Hamburger
Los Angeles Times
January 8, 2008

WASHINGON -- Alarmed at the increasingly populist tone of the 2008 political campaign, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is set to issue a fiery promise to spend millions of dollars to defeat candidates deemed to be anti-business…

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Bush Admits Economy Faces Challenges

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and David M. Herszenhorn
New York Times
January 8, 2008

President Bush conceded that rising oil prices, the home mortgage crisis, and the weakening job market present new “economic challenges.”