<><>DEMOCRATS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

THE FIELD

Democrats Make Populist Appeals Before Contests

By John M. Broder and Jeff Zeleny
New York Times
February 19, 2008

The Democratic senators are pushing the Democratic Party further from the business-friendly posture once championed by Bill Clinton…

Clinton Camp Says Obama Plagiarized in Speech

By Jeff Zeleny
New York Times
February 19, 2008

Barack Obama he should have credited Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, a friend, for a passage in a recent speech, but added that his rival was “carrying it too far.”

Clinton Steps Up Attacks on Obama
Plagiarism, Financing Accusations Come on Eve of Wisconsin Primary

By Matthew Mosk and Peter Slevin
Washington Post
February 19, 2008

Aides to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) accused Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) yesterday of plagiarizing portions of a recent speech and continued to question his vows to reform the campaign finance system as she sought to drive home the idea that her Democratic rival's presidential bid is built on style more than substance…

Clinton camp says Obama's rhetoric "isn't his own"

By Susan Milligan
Boston Globe
February 18, 2008

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Taking aim at one of Illinois Senator Barack Obama's greatest campaign strengths -- his ability to move voters with a powerful speech -- Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign has accused Obama of plagiarizing words from his friend and political ally, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick…

OBAMA

Will Obama Deliver the Beef?

By Gerald F. Seib
Wall Street Journal
February 19, 2008

The battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, between the established early favorite and the young upstart, was well under way when the upstart began confronting a nagging criticism: His smooth and futuristic talk of "new ideas," critics charged, wasn't backed up with a lot of policy heft…

So, how about that Obama, eh?
When a reporter asks, Tanzania's president -- with Bush at his side -- demurs. Well, sort of.

By James Gerstenzang
Los Angeles Times
February 18, 2008

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA — President Bush, in public settings, regularly refuses to discuss the 2008 presidential campaign. But would the same hold true for Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the president of Tanzania, when asked at a joint news conference Sunday what Barack Obama's political progress said about America?

<><>REPUBLICANS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

McCAIN

Ex-President Bush Backs McCain

Associated Press
February 18, 2008

HOUSTON -- Former President George H.W. Bush has endorsed Sen. John McCain's bid for the Republican presidential nomination…

Former President Bush endorses McCain
Calls the presumptive GOP nominee "a remarkable patriot" with a "sound conservative record" that also allows outreach to to moderates and independents.

By Johanna Neuman
Los Angeles Times
February 18, 2008

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain, trying to solidify his support among conservatives amid resolute competition from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, today won the endorsement of former President George Bush. Welcoming "an old friend back to Texas," Bush called McCain -- who served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was captured and tortured by the Viet Cong -- "a remarkable patriot."

A McCain cabinet could bear shades of Teddy Roosevelt

By Dan Nowicki
The Arizona Republic via USA Today
February 19, 2008

PHOENIX — Democrats already are regularly attacking John McCain for offering what they characterize as a third George W. Bush term. But a new Theodore Roosevelt presidency might be closer to the mark…


<><> PRIMARY CONTESTS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

WISCONSIN

Clinton needs a Dairy State win to prevent him from winning nine primaries in a row.

By Amanda Paulson
Christian Science Monitor
February 19, 2008

It's full of blue-collar voters who have been the stalwarts of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and The black vote, which has been so strong for rival Sen.Barack Obama, is relatively miniscule here…

Democrats burrow into Wisconsin, key state on tap

By Fredreka Schouten
USA Today
February 19, 2008

WASHINGTON — Residents in three states will weigh in on the presidential contest today, but the stakes are highest in Wisconsin where Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama seek to gain momentum heading into next month's primaries in Texas and Ohio…

MARCH 4

Obama seeks to turn the tables in Ohio and Texas
Latinos and blue-collar whites, two mainstays of Clinton support, are being aggressively courted in crucial primary states.

By Peter Wallsten and Tom Hamburger
Los Angeles Times
February 18, 2008

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS — With the Democratic presidential race about to enter another crucial phase of voting, Barack Obama has launched a newly aggressive strategy to undermine two pillars of support for rival Hillary Rodham Clinton: Latinos and working-class white voters. Each is an important constituency in major March 4 primaries -- Latinos in Texas and blue-collar workers in Ohio -- which many believe Clinton must win to keep her White House hopes alive…

<><>CONGRESS<><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Risks from lapsed wiretap law are disputed
House Democrats, who let the law expire Saturday, see little danger. Intelligence officials argue the ability to track potential terrorists is impaired.

By Gail Russell Chaddock
Christian Science Monitor
February 19, 2008

The White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill each had a hand in letting a temporary wiretapping law expire this weekend, but most of the political fallout is landing on Congress…