796 Insiders May Hold Democrats' Key

For months, Patsy Arceneaux sat on the fence as key aides to the presidential campaigns of Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama made gentle but persistent inquiries. Ann Lewis, a close Clinton adviser, called weekly. The 2004 Democratic nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.), called, urging her to jump behind Obama.

Candidates File 30-Day Campaign Finance Reports

by Will Lutz

With less than 30 days to go until the primaries, candidates had to file another round of campaign finance reports.

Obama Wins Maine, Giving Him 4 Victories in Weekend

Senator Barack Obama defeated Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Maine caucuses on Sunday, giving him his fourth victory this weekend as he headed into three more state contests on Tuesday.

Next Up for the Democrats: Civil War

by Frank Rich

WHAT if a presidential candidate held what she billed as "the largest, most interactive town hall in political history" on national television, and no one noticed?

Coronation on Hold: McCain Loses 2 States

by Stephen Dinan

Just days after being anointed the all-but-certain Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain failed his first big test, losing Kansas' caucuses and Louisiana's primaries yesterday to Mike Huckabee.

Obama Says Clinton Has Big Advantage in Texas

Strategists for Sen. Barack Obama acknowledged Friday that they are waging an uphill battle against Sen. Hillary Clinton in Texas but characterized her as a polarizing figure and vowed to fight hard in the increasingly important Lone Star State.

Republican Paul Says He Won't Run as Third-Party Candidate

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul said he will not run as a third-party candidate in a new message to supporters that seems to recognize his slim chances at getting the Republican nomination.

The Lone Star?

The pundits have conceded the Republican presidential nomination to Sen. John McCain. But Mike Huckabee would beg to disagree.

Texas Delegate System Makes the Candidates Choose Their Battles

Texas Democrats are dusting off their party's rules to figure out how Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama can use the state's complex primary and caucus system to win national convention delegates needed to secure the party's presidential nomination.

Perry Urges Conservatives to Rally Behind McCain

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Saturday called on conservatives to put their doubts aside and rally behind Arizona Sen. John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination.

Bush Urges McCain to 'Rally' GOP Base

President Bush yesterday called Sen. John McCain a "true conservative," but added that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee - a proud moderate who has bucked conservatives throughout his career - has some work to do to convince party critics.

McCain's Veep Options

by Pat Toomey

While congratulations are still premature, with Mitt Romney dropping out of the race yesterday it is now very likely that the Republican Party will nominate Sen. John McCain for president.

For Clinton, Bid Hinges on Texas and Ohio

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and her advisers increasingly believe that, after a series of losses, she has been boxed into a must-win position in the Ohio and Texas primaries on March 4, and she has begun reassuring anxious donors and superdelegates that the nomination is not slipping away from her, aides said on Monday.

Hutchison's Vice President Potential Being Debated

No statewide candidate in Texas has ever drawn more votes than Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. She's a GOP leader, a visible force on taxes and foreign policy. She's ambitious and telegenic. But, like Sen. John McCain, she's had testy relations with social conservatives - the very segment of the party he needs at his side in November.

Dem's ''Dream Ticket'': Why It Won't Happen

by Michael Medved

With the two Democratic candidates nearly tied in the number of delegates they've amassed, and the prospect of months more of ferocious competition, party leaders yearn for them to settle the struggle by joining together in a "dream ticket" of Clinton-Obama or even Obama-Clinton.

Obama Momentum Puts Clinton in Dangerous Position

by Robert Novak and Timothy P. Carney

Amid the exciting windup of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination and the mop-up of the Republican contest, the reality is that 2008 shapes up as a very bad year for the GOP. The fact that the Democratic turnout in yesterday's Virginia primary was double the Republican reflects the larger, more boisterous Democratic rallies from Iowa to the Potomac primaries. The pessimism and gloom in the business community is particularly pronounced.

Gloves Coming Off as Clinton Tries to Win Over South Texans

Stung by eight straight losses to Barack Obama, presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton began trying to erect a political firewall in Texas on Wednesday, and it sounded like she'll have to take off the gloves to build it.

Candidates' Earmarks Worth Millions

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton helped secure more than $340 million worth of home-state projects in last year's spending bills, placing her among the top 10 Senate recipients of what are commonly known as earmarks, according to a new study by a nonpartisan budget watchdog group.

Clinton, Obama Aides Confident of Winning Texas

Fresh off a triple victory in Tuesday's "Potomac primary," Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is now focused on making inroads in support that opponent Hillary Clinton may already have with Texans.

"Breakfast with Huckabee"

by Tom Pauken

John Broder of the New York Times recounted a series of questions and answers in a breakfast meeting of some 30 Washington - based reporters and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. It was an interesting exchange.

Clinton, Obama Offer Similar Economic Visions

Hillary Rodham Clinton slammed Barack Obama during an appearance at a General Motors plant here on Thursday for what she charged was a lack of a record of achievement on the economy. But as both Democratic presidential candidates announced comprehensive economic plans this week, they advocated similar visions for what has become the single biggest issue for voters in the 2008 campaign.

Limbaugh Sees No Reconciliation with McCain

Rush Limbaugh took his show on the road this week, forsaking his main broadcast studio in Palm Beach, Fla., for one in Midtown Manhattan. But the change of scenery did nothing to dampen the Republican-on-Republican smackdown he has been waging from afar against Senator John McCain, the party's likely presidential nominee, whom Mr. Limbaugh considers too moderate.