Nassau News and The Chronicle live blog Election 2008

--Samuel Rubenfeld

Chronicle Live-Twitters the last presidential debate

Follow The Chronicle's live Twitterfeed from inside the media filing center of the University's Physical Fitness Center during the last presidential debate, held in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

The Chronicle and NassauNews liveblog and streamcast Debate '08

The University hosts the final presidential debate of the 2008 election cycle. Below are both the live-blog and the streamcast for tonight's debate:

The live-blog:


The streamcast:

New group tells students to 'vote for nobody'

Amid the shouts and cheers from supporters of both Barack Obama and John McCain, one group decided to take a different approach to voicing their opinions.

Vote for Nobody is a satirical, counter-activism group founded by sophomores Evan Harrison and Matthew Adams that strives to get people to stop shouting at one another, and start discussing using rational thoughts and ideas.

“The louder you shout, the more I think you’re an idiot. Shouting your candidates name out loud won’t change my mind as to who I am voting for,” Harrison said.

Adams added that they want people to break out of their “mob mentality” and have them converse with one another to form educated statements. “The whole process is becoming a spectacle and I don’t feel as though I am presented with enough information to make a decision,” he said.

Both Harrison and Adams held up hand made signs that voiced statements such as, “Vote for Nobody,” “Nobody will keep election promises,” “Nobody cares,” and “Nobody tells the truth.”

When asked about the meaning behind the signs, Harrison said the signs were saying that both candidates won't live up to their hype and they wont really accomplish anything. Adams added that the signs were supposed to act as a catalyst to get people to voice their own activism through intelligent thoughts and discussions with people of opposing parties.

--Taylor Paraboschi

Kenny Mayne requests song for 'Mayne Event'

ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne requested a group of acoustic musicians play a song about football players losing their helmets for a segment called the "Mayne event."

The segment, which is a fake news item attempting to raise awareness about football helmet safety, will air Sunday at 12:30 p.m., and the song will be in the segment, Mayne said.

Click To Play

Chronicle photographer published in Washington Post, again

Chronicle Senior Photo Editor Jacqueline Hlavenka was published on the Washington Post's Youth Vote blog for the second time this week.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

VIDEO: PSU pushes for alternative energy sources

The Progressive Students Union held a demonstration outside the Student Center Wednesday afternoon that emphasized the problems associated with expanded oil drilling, use of nuclear power and clean coal.

Video:

Click To Play

Photos: The MSNBC tent outside the student center

MSNBC set up its press tent outside the student center for debate night. Here's a glimpse at what's happening over there:


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

--All photos by Jaqueline Hlavenka

Democracy comes alive during series of performances

History came alive last Tuesday and Wednesday as faculty, students and professional actors came together to put on a series of performances depicting monumental figures and events in U.S. History.

Historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas were just some of many historical figures that came alive to discuss and debate their stances on important issues, such as women’s rights, civil rights and the Progressive movement.

George Frein, who portrayed Abraham Lincoln at the event, said the point of the performance was to “help people think about the democracy that they live in.” He added that the performance was also held to better educate and help people understand history by having them “think about it through the minds of historic figures.”

One event depicted a mock slave auction of an escaped slave, Pinky, who was just nine years old at the time. The slave auction was held in the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, where Pastor Henry Ward Beecher won the freedom for a young Sally “Pinky” Diggs at a cost of $900.

After she was granted freedom, Beecher presented her with a ring that was placed in the collection box and said, “With this ring I thee wed you to your freedom.” Pinky later returned to the congregation in 1926 to return the ring and share her successes with the people that made them possible.

Lynn C. Miller, author of The Fool’s Journey and the Death of a Department Chair, said that the overall purpose of the performances was to act as a “teaching process for people.”

“Our job was to introduce a person of value to people. To show that history isn’t this dead thing, and that you can really interact with it. To educate people,” she said.

--Taylor Paraboschi

Brian Lehrer hosts a WNYC debate panel

WNYC's Brian Lehrer discussed college affordability and the presidential campaign in a two hour radio show taped in Dempster Hall's Studio A with an audience of high school students, University students, faculty and staff on hand.



Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.


--All photos by Erin Furman

Behind the scenes at the University's debate

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

--All photos by Jacqueline Hlavenka

Hofstra's College GOP volunteers in New York City

Ten members of the College Republicans spent the night before the debate in Midtown Manhattan, volunteering for the McCain-Palin campaign at a fundraiser.

Tickets for the fundraiser ranged in price from a minimum of $1,000 to a VIP ticket costing $50,000 that got a donor a private meeting with the Republican nominee.

Sean Nabi, the president of the College Republicans, and Anthony Lucci, president of Students for McCain, each helped out at the Grand Hyatt in Midtown.

"It's remarkable that something like the debate coming to Hofstra gave us the opportunity to meet some of the most influential people in American politics today," Nabi said.

Nabi worked the door with Secret Service, where he met VIPs like Donald Trump and Stephen Baldwin. Both Lucci and Nabi got to hear Cindy McCain, Sarah Palin and John McCain speak to the donors.

While shaking hands on the ropeline, Nabi handed Palin his "Debate '08" pin, and McCain thanked ROTC member Alex McHale for his service.

"I got to shake two of the most important hands in the world tonight because I go to Hofstra," Lucci said.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

PSU marches for the Iraq war dead

Progressive Students Union, in collaboration with the national groups Activist Response Team and Eyes Wide Open, performed a March of the Dead representing the civilian lives lost during the Iraq War.

Twenty-three volunteers, most of them students, walked from inside the Student Center entrance on North Campus to the front of CV Starr on South Campus embodying individuals and families who were victims of what they refer to as an illegal war. The men, women and children represented were killed in either Iraq, Afghanistan or the United States.

A steady beat boomed throughout the school as they walked single file; each wore all black, a white mask depicting a stoic face and a sign indicating the name, age and occupation of the person they symbolized. While they marched, students and teachers stopped to watch and take photographs, all wondering the purpose of the demonstration.

Although many dismissed the group as simple protesters, some were captivated by their somber and powerful message.

--Emily Cummins

Students learn about youth voting from MTV panel

A group of 13 students traveled to MTVu's studio Tuesday morning to take part in a panel on youth voting.

Panelists included Diablo Cody, who wrote the film "Juno," film star Rosario Dawson, Hilary Rosen, the political director of The Huffington Post, Luke Russert, a special youth correspondent for NBC News, Alex N. Vogel, a named partner in the firm Mehlman, and Larry Wilmore, an Emmy and Peabody-award winning correspondent for "The Daily Show."

MTVu is the college affiliate of MTV Networks, and they've spent the 2008 presidential campaign focusing on issues facing young voters. The panel presented a study it conducted about how young voters see issues such as race, gender, and experience of the candidates.

After the presentation, the celebrity panelists discussed their impressions of young people today and young voters’ opportunity for profound impact on the nation.

--Caitlyn Gailvary

Neo-Futurist debate a student precursor to big show

Neo-Futurism is a non-illusionary type of theater that, according to their Web site, doesn't buy into the trend of "suspension of disbelief." The people on stage were not characters in their own world; they are who they say they are and they know they're performing for a live audience.

On the eve of the presidential debate, Hofstra's own participated in a Neo-Futurism performance. It was the culmination of a series of a series of workshops given by Chris Dippel, an adjunt professor in the Drama Department, who is also a founding member of the New York City branch of the Neo-Futurists. The NYC branch is the sister company of the Chicago group, founded in 1988 by Greg Allen.

The topic of their first performance: whether people in the U.S. "would be better served if political campaigns focused more on real issues and less on personal theatrics."

Drama Department students were featured in the University's production, comprised of Kyle Cheng, Louis Aquiler, Chris D'Amato, Keith Pinault and Abigail Strange on the affirmative side; Rich Traub, Jeremy Benson, Dina Massery, Richie Pepio and Alexis Rhiannon on the negative.

Each team delivered an opening statement, a rebuttal, a cross-examination and a closing statement. An audience vote determined the winner. The catch: they're not debating with speeches, they're using short plays.

Benson, on the negative side, said theatricality is important in politics, especially now. "Theatricality is not a bad thing," he said. "You can look at 'Rock the Vote' [as an example of theatricality]…it builds something within young people which makes them get involved. It's important in today's system."

The Neo-Futurists original production, "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind," is still running in both Chicago and New York City. For more information, check out www.nyneofuturists.org or http://www.neofuturists.org/.

--David Gordon

Chronicle photographer published in Washington Post

Chronicle Senior Photo Editor Jackie Hlavenka was published on the Washington Post's Youth Vote blog for her photos of the stage setup in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

Students receive ticket notices

Students who got a ticket to the debate found out via e-mail late Tuesday evening.

More than 6,800 students applied for a chance to get in the hall, where Barack Obama and John McCain will debate economic and domestic policy Wednesday night. Only 250 made the first lottery, and 200 more were added in an alternate lottery last Friday.

Sandra Johnson, vice president of Student Affairs, said Tuesday afternoon that the number of tickets issued won't be available until after the debate.

Although the students who were not lucky enough to be chosen still have plenty of ways to be involved with the debate on Wednesday, including interactive displays and buses, those selected realize how fortunate they are. Joanna Little, a freshman who made it all the way through the lottery is looking forward to experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“It is an honor to be a part of this monumental event at the University," Little said. "I understand how important this election is and I can’t believe I get to experience a part of it right here on campus.”

Another believes more tickets should have been available. "I'm really excited by the opportunity but I feel as if there are more deserving students out there," said Eryka Sajek, a junior who is a member of Progressive Students Union. "I think it's horrible for such an opportunity to come to a university, but not even open it up to the students who pay to go here. I don't see a point in saving over half the seats for party members.

"The canidates are trying to get our vote, not pledged party members."

--Megan McCloskey and Samuel Rubenfeld

Activist Gloria Steinem speaks at Adams Playhouse

Activists relived their glory days of the 60s and students put a face to the movement when Gloria Steinem, a longtime social activist, spoke Monday afternoon at the Adams Playhouse.

Steinem commented on how the debate got students “into history and out of classes.”

In her talk, Steinem addressed politics in general, along with the status of social movements and what they should do next. She said labeling does not help the electoral process. "Republicans were the first to introduce the equal rights amendments," Steinem said.

Steinem said that when a social justice movement begins, the people in it are told by critics that it can’t be done and it’s against nature. Now, feminists and other activists are told that their efforts are not necessary anymore, she said.

Steinem felt there was still a lot of work to do before everyone was regarded as individuals and biases were removed. However, she she also said culture is now at a turning point where steps can be made.

She strongly endorsed Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, saying he is a “miraculous candidate who will help make this transition in a positive way.” As for Palin, she said electing her is a step back for feminism.

--Lindsay Christ

Rabinowitz rings NASDAQ opening bell

University President Stuart Rabinowitz just rang the NASDAQ's opening bell for today's trading, with other University officials and Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murry at his side.

The trading day lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and yesterday the stock market saw its largest single-point gain in history. That rally followed the worst week ever on the stock market, which lost 18 percent of its value last week, and 22 percent of its value over eight trading days.

"At the NASDAQ, that's Hofstra University, site of the third and final presidential debate tomorrow and a major lacrosse tournament next month," said CNBC's anchor as the bell rang.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

PSU: Clean coal as real as 'Santa Claus'

Protesters dressed as elves handed out pamphlets to students explaining the myths behind clean coal.

“Make fossil fuels extinct,” the Progressive Student Union cheered on Monday as they held a protest against the use of “clean coal”. “Clean Coal is as real as Santa Claus,” they added.

The 40-minute protest held by PSU strove to enlighten students about the harmful effects of “clean coal.”

“Clean coal is dirty, both in the mining of it and in the burning of it,” said Laura Comer, a junior who is president of Students for a Greener Hofstra. Comer also said they want to educate people so they aren’t susceptible to illusions about coal being clean.

As for a safer, greener alternative? “We need to look towards safer, renewable energies such as wind and solar power. These types of energies are not only renewable, but are safe, and wont destroy the environment.” Comer said.

Along with protesting for a greener environment, the PSU also urged young people to vote through the organization Power Vote, an organization striving towards getting one million young people to not only vote in the upcoming election, but to make a greener earth their principal reason for voting.

“Hopefully the power vote will show the candidates that we are serious about this and it will make them look at smarter, safer alternatives," Comer said.

A non-political political battleground

Students donned red and blue shirts on Sunday for a “Battle of the Parties” held in the Recreational Center on North Campus. It was the first time since the formation of Educate ’08 last spring that a political event on campus did not actually involve politics.

At the contest, Democrats were far outnumbered by Republicans, but that didn't seem to bother them much.

“The Democrats are too busy working to participate in such things,” said Robin Doublebower, the president of the College Democrats. “I’m glad the Republicans have nothing better to do.”

The "battle of the parties" included an assortment of athletic events. Participants first served volleyballs over a net in an effort to hit a variety of prizes on the floor, including “soda” bottle holders, t-shirts, bags and coffee holders. Next, the teams competed over who could score the most lay-ups after placing their forehead on a bat and spinning around it five times. The Republicans won that one. Then came the tug-of-war, won by the Democrats. The GOP won ping-pong spoon relay; the Democrats took the timed free-throw competition, tying the competition at two victories apiece.

After a break during which all interested participants could win individual prizes using Frisbees instead of volleyballs, Republicans won the overall two-hour tournament in a heated game of dodgeball.

With the focus of Sunday’s event on good old-fashioned fun and friendly competition, the politics of the upcoming debate, and the election, were put on hold. There was no campaigning during the tournament, no speakers to talk about the issues. Aside from the red, white and blue balloons, and the participants' t-shirts, there was not even a remote hint that the games were scheduled due to politics.

--Erin Furman

PSU blockades Student Center for hunger strike

In an attempt to raise student awareness of poverty issues, the Progressive Students Union (PSU) and with the One Campaign, performed a 92-second blockade in the Mack Student Center dining hall Monday to symbolize the 923 million hungry people in the world.

“We chose the Student Center because it’s the main dining location, but also because many people have to walk through here, too,” said Anna Rawlins, a junior who is a member of PSU. “It’s a heavily concentrated area.”

Despite lasting for less than two minutes, Rawlins said the length of 92 seconds was chosen as a ratio to the worldwide hunger statistic.

“I was actually approached by people who said ‘Wow, I never realized that,’” she said. “Some people really listened to the whole speech.”

The actual blockade was formed at both of the main entrances to the eatery and cafeteria area, while a banner was dropped from the upper level of the student center. According to Isabelle Goodman, a junior who is president of PSU, Lackmann services even agreed to refuse serving food during the 92-second barrier.

“Lackmann, Student Affairs and Public Safety were all really supportive of our efforts and actions,” Goodman said.

--Chrissy Smith

Issues debated amid music festival

During a free Jason Mraz concert on Saturday afternoon at the Intramural Fields, where he endorsed decriminalization of marijuana, ending all wars, eliminating handguns and calling for the U.S. to break its oil addiction, clubs with a political bent spent time lobbying students.

The Progressive Students Union, along with Students for a Greener Hofstra, planned six days worth of activism and protests during a Youth Issues Convention. They debuted green hardhats symbolizing green-collar jobs and had a graduate student dressed as Santa Claus decrying clean coal in the issues tent on Saturday.

"They talk about the economy, they talk about the war, they talk about the environment but they fail to see how they all connect," said Laura Comer, a junior who is president of Students for a Greener Hofstra. "Saturday was a push for us to inform the student body about the issues before the media gets here and asks questions."

Republicans tried to get out the University's Republican vote.

"We added about 10 more members to our roster," said Anthony Lucci, the treasurer of the College Republicans who is also president of "Students for John McCain."

"The point was to get our voice heard on a liberal campus, and to show there is a conservative side to Hofstra," he added.

The College Democrats gave students a "political quiz" so they could find out whether they were in fact Democrats or Republicans, and signed students up for a canvassing trip the club is taking to Pennsylvania in November.

"We registered 11 people for our club," said Robin Doublebower, the president of the College Democrats. "We got some good exposure. We were happy to be there to participate in the Jason Mraz concert because he holds ideals consistent to ours."

--Samuel Rubenfeld

Liveblog: The Town Hall Debate

The live blog of the second presidential debate, held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. is a town hall-style debate where voters will ask the candidates questions:



--Samuel Rubenfeld

Liveblog: The Vice Presidential Debate

The Chronicle liveblogs the one debate between the vice presidential nominees, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), held at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.



--Samuel Rubenfeld

Panel previews Vice Presidential Debate

The University hosted a second DebateWatch event Thursday night for the debate between vice presidential nominees Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska).

The event began with a panel of University political science professors, each speaking about what the candidates should be doing during the debate and what to look for.

The panelists included Leslie Feldman, professor of political science, Matt Sobnosky, graduate coordinator for the School of Communication and Stefanie Nanes, assistant professor of political science.

Professor Feldman spoke first about what the nominees should do so as not to embarrass themselves and gave her opinion as to why John McCain chose Palin.

"McCain is considered to be a liberal republican, that's why many conservatives don't like him. That's why he picked Sarah Palin; she's super conservative--she's madam conservative," Feldman said. She then said someone else on the shortlist, former New York State governor George Pataki, was too liberal for McCain to have chosen him because McCain had to pick a conservative to placate his party's base.

Nanes said that Biden "tends to blurt stuff out" adding that "he takes a good point and just runs it into the ground."

The panel ended after one question from an audience member, just in time for the viewing of the Vice Presidential Debate.

--Tejal Patel

Liveblog of the first Presidential Debate

--Samuel Rubenfeld

Twitter the First Presidential Debate

Follow all the debate- and election-related posts on social-networking site Twitter here: Election.Twitter.com

--Samuel Rubenfeld

Politics in The Chronicle's latest issue

Log onto Hofstrachronicle.com to see the latest coverage of the 2008 presidential election from The Chronicle.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

Obama And McCain Discuss National Service At Columbia

By Mike Manzoni
STAFF WRITER

John McCain and Barack Obama met for the first time onstage as formal nominees of their respective parties between back-to-back discussions at a forum on national service held at Columbia University coinciding with the seventh anniversary of Sept. 11.

The candidates appeared separately, meeting only briefly after Obama's introduction following McCain's question-and-answer session with journalists Judy Woodruff and Richard Stengel. Obama and McCain each answered questions for about 45 minutes.

The appearance marked the second time today the two candidates appeared together. They first appeared side-by-side at a ceremony at Ground Zero in Manhattan this morning to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The candidates gathered specifically to addresses two issues: civic engagement and national service.

McCain said he plans to expand volunteer organizations, but noted that the government does not necessarily have to be involved.

"Let's not have government do things that the private sector can do," McCain said, repeating his theory on government activism. "Volunteering starts at the grass roots level, not necessarily at the federal level."

McCain said it has not been his experience that rich people do the most volunteer work.

He stopped, saying "with all due respect to rich people," in a moment that drew light chuckles from the crowd.

Obama pledged to make community service opportunities available to high school and college students – he added the key was to "start early."

Asked if he might have to curtail his ambitious national service plan once in office - as President Bill Clinton had to - because of unions, he said no.

"The spirit of unions is coming together," Obama said, "because we are stronger together than we are individually."

The Chronicle covers the conventions

The Chronicle will be in Denver to cover the Democratic National Convention and in St. Paul, Minn., to cover the Republican National Convention. See it all here.

Obama nearly forgets unity request

By Samuel Rubenfeld
Senior News Editor

NEW YORK—At a fundraiser, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) almost forgot to ask his donors for money.

The appearance Wednesday night in a ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Hotel was intended to ease tensions between supporters of his and those of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) by emphasizing unity and requesting his donors to help retire her debt. Clinton herself was supposed to appear at the fundraiser as well, but she had to back out due to votes at the Senate, said Jen Psaki, the traveling press secretary for the Obama campaign.

But the request hadn’t come during a 32-minute stump speech to about 1,000 supporters, who paid at least $1,000 to attend the event. Obama walked off stage to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed and Delivered,” and reporters at the back of the ballroom began asking staffers questions about why no request was made, and whether one would be made at another time.
Realizing his mistake, Obama rushed back to the microphone about a minute later, saying “Hold on a second guys, I was getting all carried away!”

Then he made the pitch: Obama asked the donors to look underneath their seats for an envelope and to “put something in it.”

“It’s something that is very important to us, and obviously, Sen. Clinton would be grateful as well,” he added.

Obama supporters have balked at aiding Clinton, with a report in the New York Times quoting Clinton campaign officials saying they have received less than $100,000 since early June, when Obama claimed the nomination. The article gave many reasons for the lack of enthusiasm in retiring Clinton’s debt, including many supporters’ believing Clinton racked up the bulk of the debt after she had mathematically lost the nomination and that they did not want to pay off one of her chief vendors, Mark Penn, “a reviled figure in the Obama camp.”

Campaign supporters outside the hotel thought it was not a big deal, he just simply forgot and corrected his mistake as soon as he realized it. “If you did all the things he did today, you’d probably forget too,” said Audrey Goldberg, 73, from Manhattan.

Asked why Obama initially forgot to ask for the money, Psaki said: “That was an important part of the event. He asked for his supporters to contribute, and will continue to do so. I have nothing to add to that.”

Clinton and Obama appeared together later in the evening at a $33,100-a-plate dinner for 125 supporters at the Loews Regency Hotel, raising $4.1 million for his campaign, according to a press pool report.

McCain Addresses Supporters in Town Hall on Wall Street

Senior News Editor Samuel Rubenfeld covers the June 12 McCain town hall meeting on Wall Street.

For the full story: http://media.www.hofstrachronicle.com/media/storage/paper222/news/2008/06/20/News/Mccain.Addresses.Supporters.In.Town.Hall.On.Wall.Street-3388563.shtml

Report: Clinton to suspend campaign, endorse Obama Friday

The New York Times reported on its Web site that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) will suspend her presidential campaign and endorse her rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at an event on Friday, possibly in New York City.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

In final rally, Clinton does not concede

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) speaks to supporters in Midtown Manhattan on the final night of the Democratic primary season. (Video provided by MSNBC.com.)

By Samuel Rubenfeld
Senior News Editor

NEW YORK--After all 57 nominating contests, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) clinched the Democratic party's nomination for president by claiming the majority of delegates and declared victory in front of nearly 20,000 people in Minnesota, but at Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) event in the basement gym at Baruch College in the Park Avenue South area of Manhattan, she delivered a speech more defiant than mollifying.

Clinton was introduced by chief campaign strategist Terry McCauliffe, who said she was going to be "the next president of the United States," despite the torrent of delegates that endorsed Obama earlier in the day. (Obama began Tuesday needing 40 delegates to get the nomination, and before the polls closed in South Dakota, he only needed four.)

"This has been a long campaign, and I will be making no decisions tonight," she said to several hundred supporters here following the projection of a surprise win in the South Dakota primary.

She did not recognize Obama's delegate victory, but did his overall accomplishments: "It has been an honor to contest the primaries with him," Clinton said.

Addressing the question of what she now wants, Clinton said, "I want the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected, to be heard and no longer be invisible."

Her supporters at the rally were just as defiant. "I hope she goes all the way," said Leslie Flug of Brooklyn. "No one else deserves it."

CNN: OBAMA WINS NOMINATION

As the polls closed in South Dakota, CNN reports Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as the Democratic nominee for president. They did not make a projection for the primary in South Dakota, but CNN did say he will gain at least the minimum required for the 2,118 delegate majority.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

4 to go, no one notices

South Dakota polls close in 25 minutes and Obama is four shy of the nomination, but none of the Clinton supporters in the basement gym at Baruch College seem all too concerned.

Chants of "Hillary--President" came from the bleachers in the hastily put-together event.

"I've been waiting all my life for a woman president," said Annette Miller, 74, from New York.

Another supporter said she will not concede, but will continue all the way to Denver. "We're going all the way, baby!" said Charles Rosen, 40, from Montclair, N.J.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

CNN: 6 to go

CNN reports Obama six delegates shy. "This does not include the pledged delegates up for grabs tonight," said anchor Lou Dobbs.

CNN: 7 to go

CNN reports that Obama needs seven delegates to reach the magic number of 2,118 delegates, which would clinch the nomination.

Chronicle at the Clinton rally

The Chronicle is at the Clinton primary night rally in Manhattan, and will be reporting live, as it unfolds. (There will be no original photography nor video, however.)

THE RECAP:The last 96 hours

By Samuel Rubenfeld
Senior News Editor

NEW YORK--Heading into the final weekend of the long-running Democratic presidential primary season, the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) had at least something to be hopeful about: the restoration of the delegates from Florida and Michigan, an expected landslide in Puerto Rico and possibly, just possibly, a stumble by her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), to thrust her into victory.

Oh, what a torrid weekend and primary finale it has been.

First came the fights over delegates and votes from Michigan and Florida: both states' delegates were barred from the convention due to holding primaries too early. The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee held its meeting in a Washington hotel on Saturday to settle the matter, resulting in a compromise deal where each states' delegates get a seat, but can only count for half a vote.

Michigan was especially controversial because Obama was not on the ballot there, but he was awarded all of the votes estimated to have gone to him based on exit polls, which gave him four more delegates than the Clinton campaign thought he deserved.

Clinton supporters were fuming, with loud chants of "Denver! Denver! Denver!" coming from the gallery. Harold Ickes, a chief Clinton adviser who himself serves on that committee, said Clinton "instructed me to reserve her rights to take this to the credentials committee," implying that the showdown over Michigan and Florida delegates would go all the way to the national convention in Denver in late August.

The decisions also changed the number of delegates required to claim a majority and the presumptive nomination to 2,118, and Obama was within 60 delegates of the required amount, based on multiple delegate estimates.

Clinton's only recourse was now claiming a popular vote majority, which the campaign began doing by counting the votes from Florida and Michigan, but not counting votes from caucus states such as Iowa and Maine that do not give official vote tallies. The Obama campaign countered, saying they held the popular vote lead.

She needed a huge turnout and a large win in the Puerto Rico primary the next day, Sunday. Clinton got the victory, which she received by a nearly two-to-one majority, but the turnout was lower than Clinton needed. And the superdelegates were not going her way.

Obama acted throughout like the general election nominee; he was quoted by Monday's New York Times calling a rally in South Dakota "a good way to end my campaign in the primary phase." Each day saw the announcement of more superdelegate endorsements, putting him closer to the nomination.

Monday was what was hinted as the beginning of the end for the Clinton campaign. Newsday reported that she was hosting a private meeting at her home in Chappaqua, New York, for high-level aides, where she would decide the future of her campaign. Politico.com added that aides were told she would host her last primary night event in Midtown Manhattan and that their roles on the campaign were ending.

Bill Clinton, who was a thorn in Hillary's side at moments during the campaign, may have hinted at the looming endgame: "I want to say also, that this may be the last day I'm ever involved in a campaign of this kind," he said at a town hall meeting on Monday in Milbank, South Dakota.

Tuesday is the final day of the primary season, and it is shaping up to be a major one for Obama. Montana and South Dakota held their primaries, with the polls closing at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. EDT respectively. But as previously posted, the Associated Press reported at 1:30 p.m. EDT in an alert that Obama was "effectively" the presidential nominee, counting both public and private commitments to the campaign.

The superdelegates came in droves, with liberal blog TalkingPointsMemo.com reporting 19.5 of them endorsing Obama as of 5:36 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday alone.

CNN, as of 7 p.m., reported that Obama needs only 10 delegates to clinch the nomination. As the results come in, we will bring them to you.

AP: Clinton open to being VP

Hillary Rodham Clinton told New York lawmakers that she is open to being Barack Obama's vice presidential candidate, according to the Associated Press.

AP: Obama clinches nomination

The Associated Press reports Obama effectively clinches the Democratic nomination, based on assured delegates in the last primaries.

Clinton to win Puerto Rico

CNN projects Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) as victor in Puerto Rico primary by a wide margin on Sunday, based on its "exclusive" exit poll data there.

Obama nets wins in Oregon and pledged delegate count

By Kimberly Chin
Assistant News Editor

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) had coasted two wins for the night: Oregon's primary, news sources projected, and a majority of the pledged delegates of the nomination. Obama had 51 delegates up for grabs from Kentucky, but Clinton won the state with a more than 30 point lead.

Before Tuesday, Obama needed only 17 delegates to gain the majority, according to The Associated Press.

David Axelrod, Obama's lead campaign strategist, called Obama's pledged delegate majority gain an "important milestone" in the campaign and in the path leading to the Democratic nomination.

The polls in Oregon closed at 11 p.m. EST, and it was projected that Obama won the Beaver state by a slim margin. At 65 percent of precincts reporting, the trend in the polls had kept a steady distance from about 58 percent for Obama and 41 percent for Clinton.

Although Obama leads Clinton in pledged and superdelegates, states won and the popular vote, he did not dismiss her during a speech on Tuesday.

“No matter how this primary ends," Obama said, "Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters will come of age.”

Clinton's chances for winning the nomination are slim and it would take a share of about 800 superdelegates to get the edge needed to beat Obama, according to CNN.

Also the claim by her campaign that she has the most popular votes can fall out, if the Democratic National Committee chooses not to count Florida and Michigan, two states who went against the rules of the committee and lost their delegates as a result. Clinton's lead in the popular vote count would also exclude caucus votes, which Obama has fared well in.

“From the very beginning, you knew that this journey wasn’t about me or any of the other candidates in this race,” Obama told supporters on Tuesday when he returned to Iowa, the first in the nation caucus state that he had won of his presidential nomination campaign.

“It’s about whether this country — at this defining moment — will continue down the same road that has failed us for so long or whether we will seize this opportunity to take a different path: to forge a different future for the country we love.”

Clinton wins Kentucky while Obama secures majority

Obama declares pledged delegate majority in his speech to supporters in Des Moines, Iowa.
(Video provided by MSNBC.com)

By Kimberly Chin
Assistant News Editor

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) decisively won the Kentucky primary, with a lopsided lead over her rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), although it was not enough to block Obama from picking up a majority of the Democratic Party’s pledged delegates, which could be telling of the eventual nominee.

The Associated Press reported that Obama only needs 17 delegates coming out of Tuesday’s primaries, which he easily carried, despite Clinton’s victory of 65 percent compared to Obama’s 29 percent in the southern state.

"To say that we have the majority of the core of the delegates that are going to be making the decisions at the convention and selecting our nominee, that's a critical milestone," former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle said, who is also an Obama campaign co-chairman.

Although it is highly unlikely that Clinton will be able to capture the delegates, she is betting on winning the popular vote, an aspect of the nomination process that her campaign has claimed to lead.

“This is one of the closest races for a party’s nomination in modern history,” Clinton told her supporters, after many networks called her victory early in the night. “We’re winning the popular vote, and I’m more determined than ever to see that every vote is cast and every ballot is counted.”

Clinton’s victory in the Blue Grass state signifies a continual battle, which for the past few months has led media critics and even members of her own party to ask her to step down for the sake of a unified party come the general election in November. Ignoring the calls, Clinton has been able to pick up three more states in the last week, which includes Kentucky.

She holds most of the crucial "big" Democratic-leaning states needed to win in the Fall.

Obama addressed his supporters in Iowa, one of the crucial early states he had won, as the results came in from Kentucky.

“Senator Clinton has run a magnificent race, and she is still working hard, as am I, for all of these last primary contests,” Obama said, acknowledging that he has not “presumptuously” claimed the nomination yet, as Clinton staffers contend, and is expecting to continue the struggle with Clinton until the end of the race in June.

"Right now, more people have voted for me than have voted for my opponent," Clinton said. "More people have voted for me than for anybody ever running for president before. So we have a very close contest."

Primary polls are still open in Oregon, which has a unique mail-in primary. The results will come in later in this evening.

Former rival John Edwards endorses Obama

Former presidential nominee Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at a rally in Michigan, after saying for months he would not choose a candidate. (Video courtesy Youtube.com.)

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

In the months after withdrawing his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, John Edwards said he was keeping his pick for his party's presidential candidate to himself, but at a campaign rally Wednesday in Grand Rapids, MI, that all changed when Edwards stepped on stage with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and offered his endorsement.

"The reason I'm here tonight is because the Democratic voters have made their choice, and so have I," Edwards told the crowd. "There is one man who knows in his heart there is time to create one America, not two ... and that man is Barack Obama."

He also congratulated Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) campaign for the nomination.

"What she has shown ... is strength and character, and what drives her is something that every single one of us can and should appreciate," Edwards said.

"She is a woman who, in my judgment, is made of steel, and she's a leader in this country not because of her husband but because of what she has done."

Obama spoke at the event, thanking Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth.

"I am so grateful ... for John Edwards to come to Michigan tonight," he sad. "I'm grateful for his support ... but more importantly, I want to thank John for everything that he has already done to make us one America," Obama said.

The late endorsement immediately caused the chairman of the Republican National Committee to question the effectiveness of the endorsement.

Republican National Committee Chairman Robert Duncan released a statement asking, "Why didn't Edwards endorse sooner?"

After coming in third place in most early contests, Edwards withdrew from the race on Jan. 30.

Clinton wins big in W.Va., vows to 'carry on'

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) declares victory in West Virginia. (Video provided by MSNBC.com.)

By Samuel Rubenfeld
Senior News Editor

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) won the West Virginia party by a wide margin, holding a more than two-to-one lead with 54 percent of precincts reporting, by winning white and lower-income voters who have eluded Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at times during the primary season.

Ninety-five percent of voters were white, according to exit polls. Twenty-two percent of voters said race was an important factor, and 81 percent of those voters came to the polls for Clinton.

Clinton's win nets her 10 delegates, according to NBC News, but the win does not greatly blunt Obama's momentum for the Democratic nomination, because he still holds a significant lead in states won, pledged delegates, popular vote and superdelegates.

The victory could, however, raise questions about Obama's ability to win the support of white, working-class voters, a potential weak spot the Clinton campaign has stressed recently.

“I’m more determined than ever to carry on this campaign until everyone has the chance to make their voices heard,” Clinton said at a victory rally in Charleston, W.Va.

She said she will carry on her campaign through June 3, when South Dakota holds the final primary in the Democratic nominating contests.

Obama conceded late Tuesday afternoon at a campaign event in Missouri, where he said he still had work to do to earn the nomination.

"We haven’t resolved this nomination," he said. "It would be presumptuous of me to pretend like I’ve already won and start talking about who my vice president’s going to be."

Clinton wins W.Va. by wide margin

By Samuel Rubenfeld
Senior News Editor

The Associated Press calls Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) the winner by a two-to-one margin based on exits as the polls close in West Virginia. Details as the votes come in.

Obama wins big in N.C.; Clinton squeaks by in Ind.

By Samuel Rubenfeld

News Editor

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) won handily in the North Carolina primary on Tuesday, defeating Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) by 14 points and negating Clinton's win in Pennsylvania on April 22.

The trajectory of the campaign changed with Obama's huge win: despite Clinton's squeaker victory in Indiana, where she won by less than 22,000 votes on Tuesday, pundits on all three cable networks called the race "over."

"I have not found an objective Democrat who thinks the race isn't over," said Tim Russert, the NBC News Washington bureau chief on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show.

More details to come in The Chronicle print edition, out tomorrow. (Link to come when posted.)

Obama wins Guam caucuses by seven votes

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) won the Guam caucuses, declaring victory with the thinnest margin of any primary this election year.

Obama led Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) by just seven votes when the results were announced tonight.

Of the 175,000 residents of the island in the Western Pacific, about 4,500 voted.

Obama received 2,264 votes, whereas Clinton received 2,257 votes, with all 21 precincts reporting.

Guam has traditionally been ignored by candidates, but as both Clinton and Obama continue to duel for the nomination, they did not take any chances.

Neither of the Democratic candidates made any campaign appearances in the territory, but did run advertisements and appeared for interviews via satellite on local television stations.

Clinton and Obama also pitched their health care plans for Guam in long-distance interviews.

Clinton has called for Guamanians to be able to vote in the presidential election.

The New York senator has said she will appoint a senior adviser to the defense secretary to help Guamanians prepare for the arrival of 8,000 U.S. Marines who are expected to be transferred to the island from Okinawa in 2014.

Obama, in interviews prior to the vote, said his Hawaiian heritage makes him "especially sensitive," to the concerns and problems facing islanders.

Citizens of the U.S. territory are not able to vote in the general election in November, but have four pledged delegates and five superdelegates which will be sent to the National Convention in Denver in August.

Clinton wins Pennsylvania, vows to fight on

Hillary Clinton delivers her victory speech in Philadelphia after winning the Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday night, after six weeks of campaigning in the state. (Video provided by MSNBC.com)

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) won the Pennsylvania primary Tuesday night, after a six-week stretch between contests, claiming a state she had designated earlier in the day as one she had to win.

"It's a long road to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and it runs right through the heart of Pennsylvania," she told a crowd of supporters at a victory speech in Philadelphia.

While her campaign says her victory questions Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) electability in the general election, she offered some comparison between the two competing Democratic camps.

Clinton said she and Obama are "on this journey together," while she was joined on stage with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and her husband, President Bill Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea.

Exit polls indicate she received support of voters age 65 and older and that Obama garnered the votes of the black electorate with nearly 92 percent of the African-American vote.

A majority of white males, 55 percent according to a CNN exit poll, voted for Clinton.

Knowing the demographics were not in his favor, Obama moved his campaign to Indiana early today, a state that holds its primary May 6.

"A win is 50 plus one. So, if Sen. Clinton gets over 50 percent, she's won the state and, you know, I don't try to pretend that I enjoy getting 45 percent and that's a moral victory -- we've lost the state," Obama said before leaving Pennsylvania for Indiana.

Obama still leads the delegate count with 1,720 to Clinton's 1,588, according to Associated Press estimates.

Her victory in the Keystone State will allow her to receive most of the state's 158 delegates.

According to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Pedro Cortes, voter turnout was a record, with between 50 and 60 percent turnouts in some counties.

About four million people are registered to vote in Pennsylvania.

Obama wins Mississippi

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has won the Mississippi primary, beating Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in a primary which exit polls indicate was the most racially divided contest yet.
Exit polls show blacks favoring Obama – overwhelmingly, at more than 90 percent – while nearly three quarters of white voters went for Clinton.

The Associated Press reported that only two other state contests this year were as racially divisive, Alabama and Arkansas, the latter being a former home state for Clinton, when President Bill Clinton served in the Governor's office.

Obama's win in what is considered one of the most conservative southern states during the general election comes as the announcement of Obama's victory in the caucus portion of the Texas "prima-caucus," which was held March 4.

Clinton won the state's primary, but because of the caucus, Obama will actually score more delegates than her.

Low to moderate voter turnout was reported by the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office, with approximately 125,000 to 150,000 going to the polls.

The state has 33 delegates going to the convention in August.

Spitzer linked to prostitution ring

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

Federal investigators have linked New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to a high-priced prostitution ring in the nation's capital, The New York Times reported Monday afternoon.

The 47-page affidavit from a prostitution bust last Thursday refers to a "Client 9," who, according to two anonymous sources close to the probe, is the name used by the prostitution ring for Eliot Spitzer.

The affidavit did not mention Spitzer by name, but sources close to the investigation say he paid prostitutes as much as $4,300 at a trendy Washington hotel last month to have sex with him.

In a press conference delivered an hour after the news broke on The New York Times Web site, Spitzer was apologetic, but he did not directly admit guilt.

"I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong," Spitzer said, appearing with his wife Silda at his Manhattan office. "I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better."

At the press conference, Spitzer took no questions, walking offstage to reporters shouting "Are you resigning?"

The incident allegedly occurred on the evening of Feb. 13, the night before Valentine's Day, when room 871 was booked under the name George Fox, a pseudonym that federal investigators say was used by "Client 9" on previous stays.

The visit came after a cash deposit was made with the Emperor's Club, an online prostitution ring, who sent one of their prostitutes, Kristen, to the room.

The prostitute, Kristen, identified as a young, brunette, allegedly visited "Client 9," at the Mayflower, an upscale Washington hotel, after taking a trip on the Amtrak train from New York City.

Kristen was dispatched to the hotel after Temeka Rachelle Lewis, the ring's booking agent, sent a text message to Kristen, reading: "If D.C. appt. happens u will need 2 leave NYC @ 4:45 p.m."

The affidavit shows that "Client 9," also agreed to cover all of the expenses of Kristen's travel on an Amtrak from New York City to Washington.

Spitzer is a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. The Clinton campaign press office did not respond to repeated requests for comment from The Chronicle.

Spitzer is married, with three children.

Obama wins Wyoming caucuses

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) won the Wyoming caucus earlier today, making it his second win in the last week.

Obama beat rival Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) 61 percent to 38 percent, with 100 percent precincts reporting.

The two Democratic contenders are separated by only 100 delegates, according to The Associated Press estimates, with little more than 600 left to score as they look toward a crucial primary in Pennsylvania next month.

Early estimates show that he will score at least seven delegates compared to Clinton's four, with one outstanding and six superdelegates up for grabs, according to CNN.

Earlier in the day Obama campaigned across the state.

"I will bring this war to an end in 2009, so don't be confused ... when Senator Clinton is not willing to acknowledge that she voted for war," he said. "I don't want to play politics on this issue, because she doesn't have standing to question my position on this issue," he said at a rally in Casper.

Wyoming Governor David Freudenthal did not endorse either candidate because he said they have not addressed the environmental and energy concerns his state faces.

But both candidates went in to the contest with some support from the state.

Former Gov. Mike Sullivan endorsed Clinton, while Obama had backing from the state's Democratic Party Chairman John Millin.

It's Showtime for McCain

By Akeem Mellis

Well, it is now official for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). After overcoming many obstacles, including defeating fellow candidates that at one time had a significant lead over him, and being left for dead only just five months ago, the Arizona senator has clinched the GOP nomination.

The only relatively good GOP candidate left in the race, he ended what had looked like to be a long nominating process for Republicans. Congratulations to him. But while McCain has put away a populist Republican in Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, he'll now have to confront putting away one of two populists in disguise over the next eight months.

With one dream achieved, McCain must now prepare himself for the toughest and possibly most frustrating race of his life against either Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) or Barack Obama (D-Ill.). For him to now win the White House, he must mitigate two problems.

First is the obvious reality that conservatives – who were split in their presidential preferences, helping give McCain the nomination – are still ambivalent about his candidacy.

Second is the way he’ll have to mitigate the looming onslaught by his opponents that he would be an “extension” of George W. Bush – a claim that, upon further inspection on certain issues, couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Tie that with how to properly articulate a message that can keep Republicans and Independents together for him and it’s a hefty climb.

But McCain has nearly eight months to do all of this. A now significantly prolonged battle for the Democratic nomination will greatly help him. Already, he has started to speak the message he will deliver throughout the summer and fall of this year.

If John McCain can ride a nearly dead campaign to the nomination, surely he can beat the odds in November. It’s time for Senator McCain to put on another comeback performance.

Akeem Mellis is the president of the College Republicans. You can reach him at amelli3@pride.hofstra.edu.

McCain wins Republican nomination

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) captures the Republican nomination by reaching the necessary delegate count, according to The Associated Press. (Video provided by MSNBC.com.)

By Michelle Westgate
Staff Writer

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) claimed victory Tuesday after reaching the necessary 1,191 delegates to guarantee the Republican Party nomination for president. In Texas, Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.) formally stepped out of the race after losing all four states during tonight’s primaries.

Primary races in Vermont, Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas have earned McCain a total number of 208 delegates Tuesday. This, according to estimates by The Associated Press, will secure the 1191 delegates necessary to win the party nomination.

“The contest begins tonight,” McCain said in a victory speech given to a room full of cheering supporters. He vowed to fight for a capable, wise, brave, and decent government. “That is our responsibility and I will not let you down,” he said.

Huckabee acknowledged that McCain would receive the presidential nomination for the Republican Party. “I extended to him not only my congratulations, but my commitment to him,” he said.

Huckabee expressed the importance of bringing the party together, supporting the presidential candidate, and working to maintain the party principles.

“Until our country is all that we hope and pray it to be, we won’t be able to walk away completely,” Huckabee said.

McCain described a group of people who control the future and write history. “That is the essence of hope in America,” McCain said. “Hope built on courage, and faith in the values and principles that have made us great.”

President Bush will officially endorse McCain tomorrow afternoon at a press conference at the White House, according to a statement.

At the University tonight, students gathered in the Mack student center to watch the results of the primaries. Several students were not surprised by the McCain victory, but many did not believe they would support him in the upcoming presidential election.

“I’m not going to vote for a republican just because I am a Republican,” said Greg Evangelista, a senior political science major. “There are a lot of people who will do that,” he said.

Evangelista does not plan on supporting McCain in the upcoming November election.

Clinton wins Ohio, Rhode Island; Obama takes Vermont

Sen. Hillary Clinton "comes back" to win in Ohio and Rhode Island. (Video provided by MSNBC.com.)

By Mike Manzoni

Staff Writer

Looking toward a set of primaries outnumbered in pledged delegates and momentum, she aired an ad widely considered an attack on the national security credentials of her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)

And it may have worked.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY.) won the Ohio primary, surprising Obama in a race some thought would make him the party's presumptive nominee.

"For everyone in Ohio and America who has been counted out but refused to be knocked out…this one is for you," Clinton said, addressing a crowd of supporters in Columbus, Ohio.

"It's [Ohio] a state that knows how to pick a president," she said, "as Ohio goes, so goes the nation."

She added that no president in recent history has won the nomination without winning the Ohio primary.

Clinton also picked up a victory in Rhode Island. Obama won Vermont, and Texas, with 69 percent of precincts reporting, still was too close to call, according to The Associated Press.

"We are turning this page and we are ready to write the next great story in American history," Obama said at rally in San Antonio, Tex.

Congratulating Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for winning the Republican nomination Tuesday night, Obama, in the same sentence, contested his policies and welcomed a debate: "He has fallen in line behind the very same policies that have ill-served America."

The divisive night of primaries and caucuses followed a week of campaigning in which Clinton aired an ad – now known as the "3 a.m. ad" – which questioned viewers who they would want answering the White House phone at 3 a.m., should a problem arise immediately warranting presidential action.

The Clinton camp also questioned a memo obtained by The Associated Press that outlined a meeting between Obama's economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, and a representative of the Canadian government at the Canadian consulate in Chicago.

The memo detailed a meeting in which Goolsbee told the Canadian representative to take Obama's comments against free trade as "more of a political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans."

Last week, Obama denied that the meeting ever took place, but early this week admitted he knew of the meeting, but insisted Goolsbee did not represent his views.

Nader enters the race

Ralph Nader, a longtime consumer advocate, announces he is running for president on a "third-party" ticket on "Meet The Press." (Video provided by MSNBC.com)

By Samuel Rubenfeld
News Editor

Ralph Nader announced he is running for President Sunday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press." He has run for president in the last five election cycles, dating back to 1992.

"Dissent is the mother of ascent," he said. " And in that context, I have decided to run for president."

Many Democrats blame Nader for spoiling their chances at the presidency in 2000, when then-Gov. George Bush beat Vice President Al Gore by only 537 votes in Florida. Nader ran in 2000 as the nominee for the Green Party, and he received nearly 98,000 votes in Florida, many of whom said they would have voted for Gore if Nader wasn't running, according to exit polls take in 2000.

In 2004, Nader ran as an Independent, but he also received the endorsement of the Reform Party. He received 0.3 percent of the vote nationally in 2004.

"He's going to ruin our chances for the president, and we're going to have another Republican in the White House," said Nicholas Bond, a junior and president of the College Democrats of Hofstra University. "I hate him."

The Democratic candidates were quick to condemn Nader's announcement. ""I remember when he ran before. It didn't turn out very well for anybody -- especially our country, " said Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.).

Sen. Barack Obama criticized Nader when asked about his possible candidacy earlier in the weekend. "My sense is that Mr. Nader is somebody who, if you don't listen and adopt all of his policies, thinks you're not substantive," Obama told reporters.

Nader, on "Meet the Press," called Obama a "person of substance" who has "run a very good tactical campaign." But Nader added: "His better instincts have been censored, I think, by himself."

Democrats duel in Austin

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

Taking a break from recent verbal attacks on one another, Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) drew differences between their views on foreign policy and health care--as well as other issues--as they took part in a 90-minute debate at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 21.

Responding to the resignation of Cuban president Fidel Castro, Clinton, addressing the night's opening question, said it "gives Cuba a chance to change direction."

"If Cuba moves toward democracy and toward freedom for its people, the United States would welcome that," she said, after saying she would not meet immediately with Cuba's presumed new leader, Raul Castro, only after "it demonstrated" change in direction.

Obama disagreed, restating his position that he would be willing to meet without preconditions, adding, "I think it's important for the United States to not just talk to its friends, but its enemies."

"We've got to restore a sense of fairness and responsibility," Obama said of the economy as he was reminded by one of the moderators it was a primary concern of voters.

The debate also featured sharp disagreement and contention between the candidates. Regarding the charge the Clinton campaign made about Obama allegedly plagiarizing speeches, Clinton said: "Lifting whole passages from someone else's speeches is not change you can believe in, it's change you can Xerox."

Clinton was showered with boos, and Obama mumbled under his breath as she made the allegation.

The candidates largely agreed on many issues throughout the first half of the debate, including their approaches to immigration reform.

"We are a nation of laws," Obama said, "and we are a nation of immigration and we can reconcile those two things."

Clinton agreed to allow illegal immigrants to remain in the country as long as they paid fines, back taxes and learned English.

The Texas primaries, which occur the same day as contests in Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont, is on March 4.

Overnight, Obama picks up Hawaii

By Samuel Rubenfeld
News Editor

Stretching his winning streak to 10 states, Barack Obama picked up a victory on Tuesday in Hawaii, the state in which he was born.

Obama won by a margin of 3-1, beating Hillary Clinton 76 percent to 24 percent in the state's caucuses. The Associated Press called the victory at 3:44 a.m. Eastern Standard time.

The victories Tuesday night of the Wisconsin primary and Washington state's "beauty contest" by Obama gives him a significant lead in the delegate count. According to the Associated Press, which counts superdelegates as well as pledged delegates, Obama leads 1,319 to 1,245.

To reach a majority, a campaign must receive 2,025 delegates.

Analysts believe the race is becoming increasingly difficult for Clinton to win. "Suddenly, she needs 65 percent of these remaining states, of these delegates, just overturn that delegate lead that he has," said NBC News Political director Chuck Todd as the network covered the results Tuesday night.

"It moves that mountain that Hillary Clinton has to climb, when it comes to these delegates, a little bit higher. It's as if it keeps growing, it keeps growing, and she keeps taking steps back and it just keeps getting farther and farther out of reach," he said.

Clinton, at an event at New York's Hunter College Wednesday morning, sharpened her attacks on Obama over words versus deeds.

The next contests are on March 4, and they are primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Obama wins in Wisconsin, cements frontrunner status

Barack Obama delivers a nearly 45-minute long victory speech heavy on the specifics in Houston, Tex. (Video provided by MSNBC.com)

By Mike Manzoni
Staff Writer

Retaining the momentum he garnered after a host of victories earlier this month, Barack Obama (D-Ill.) won the Wisconsin primary Feb. 19, making it his ninth consecutive win in a race that now has fellow Democratic contender Hillary Clinton pressured for big wins in the Ohio and Texas primaries to take place March 4.

Although Wisconsin's blue-collar and lower-income population would appear to have benefited Sen. Clinton, the junior Illinois senator took 58 percent of the vote to Sen. Clinton's 41 percent, with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

Hawai'i also held its caucuses Tuesday, but the results do not come in until after the caucuses close at 1:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Also, Washington state held a primary that will award no delegates, but with 53 percent of precincts reporting, Obama held onto a 50 percent to 47 percent lead, with the Associated Press not declaring a winner.

"We can't just have speeches, we've got to have solutions," said Clinton, referring to Obama in her primary night speech from Youngstown, Ohio. "The best words in the world aren't enough unless you match them with action."

Clinton did not mention the results in Wisconsin in her speech. And she was pre-empted by all three cable-news channels (FOX, MSNBC and CNN) when Obama took the stage to declare victory in Houston, Tex.

"The problem that we face today in America today is not the lack of good ideas, it is that Washington has become a place where good ideas go to die," Obama said, after learning he had won the Wisconsin primary. He delivered an uncharacteristically long victory speech which lasted nearly 45 minutes, and it was heavy on policy specifics, including his views on education reform, health care and immigration.

"We're here because we still believe that change is possible," he said.

Washington awarded its delegates during caucuses held Feb. 9, which Obama won. The state legislature there decided to go ahead with what was being called a "beauty contest" even though the Democratic National Committee decided to allot their delegates after the caucuses. Nearly 500,000 voters had turned out with 53 percent of the precincts reporting.

Obama's ninth straight victory comes after New Mexico announced the winner of its caucus held on Super Tuesday. Clinton edged Obama out by 1,709 votes there, party officials announced last Thursday.

In the days before the two contests, the Clinton camp accused Obama of plagiarizing the words of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and using them as his own in his stump speeches.

The Clinton camp said it "calls into question the premise of his candidacy."

But when asked about allegations of plagiarism by Clinton herself which had been raised in press reports about Obama, senior Clinton campaign advisor Howard Wolfson said she "is not running on the strength of her rhetoric" in a conference call with reporters.

Obama rejected the charges of plagiarism and said that he often borrows the words of the Massachusetts governor – a person he campaigned for in his successful 2006 gubernatorial bid, and who has publicly defended him in response to the attacks.

In Texas, Obama was charging ahead. "The change we seek is still months and miles away, and we need the good people of Texas to help us get there," he said.

McCain wins Wisconsin, Washington state primaries

John McCain attacked Barack Obama in his victory speech after winning the Wisconsin primaries. Later in the night, he was also announced the winner of the Washington state primary. (Video provided by MSNBC.com)

By Michelle Westgate

Staff Writer

John McCain can add Wisconsin and Washington state to the list of states he has won this primary season.

With 92 percent of precincts reporting in Wisconsin, McCain has won 55 percent of the votes, while Mike Huckabee has received 37 percent of the votes. In Washington, where some of the delegates were already elected in caucuses held on Feb. 9, McCain won with 49 percent of the vote, with 53 percent of precincts reporting.

Huckabee only captured 21 percent of the vote there, with 23 percent of voters choosing "other."

“Even a superstitious naval aviator can claim with confidence and humility that I will be our party’s nominee for president of the United States,” McCain said at a rally tonight in Columbus, OH, as he thanked Wisconsin for this latest success.

In the speech, he also attacked Barack Obama. "I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change," he said.

The Washington state caucuses, which allocated the rest of the state's delegates, held on Feb. 9 are in legal limbo. McCain was declared victorious with only 87 percent of the votes counted, and Huckabee filed a lawsuit demanding a recount of the caucus results. McCain's margin of victory over Huckabee in the caucus was 2 percent, 26 percent to 24 percent.

McCain spent the last four days collecting key endorsements, including former candidate Mitt Romney, who announced that he was supporting McCain, and he encouraged his delegates to do the same.

“This is a man capable of leading our country at a dangerous hour,” Romney said.

In addition to the support of Romney, former President George H.W. Bush also endorsed McCain this week. Both Romney and Bush refer to McCain’s experience as a war hero when citing his ability to lead the nation.

“His character was forged in the crucible of war,” Bush said. “His commitment to America is beyond any doubt.”

Despite the recent endorsements, McCain still appears to be struggling to gain the support of the party’s more conservative members. In CNN exit polls tonight, 42 percent of GOP voters said McCain was not conservative enough. However, moderate voters and less conservative voters carried him to victory.

"Will the next President have the experience...and the strength of purpose to respond...in ways that strengthen our security?" McCain asked as he attacked Obama on foreign policy. "Or will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested invading our ally, Pakistan?

"I’m not the youngest candidate, but I am the most experienced,” he said.