NEW YORK TIMES: This generally is the stage of a campaign when Democrats have to work hard to get excited about whichever candidate seems most likely to outlast an uninspiring pack. That is not remotely the case this year.
The early primaries produced two powerful main contenders: Hillary Clinton, the brilliant if at times harsh-sounding senator from New York; and Barack Obama, the incandescent if still undefined senator from Illinois. The remaining long shot, John Edwards, has enlivened the race with his own brand of raw populism.
As Democrats look ahead to the primaries in the biggest states on Feb. 5, The Times’s editorial board strongly recommends that they select Hillary Clinton as their nominee for the 2008 presidential election. MORE
WASHINGTON POST: McCain repeatedly condemned Clinton for her views on the war in Iraq, insisting that following the plan she advocates for withdrawing troops from Iraq amounts to waving the “white flag of surrender” in the battle against terror. Romney one-upped McCain, deadpanning that the successes of late in Iraq were due to the work of the servicemen and women in the battle, not “General Hillary Clinton.” MORE
THE STAR: For Obama, war actually works best as a domestic prop, beyond who was right or wrong five years ago: Homeless veterans, insufficient screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, shockingly high unemployment post-service, the financial and emotional burden of military families. It’s a message that resonates here especially, in Jarhead land.Yesterday, Obama stayed on message … for an hour. Then the Hope Express moved on. Change wardrobe, change subject, and
dance. MORE
THE STATE: Clinton’s absence from South Carolina — where Democratic voters go to the polls Saturday — does not means she’s not committed to winning the state, said Bob Nash, deputy national campaign director. Nash noted the candidate’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, and daughter, Chelsea, have been campaigning in South Carolina. “She’s been here a whole lot,” Nash said. “We feel very good about their connection and involvement in the state.” MORE
NEWSWEEK: Losing to Obama by 12 in the [South Carolina], Clinton has essentially ceded the primary and instead spent yesterday hopscotching from Washington to Arizona to California to Jersey — a preview of what all the candidates will start to do once South Carolina votes on Saturday. Not to take anything away from Hillary, who leads in the Garden State by 18 points; she was the rock star last night. MORE
PLAIN DEALER: Kucinich Pulls The Plug, Will Go Back To Beautiful House With His Beautiful Wife And Ask Himself ‘How Did I Get Here’?
BARACK OBAMA: Reads Letterman Top 10