Huck, Chuck Make Hot Ticket

(NEWSER) - The Boston Phoenix drew up its “Unsexiest Men” list in March, but the election season produced some new contenders, while others earned a reprieve.

• John Edwards: The perennial Dem also-ran wasn't on the first list, but his very public dalliance earns him a spot after a recount of sorts.
• Mike Huckabee: Though on the earlier list, the "sweet-natured creationist" receives a pardon for his success as a TV host.

Running mate speculation mounts as he clinches GOP nomination

(NEWSER) - With the GOP nomination in the bag, speculation is shifting to John McCain's possible choices for running mate, the New York Times reports. The 71-year-old McCain would become the oldest person ever elected as a first-term president if he wins this November so there's likely to be even more interest than usual on his choice of vice president. His campaign says there's no short list yet. More»

First primary endorsement ever for Focus on Family founder

(NEWSER) - One of the most influential Evangelical Christian leaders in the nation is expected today to endorse Mike Huckabee, providing a major boost to his campaign among conservatives, AP reports. James Dobson, founder of Colorado's Focus on the Family organization, has never before endorsed a Republican presidential candidate during a primary campaign. Dobson has grabbed national headlines with a number of controversial comments, including linking stem cell research to Nazi medical experiments and implying that the cartoon character Sponge Bob Square Pants is gay. More»

Kennedy, Kerry endorsements can't help Obama overcome ad blitz

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton topped Barack Obama in the Massachusetts primary today, overcoming his fervent endorsements by Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, MSNBC reports. Clinton did benefit from backing by state lawmakers like the senate president, Therese Murray, who implied Clinton lost the big endorsements because she is a woman, the AP reports. Clinton also ran more than twice as many ads in the state as Obama, the Times reports. More»

Momentum shadowed by some concerns

(NEWSER) - GOP hopeful John McCain won in Florida last night by pulling together the same coalition that worked for him in New Hampshire and South Carolina: moderates, voters concerned about the economy, and those most disenchanted with Bush. Romney campaigned on "fixing Washington" but McCain is the candidate with a long history of being the anti-Bush "maverick," writes Real Clear Politics. What's impressive is that he did so in a closed Republican primary—with no input from McCain-loving independents. More»