Clinton, Obama Go One-on-One

'Barely news,' gets even worse, says Shales

(NEWSER) - No winner emerged in last night's Democratic presidential debate, but for one columnist the loser was clear: ABC News. Over the course of a commercial-crammed broadcast, moderators Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolous dwelled on petty half-controversies to incite Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to get nasty, writes Tom Shales of the Washington Post. More»

Clinton, Obama look for advantage 6 days ahead of primary

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama squared off in a Philadelphia debate tonight less than a week ahead of Pennsylvania's primary, and the recent flap over Obama's "bitter" comments took center stage early. Clinton noted that she's the granddaughter of a factory worker and that her family wouldn't "cling to religion" if it were upset with Washington, the New York Times reports. "That's a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of religion and faith," she said. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is wielding his clout to try to win the Summer Olympics for Chicago in 2016, which, if you follow the bouncing political ball, could be great news for Hillary Clinton or another lucky Democrat, writes Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com. Here's the logic: The Olympics create a groundswell of patriotism that usually pays off for the president in office. In fact, three of four incumbents won re-election in a landslide when the US hosted the summer Games, notes Silver. More»

Senator calls on New Yorkers to support her former rival

(NEWSER) - It’s time to make a clean break from the "disastrous policies" of the past eight years, and the man to “chart a new course” is Barack Obama, writes Hillary Clinton of her one-time rival in a column in the New York Daily News. “We find ourselves in an economic crisis born and bred by the failed policies of Washington Republicans. And the fact is, President Bush has practiced what John McCain has preached," she notes. More»

Centrist ex-prez has common ground with Republican, and his win sets up Hillary in '12

(NEWSER) - If Bill Clinton seems to be sabotaging Barack Obama's campaign, it may not only be for Hillary's presumed 2012 run, but because he prefers John McCain, Roger Simon writes in Pajamas Media. Since "showing up" Obama with his convention speech, Clinton has been "lavishing praise" on McCain and defending his desire to delay tonight’s debate—perhaps because he “wants Obama to lose.” More»