Clinton Calls for Moderator-Free Debate

Voters evenly divided over Wright effect

(NEWSER) - In exit polling in both Indiana and North Carolina today, voters overwhelmingly said the economy was the No. 1 issue influencing their decision in the presidential primary. In Indiana, 65% said the economy was most important, compared to 60% in North Carolina. Asked if the recession had affected their lives, 89% in Indiana said yes, as did 81% in North Carolina, MSNBC reports. More»

Dems hit competing morning talk shows

(NEWSER) - Obama likened Hillary's stance on Iran to George Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" on Meet the Press today, while Clinton took to ABC to defend the gas tax and told voters mired in the Jeremiah Wright controversy "We should move on." Tim Russert ignored her advice, however, and devoted his first 18 minutes to the pastor, reports the New York Times. “Obviously, it’s distracted us,” Obama admitted. More»

Clinton draws $8M for former rival, despite own campaign debts

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton has raised more than $8 million since July for Barack Obama, USA Today reports, and has hit 40 Obama campaign events in the past 2 months. She’ll headline two more Obama fundraisers this month, plus 11 events for other Democratic candidates. But while she’s raising money for others, her own campaign still owes $9 million to various vendors. More»

Insiders say he wouldn't promise her a Supreme Court seat

(NEWSER) - Bill and Hillary Clinton are doing little to help elect Barack Obama because the Democratic nominee “balked” at promising Hillary a Supreme Court judgeship, insiders tell the New York Post. “Hillary wants an assurance that if she shows loyalty and goes out there like a good soldier, she will be rewarded with a nomination,” a source said; Clinton reps denied it. More»

Candidate should do for gender what he did for race

(NEWSER) - It’s a shame that Hillary Clinton never gave a speech about gender to match Barack Obama’s speech about race, writes Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times. So why not make that speech yourself, Barack? Kristof even has the talking points for you:

• Racism is deeper, but sexism may be wider. More Americans say they’d vote for a black man than a woman.
• Biases are stealthy. Americans don’t mean to discriminate based on gender; but the subconscious harbors stereotypes.