Tarheel Tangle

(Newser) - The National Enquirer claims to have cornered and confronted John Edwards yesterday after a late-night tryst with the woman they have been saying for months is his mistress and the mother of his infant child. The tabloid says its reporters tracked Edwards as he entered a Los Angeles hotel through a side door and used a basement elevator; left the hotel and returned again with her; and left again at 2:40am. When confronted by Enquirer reporters, they say, he fled—and then hid in a bathroom and summoned security. More »

(Newser) - Barack Obama romped to victory in North Carolina and almost fought Hillary Clinton to a draw in Indiana by relying on his most loyal coalitions: young voters, African-Americans, and liberals. He also did better yesterday than in recent races among white men, pulling about 40% of that demo in Indiana. That puts Obama back at the level of support he enjoyed on Super Tuesday, reports Politico. More »

(Newser) - Barack Obama's resounding win in North Carolina and fight to the finish in Indiana has left the Clinton campaign with one final strategy to win the nomination: move the goalposts and play for time. Team Hillary is now telling journalists that the winning candidate actually needs almost 200 more delegates than both sides had said earlier, reports the Los Angeles Times. More »

(Newser) - With polls still seesawing as voters pull their levers, maybe it’s best to stop predicting results, and start figuring out what they’ll mean. Adam Nagourney takes a shot in the New York Times : A Hillary Clinton victory in both primaries could “change the world.” Indiana would be Barack Obama’s third consecutive loss due to a blue-collar gap, and the North Carolina result would be chalked up to Rev. Wright. Disaster for Obama. More »

(Newser) - Voters in North Carolina and Indiana go to the polls today in what many are seeing as the last major battle in the Democratic race. The Washington Post outlines the stakes. Has Obama put the Wright controversy behind him? Pretty much, say both sides; it's a media story now. How's the gas tax holiday playing? Economists hate it, but it was a smart strategic move for Clinton. Is the race going to the convention? At least until June 3, if Hillary wins one of today's contests. More »

(Newser) - Urbanites in North Carolina prefer Barack Obama, while rural voters side with Hillary Clinton—which is why she spent all weekend trying to sway mixed regions like small cities and far-out suburbs. Obama, meanwhile, is counting on a hidden strength with country folk and his far-reaching publicity machine to win tomorrow's primary, the Charlotte Observer reports More »

(Newser) - John and Elizabeth Edwards chatted informally about the remaining Democratic candidates on the eve of North Carolina's primary today. John told People that he admires Hillary Clinton’s “tenacity,” but not her "old politics;” Elizabeth said she favors Clinton's health plan but loves Barack Obama's "fantastic" ability to motivate "so many young people." More »

(Newser) - Why has John Edwards maintained silence as the precarious Democratic contest heads to his home state of North Carolina? Could be, Politico posits, because he knows he has little sway there. According to insiders, the state, which holds its primary Tuesday, knew the senator only fleetingly before he leapt to the national stage, and though Democrats are proud of this native son's "political comet," an endorsement “would carry no weight.” More »

(Newser) - Barack Obama is widely expected to walk away with North Carolina's Democratic primary, but Hillary Clinton—buoyed by her Pennsylvania success—isn't giving up on the state, reports the Wall Street Journal. Clinton is spending millions on ads and staging dozens of rallies, hoping that her momentum will translate into a strong performance May 6. More »