Clinton Joins Obama?

(Newser) - Two newspaper heavyweights made their endorsements today ahead of the Iowa and New Hampshire voting, and John McCain came out tops in both. The Boston Globe and the Des Moines Register each endorsed McCain as the Republican nominee. The Globe chose Barack Obama among Democrats, while the Register gave the nod to Hillary Clinton. More »

(Newser) - Hillary's hubby sparked a squabble by slamming Barack Obama on Charlie Rose last night, calling the surging Dem "a gifted television commentator" and mere "symbol for change." Not only is Hillary more prepared for the Oval Office, Bill said, "it's not close." Obama reacted today by slamming "slash and burn" politics and reminding voters that he has been "in government for over a decade." More »

(Newser) - GOP contender Mike Huckabee has grabbed the top spot among Republican candidates in South Carolina because voters find him the most "believable," according to a poll released yesterday. "Huckabee has come on because he has a more personable or pastoral appeal to a lot of voters," a political science professor noted. Huckabee, whose support appears to be growing across the nation, was backed by 24% of those polled. More »

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton yesterday rejected and distanced herself from an official in her campaign who suggested that Barack Obama's teenage drug use could be used against him if he becomes the Democratic nominee. The official's statement "was in no way condoned," Clinton said. "I didn't know about it, and he stepped down." More »

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton’s double-digit lead in national polls is “meaningless,” says MSNBC’s Howard Fineman, and her campaign is in danger of collapse because the race’s direction—toward Barack Obama—is what matters. Black voters are waiting to see whether Obama can win over whites in Iowa and New Hampshire, Fineman theorizes, before abandoning Clinton. More »

(Newser) - Bill Shaheen, Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire campaign co-chairman, resigned today over his remarks that rival Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s teenage drug use could leave him vulnerable to Republican attacks in a general election, the Boston Globe reports. Clinton apologized personally to Obama for Shaheen’s remarks at Reagan National Airport before they headed for today's debate in Iowa. More »

(Newser) - Clinton campaign officials are rushing to distance themselves from comments that Obama Barack's teenage drug use could be a big problem for the Dems, AP reports. Top adviser Bill Shaheen has apologized for remarks to the Washington Post that much of Obama's past was unknown and "there are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks," including questioning if Obama may have sold drugs. More »

(Newser) - Addressing the moment's question for all Democrat-watchers, the New York Times’ Matt Bai says Hillary Clinton is “still in command of the race” but “seriously in danger of coming undone.” He reminds readers that Al Gore—the last Democratic candidate whose nomination seemed inevitable—lost control in 1999, and almost fell to Bill Bradley. Dems have similar “profound underlying doubts” about Hillary. More »