ALBANY, N.Y.
N.Y. moves primary to join others Feb. 5
Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed legislation Monday moving New York’s presidential primary to Feb. 5, further setting the stage for a political showdown that could result in the longest general election campaign ever.
Nearly a dozen other states, including California and New Jersey, have already moved their primaries or caucuses to Feb. 5. A dozen more are considering it, setting the stage for what is becoming known as “Super-Duper Tuesday” just 22 days after the leadoff Iowa caucuses.
WASHINGTON
Clinton, Obama shun Fox News’ debate
U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama will not participate in a Democratic debate co-hosted by Fox News Channel this fall, campaign aides indicated Monday.
The decision follows an announcement last week by fellow Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards that he would skip the Fox event.
The Sept. 23 debate in Detroit is co-sponsored by the network and the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute.
Obama and Clinton aides said the senators intended to participate in six debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee.
PHOENIX
McCain says he didn’t need escort in Iraq
Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential hopeful, said Monday that he would have taken his tour of an Iraqi market last week even if he hadn’t been accompanied by soldiers.
“I’m not notorious for being nervous about going anywhere,” said McCain, R-Ariz., but the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, had recommended the armed escort.
WASHINGTON
Obama to Letterman: VP slot not appealing
Barack Obama isn’t interested in running for vice president.
The Democrat made that clear during an appearance Monday on “Late Show With David Letterman” on CBS. Letterman asked Obama whether there had been any discussion of the Illinois senator sharing the Democratic ticket with New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“No, you don’t run for second,” Obama said. “I don’t believe in that.”
Obama also told Letterman that his family is holding up well on the campaign trail.
“I take my kids occasionally,” the candidate said. “Malia, who’s 8, Sasha, who’s 5 – we take them on the campaign trail, and they see these big crowds. I ask them sometimes, ‘How’s it going?’ and the last time I did that, my 8-year old turned to me and said, ‘This is terrific, Daddy, but what are we doing here again?”‘
Obama joked: “I’m not getting back to Chicago very often. … My wife is starting to refer to me as her first husband.”
