Clinton shifts her criticism to Bush
HARTFORD, Conn. — Hillary Rodham Clinton relegated her chief Democratic rival to the rhetorical sidelines Monday and focused her criticism on President Bush, saying he had lost touch with the concerns of an anxious public.
In a speech to more than 1,000 people jammed in a gymnasium, Clinton did not refer to her fight with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Her audience, which included an equal number listening in an adjoining room, roared with approval when the former first lady took note of the Republican president’s dwindling time in office.
“Tonight is a red-letter night in American history,” she said. “It is the last time George Bush will give the State of the Union. Next year, it will be a Democratic president giving it.”
Also Monday, Clinton picked up the endorsement of Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
Candidates’ interactive event targets young
WASHINGTON — The presidential candidates will have a chance to reach out to young voters on the Web and on television and radio through an interactive event Saturday sponsored by My Space, MTV and The Associated Press.
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Mike Huckabee have accepted the invitation to participate. Republicans John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney and Democrats Barack Obama and John Edwards also have been invited.
The candidates will answer questions posed by online viewers or from a live audience at MTV’s studio in New York. They also can join the discussion from the studio or via satellite from wherever they are on the campaign trail.
The event begins at 4 p.m. MST.
Democrats lead in Florida voter makeup
Undeclared voters make up 1,911,510 of those registered in Florida. Registered Democrats number 4,137,067, compared with 3,825,727 registered Republicans and 321,301 people affiliated with minor parties, according to Dec. 31, figures from the Florida Department of State.
Suit seeks to block primary in Ohio county if paper ballots used
CLEVELAND — The American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal judge on Monday to block the March 4 presidential primary in Ohio’s biggest county if it switches to a paper ballot system that doesn’t allow voters to correct errors.
In a follow-up to a suit it filed Jan. 17, the ACLU of Ohio asked for a preliminary injunction against any election in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, if the switch is made. The lawsuit argued that the proposed paper-ballot system would violate voters’ constitutional rights because it doesn’t allow them to correct errors on ballots before the ballots are cast.
