Your Roundup Title Nomination Here: Please Name the Post-Primary Thingee Edition
• In a stunning surprise win,John Kerryekes out a slim victory in Super Tuesday.Howard Deanfinally wins a primary -- Vermont's.PresidentacknowledgesKerryas his opponent even as primary voters nationwide say in exits that the "number one factor in their choice was finding acandidate with the best chance of beating Bush." [ WP , USAT , LAT , NYT and NYT ]
• John Edwards to finally give different speech.And, despite everything,still optimistic. Says staffer: "He is remarkably resilient. His attitude is very good." Hissecret service agents, however, feel a pang of longing: "You know. . .we didn't even have time to get any pictures." [ WP ]
• Kerry gets free adviceon how to run against his newest opponent. Some good: "He should hold on to the newerJohn Kerryandnot give 20-minute answersto questions," says strategist. Needs to "prove, finally, thathe can fight for causes other than himself." Also could"ask [Terry] McAuliffe to take a lower media profile."(BushAWOL comment was "a surprise we could have done without," says adviser.) But take heart, says McCain strategist, running againstBushis"not rocket science."[Philly Inquirer , BG , CNN and NYT ]
• Edwardsanalysis: Loved by all, voted for by few. Voters saw him as "charismatic, likable, polished and, to his frustration,'vice presidential.'" Alsovictim of "front-loaded" primary. Will announce departure from campaign at the school of his late son. [ WP and NYT ]
•Ignored by candidates,New Yorkers ignore election: 14 percent turnout a record low. Says Democrat exec director: "A number of voters decided they were going to stay home." Turnout low generally, exception inMinnesota, where voters are angry: "It is certainly the largest turnout since Vietnam." [ Newsday , Pioneer Press ]
• Bushto start spending that massive war chest tomorrow. Ads will paintKerryin the"most unflattering light possible."But don't call it a kickback: About half of the $4.5 million already spent went toFox News and Fox Sports. MoveOn.org to counter with its own, less well funded, ad campaign. Viewers in 67 media markets canexpect to "see a MoveOn spot about five times during the group's five-day ad run,"which also begins tomorrow.Kerryhas own "modest" response. [ AP/Yahoo , NYT and AP/PI ]
•White House fight will benasty in addition to expensive. Says GOP consultant: "People on each side thinkthe other guy is the devil incarnate." Dems may benefit from relatively congenial primary: "The Republicans thought the Democrats would leave a lot more blood on the floor," says Donna Brazile. USAT warns"an angry base of true believers is not enough to capture the presidency."[Palm Beach Post and USAT