Primary Dolor: Flashback Edition
• Ralph Naderannounces his entrance into the presidential race on Meet the Press. He will run as an independent. Will the Green Party assist him? "That depends on whether he is going to actually campaign," says spokesman. [ BG , LAT , USAT and WP ]
•Candidates react toNaderentrance. Pot, kettle; kettle, pot: "The only reason he's running is either he's an egomaniac or as a Bush contract," says Al Sharpton.[ NYT ]
•SeekingHoward Dean'ssupport,John Edwardsturns the charm on: "I want to acknowledge a man whom I have enormous respect for, who brought new people into the political process, a man who changed the face of the American political process forever --Howard Dean." [ WP and NYT ]
•Meet thenew populistin town: "You can't love jobs and hate the people who create them," saysKerry. This message may lack crossover appeal. "You're missing the right wing: the Republicans, the rich people," observes one voter. [ WP and NYT ]
• KerrychallengesPresident Bushto a debate on the war -- theVietnam War. [ LAT and USAT ]
• Bush'sspeech tonight at the Washington Convention Center is the beginning of "a new period of engagement" with voters, signalsbeginning of real campaigningfor the president.Bushadvisors assume their opponent will beKerry.Paid ads begin airing March 4.[ WP , LAT and USAT ]
•Where does the money go?KerryandEdwardsrun through their campaign treasuries; theBushcampaign says that through January it had raised over $143 million, with more than $104 million of that unspent.Sharptoncampaign is debt for $485,696, has just $1,039 on hand.Former fund-raising phenom Dean will owe over $500,000.[ LAT , WP and USAT ]
•Dems hope to tarBushwith deficit brush, GOP laughs off the approach: "It's kind of likeBonnie and Clydecomplaining about banking laws." [ USAT ]
•HasBushalienated Republicans? At least a few: "I could vote for Kerry.I could vote for any Democrat unless he's a real dummy." [ NYT ]
• Edwardsneeds to prove his foreign policy bona fides: "He's bumping up against his background and résumé." But Edwards sayshe's not inexperienced, he's an outsider. [ WP and USAT ]