Californians hit the road for Hillary Clinton

Hoping to replicate her strong showing last month in California with a much-needed win this Tuesday in another big state with somewhat similar demographics -- Texas -- Hillary Clinton is getting some help from some California friends, including Antonio Villaraigosa.

The peripatetic Los Angeles mayor was one of the warmup acts for Clinton at her Friday night rally in San Antonio (where, not too far away, Barack Obama had been campaigning earlier). Also firing up the crowd before Clinton spoke was Rep. Hilda Solis of El Monte.

Clinton is hoping that, just as in the California primary, a wave of Latino support will sweep her to a win in Texas, and Villaraigosa and Solis are doing their part to make that happen. Indeed, The Times Michael Finnegan, traveling with the Clinton team, learned that after accompanying the presidential contender to stops Saturday in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan, Villaraigosa will work the same area by himself on Sunday.

His Honor already has put in a fair number of hours for Clinton. As we noted ...

There's no escaping Obama's message

Barack Obama's presidential campaign showed off its nimbleness -- and, even more so, its overflowing treasury -- with the quickly produced response ad to the "3 a.m. in the morning" spot that the Hillary Clinton team unveiled earlier in the day (here's the Clinton ad; here's the Obama one).

But Obama's cadres of aides also pay attention to the smallest of details. And that was on vivid display tonight at the candidate's rally in San Antonio.

Every urinal in the men's rooms at Verizon amphitheater was outfitted with a door hanger that not only urged support for Obama, but had an explanation of the "Texas two-step" voting procedure -- how those who really want to make a difference on Tuesday first should cast a primary ballot, then show up for local caucuses.

It's unknown whether locales for the hangers were found in the women's rooms; understandably, The Times' Mark Z. Barabak was unable to obtain firsthand knowledge of that.

Barabak does relate that, as has been so often the case of late, Obama ...

New Ron Paul music video sure to ignite The Revolution

(Note to Reader: A Ticket update on the previous "Nearly-naked Hotties 4 Ron Paul" pin-up calendar item appears at the end of this item.)

Better late than never.

As several loyal Ticket readers have thoughtfully tipped us, Rep. Ron Paul now has his very own campaign music video, albeit an "unofficial" one assembled by equally loyal supporters and released just the other day in time for Tuesday's primaries in Texas, Ohio and two lesser states somewhere in the East.

The new video involves a woman by the name of Aimee Allen waking up in what appears to be a radio studio. It's a symbolic scene -- get it?

Like the country waking up to the impending Ron Paul Revolution, which would involve electing the 72-year-old former ob-gyn and current Republican as commander-in-chief in the White House, radically downsizing the federal government, bringing our troops home, restoring the Constitution and abolishing several government institutions that infringe on individual rights. (That explains the handcuffs and a shadowy figure duct-taping Allen's mouth a couple of times.)

Covering all that in a 3:37 music video is quite an accomplishment. But nothing is beyond the reach of Paul supporters, who've made him the most successful GOP fundraiser in recent months, although he hasn't won any primary elections.

Instead of brushing her teeth, the first thing the newly-wakened performer does is start to sing. And there are many opportunities for sharp film cuts to her militantly marching, leaning into the camera, raising her fist, jumping up and down and the usual physical antics required to keep the current generation watching. Oh, and a couple of nearly-naked female chests.

There's a quick speech quote of Dr. Paul's, the 72-year-old libertarian-like Texas congressman who's also facing a party primary challenge in his home House district next Tuesday.

It's a rhythmic song involving phrases like "start a revolution," "break down illegal institutions," "never gonna give up the fight," "save our constitutional rights" and "boo yah."

And to our knowledge this Paul anthem is the first campaign music video's lyrics of the 07-08 political season to mention the IRS, the Patriot Act and the much-despised Federal Reserve.

Ms. Allen's prominent tattoos also add a nice, threatening biker touch to the music's theme. And we bet by the time you've watched the video 25 or 30 times, you'll have the words down perfectly.

You'll then feel an irresistible urge to join The Revolution. But, first, click on the Read More line just below here.

--Andrew Malcolm

Just so you know, Hillary Clinton's crowds get excited too

Maybe some of you have seen recent news reports about a certain Democratic candidate for president who so excites the campaign crowds that they scream and shout and go crazy and an unusually large number of front-row females there faint and the cameras capture it as a sign of voter enthusiasm.

Well, not by accident, the other Democratic candidate wants you to understand that crowds at her  rallies are also excited and cheering and emotional, though maybe not to the point of fainting because they're more, shall we say, mature and under control.

Anyway, just in time for the crucial primary vote in Ohio and the primary/caucus in Texas on Tuesday, now we have a new campaign video to document all that.

--Andrew Malcolm 

Rep. Diane Watson is feeling the heat (updated)

Rep. Diane Watson, who represents much of core Los Angeles in the House, is among the prominent black Democrats being leaned on to switch her allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama -- pressure that has intensified since the much-publicized decision by Rep. John Lewis of Georgia to do precisely that.

Watson is one of a handful of African-American Clinton supporters -- who also are superdelegates to the party nominating convention -- who lament, in a Politico.com story, the heavy-handed lobbying on Obama's behalf by unnamed forces.

“I’ve gotten threatening mail,” Watson says in the piece. "They say, ‘Your district went 61-29 (percent) Obama and you need to change.’ But I don’t intimidate. I can hold the ground. … I would lose my seat over my principles.”

We don't doubt that that's the case, but there's at least a slight bit of bravado in Watson's comment. If she was going to get bounced from office for sticking with Clinton, it would happen through a primary challenge. And California's 2008 primary, of course, has already come and gone.*

*Update: Actually, California has not held its 2008 congressional primary; the February 4 ballot was for presidential contenders.  Congressional  seats will be in play in California's June 3 primary; the filing deadline for candidates is March 7. It remains to be seen if a serious challenger to Watson will emerge.

Watson will win re-election this November ...

In his own words: Rush Limbaugh

From time to time The Ticket publishes an item solely in the words of someone involved in the political process. Some are long. Some are short. Some well-known. Some not. Today's words come from conservative radio broadcaster Rush Limbaugh.

He was reacting to the ongoing controversy of using Barack Obama's middle name to insinuate connections with something bad, foreign, Arabic, Muslim, you choose. Limbaugh denied using the middle-name tactic, although he wondered aloud about someone saying they don't want part of their name uttered publicly.

"All I said was, are we going to let these guys tell us what we can't say?  Obama doesn't like his middle name being used, so we can't use it?  What are we going to call him?  Barack Fitzgerald Obama? Barack Earl Obama? Should we give him some other middle name? I can call the Drive-Bys every day and say, 'You know, I really wish you wouldn't say this about me the next time you mention me,' and it isn't going to matter." 

There have also been recent reports about the Ohio broadcaster who introduced Sen. John McCain at a large rally with repeated references to Obama's middle name and reports of the Tennessee Republican party doing the same for a while on its website.  McCain renounced the remarks and the Republican National Committee chastised the state party.

Limbaugh offered a reminder about the history of it all:

"Who first made a big deal of Obama's middle name? Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb). Who ran around and talked about him selling drugs, and maybe being a coke dealer? Clinton Co-Chair Bill Shaheen. Who started playing the race card? Bob Johnson of BET.

"Who released the picture of Obama in the turban? Who forwarded that e-mail claiming he's a Muslim? Clinton Inc. did all of this!"

--Andrew Malcolm

Nevada now abuzz over the Governor's marriage

An unusual personal, political and media drama is unfolding in Nevada this evening, which is called the Silver State because the Golden State name was taken.

Until this afternoon hardly anyone knew or at least talked openly about the strained emerging relationship between Gov. Jim Gibbons and his wife Dawn.

The pair, pictured here, are each successful politicians in their own right. A former combat pilot in both Vietnam and the first Persian Gulf war and then a commercial pilot and lawyer, Gibbons spent eight years as a state assemblyman before being elected to five terms in the U.S. House in 1996. He's Mormon; she's Presbyterian.

Dawn Gibbons, who is 10 years younger than her husband, won her husband's old state seat when he went to Congress and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination to fill Gibbons' House seat when he became governor two years ago. The couple met on a blind date and have three children: Chris, Jennifer and Jimmy and three grandchildren. But neither of their official biographies provides a marriage date.

For the last week, muffled rumors about the marriage have swirled....

Bush sees no bailout for lenders and speculators

As banks lobby for what has been described as an "epic rescue plan" for the mortgage industry, President Bush today hardened his oppostion to bailout plans he said would help "lenders and speculators." Bush said such plans would be unfair to millions of homeowners who pay their mortgages on time.

USA Today: "Echoing Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Bush says a Senate proposal to deal with the foreclosure crisis would 'do more to bail out lenders and speculators than to help American families keep their homes.' "

Update: It's worth noting the specific objections the administration has to the Senate bill on foreclosures. From CNN Money: "Earlier this week, the Bush administration said the president would veto the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 if it passes Congress because it objected to two key elements.

The first is a provision to change the bankruptcy law and let judges reduce the amount of principal and interest due on mortgages of those filing for bankruptcy. The administration also objects to a provision in the bill that...

Finally, some good new$ for the Clinton campaign, but then...

Some good news for and from the embattled Clinton campaign. At least for a little while.

Sen. Hillary Clinton raised more than $35 million so far in February, including $34.5 million specifically earmarked for the primary, her campaign aides announced today.

Speaking to donors in a conference call a short time ago with The Times' Dan Morain listening in, Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said Clinton had by far the best fund-raising month of her 13-month campaign.

An aide to Sen. Barack Obama, who's been a money-raising machine this year, did not specify at first exactly how much Obama raised in February, but claimed the Illinois senator out-raised Clinton anyway. Obama raised $36.7 million in January.

McAuliffe said Clinton has amassed a total of $167 million since the campaign began, including $145 million specifically for the primary, plus another $5 million she loaned herself.

McAuliffe said Clinton would have enough to compete in the Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont next week and in primaries to follow. McAuliffe added that....

Have it your way: Ron Paul must go! Or, Ron Paul rules!

Because we always try to please our readers here on The Ticket, we have a special two-for-one offer today that, for a change, is worth exactly what you paid for it. (Ron Paul fans can just skip to the second part of this item):

1) Wonkette, the D.C.-based gossip website, has an absolutely hilarious item up now on Chris Peden, a small-town city councilman in Texas who's running a well-funded Republican House primary campaign to oust Rep. Ron Paul. Peden you've never heard of. Paul you know as a perennial loser in recent Republican presidential primaries around the country, running behind even Mike Huckabee as a Libertarian-like, antiwar, anti-government, pro-Constitution candidate, whom Fox News deemed not good enough for a prime-time debate.

With the headline "Kick Ron Paul Out of Congress," Wonkette shows total disregard for the wrath of Paulunteers who've earned a well-deserved reputation for militancy in devotion to their 72-year-old candidate, both in terms of campaigning and wasting their hard-earned money by fueling the former OB/GYN's hopeless presidential run in state after state.

Yes, he got some second places in a few caucuses. But while he was speaking to large and small crowds in wonderful places such as Iowa and New Hampshire, people back in Texas' 14th Congressional District, such as Peden, were wondering what's in it for them?

Wonkette, with no pretense of objectivity, heartily endorses Peden and describes him as "a tall, handsome, charming young conservative with a fluent command of local issues from NASA to rice farming, and whose easy demeanor and embrace of English-only legislation will thrill all but the most hardened liberals."

The site even sent a special correspondent to the Texas district near Houston and publishes a number of photographs of Peden campaigning. The site describes Paul this way: "To most American political fanatics, Ron Paul is just a goofy hobbit whose hilariously doomed online presidential campaign provided standout entertainment in a year that offered a wealth of hilariously doomed campaigns.

"But to many of his constituents in Texas Congressional District 14, Ron Paul is just a blame-America-first attention whore who completely ignores the people who put him in office."

Wonkette also points that Peden points out that over Paul's 10 terms in Congress, he has introduced 351 pieces of legislation. Only six ever came out of committee and zero have passed into law. Every term, Paul just reintroduces the same doomed bills, Wonkette says.

The website also refers to Paul's challenger as "Future Congressman Peden."

-- Andrew Malcolm

Ron Paulunteers start here

2) The notoriously irresponsible satirical website Wonkette has launched a completely unprovoked attack on Rep. Ron Paul, the 10-term principled former doctor who stands firmly for a strict interpretation of the Constitution and bringing our boys and girls home from military assignments abroad.

In a complete mockery of professional journalism standards, the biased website publishes an outrageous online article that actually endorses the congressman's challenger in the Texas primary election next Tuesday as part of its "news story." It describes this inexperienced "city councilman" as "handsome" and "charming," as if that should have anything to do with representing the state's 14th Congressional District.

It ignores the congressman's long record of fighting for the rights of his constituents and that every term he continues that fight by introducing the same legislation, more than 350 pieces in total so far . The so-called article doesn't even mention Dr. Paul's Air Force service nor the nearly $20 million of fund-raising success from dedicated donors last quarter in Paul's valiant struggle to downsize an out-of-control federal government that ignores people's rights, the Constitution and invades other countries.

There are no quotes from the good doctor in the article either. It's so typical of the mainstream media's vast left-wing conspiracy to ignore the only Republican candidate to oppose the war and make sense while doing it.

It calls Paul's opponent a "CPA," which stands for Certified Public You-Know-What. The article calls the good doctor, who has delivered 4,000 babies in his career, "a barking loon."

And it says this youngster politician claims to be qualified for Congress because he's delivered one baby, his third child. What is that about?

The Revolution will not be televised!

-- Andrew Malcolm

William F. Buckley Jr., one private memory

The nation's political scene, as it stumbles through another leap year party nominating process, has all the trappings of a fully functioning democracy -- the banners and bunting, the overheated rhetoric, and hyperbole, the scientifically-sculpted, carefully-uttered campaign message phrases, the feigned outrage and pointed fingers for the cameras' benefit.

This process also has stale, divisive and short-term political strategies that cause and exacerbate, rather than relieve, turmoil and frictions. Proposed policies aplenty. But real, new ideas seem dessicated.

From that well-televised scene in recent years, William F. Buckley Jr., a fountain of ideas who led two generations of conservative political thinking, had left New York, sold his beloved sailboat and settled into his packed study in Sharon, Conn., to intensely compose letters, columns and books, of which he's written 55.

In that sacred private place, he thought and wrote and coughed in the short raspy breaths of emphysema and endured the regimen of diabetes, either of which could have killed him Wednesday at 82. Buckley, who was widowed last spring, was found by a cook, at his desk, where, despite the pain and short breath, he would write every day, including his last.

With a Barry Goldwater book due out this spring, Buckley was within two months of finishing a book on Ronald Reagan with his sights set on another; ironically, a collection of the 450 graceful obituaries he wrote for the magazine he founded in 1955, National Review. There, he displayed his famous wit, announcing one week after Lyndon Johnson's inauguration in 1965 that he'd lost patience with that administration. He was also famous as a sesquipedalian, someone who routinely uses long words like that.

To a generation that finds the Bee Gees ancient history, Buckley must seem a strange duck. Well-educated, well-read, well-spoken, wealthy, he almost single-handedly cradled the modern conservative movement in the early post-World War II years.

Then, through the '50s and '60s, he drove it with the power of his spoken and written words, enduring the painful but formative 1964 candidacy of Goldwater, the last Arizona Republican nominee, which ...

Tennessee GOP creates a stir

Talk about being ahead of the curve!

Hands down, the award this week goes to the top officials of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Even before conservative radio talk show host Bill Cunningham on Tuesday dramatically upped his national name recognition by making sure to invoke Barack Obama's middle name as part of a tirade against him, the Tennessee GOP leaders had employed the technique in a release criticizing the Democratic presidential contender.

And the release spotlighted words of unsolicited praise Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan had showered upon Obama -- even before the candidate was forced to grapple with the issue during his debate Tuesday night with Hillary Clinton.

The release, headlined "Anti-Semites for Obama," was issued Monday, and it sought to make the case that, in the words of Robin Smith, head of the Volunteer State's GOP, "an Obama presidency will view Israel as a problem rather than a partner for peace in the Middle East."

Obama, of course, would hotly dispute such an assertion. And the foreign policy section on his website lists ensuring "a strong U.S.-Israel partnership," supporting "Israel's right to self defense" and backing "foreign assistance to Israel" as three of his prime goals.

The Knoxville News Standard ...

MSNBC scores its largest audience ever with Tuesday's Dem debate

Judging by the viewing success of recent televised political debates, it seems millions of Americans are starting to pay attention to the presidential race, especially on the still unsettled Democratic side.

Thankfully hosting what will likely be the last scheduled debate of the 2007-08 presidential primary season between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, MSNBC captured a major ratings victory today. It was the Democrats' 20th such forum.

The 96-minute decorous debate, anchored by Brian Williams and Tim Russert, drew 7.8 million viewers, the biggest audience the cable news network has ever had in its 11-year history and twice the size of the channel's previous record. (But that Tuesday night audience figure did include those watching on nine local Ohio stations that simulcast the debate.)

Until now, MSNBC's largest viewership was on March 19, 2003, at the beginning of the Iraq war, when 3.7 million people tuned in.

The Democratic face-off in Cleveland was the third highest-rated debate of the season, and made MSNBC the second-most watched network between 9 and 10:30 p.m. ET in all of television on Tuesday. Only Fox did better, airing “American Idol” and “Back to You” during the debate's first hour.

MSNBC even drew more viewers than its sister broadcast network. NBC attracted an average of 6.6 million during that time period with the second half of “The Biggest Loser” and the first half of its new show “Quarterlife.”

-- Matea Gold

Denounce and/or reject? Clinton opts for neither

Less than 24 hours after Hillary Clinton skillfully maneuvered Barack Obama into denouncing and rejecting the unwanted embrace he recently received from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, she was asked to similarly distance herself from inflammatory remarks she was told were made by one of her prominent Texas supporters.

Clinton took a pass, in part because, as she noted, she knew nothing of the incident other than what a television reporter had just told her. Still, it will be interesting to see if this evolves into any sort of sustained flap as Tuesday's big vote in the Lone Star State approaches.

Today, during satellite interviews with a handful of TV stations, a reporter from station KTVT in Dallas asked Clinton about comments purportedly made by Adelfa Callejo, a trail-blazing Latina lawyer in Texas. According to the reporter, Callejo "recently told us that African Americans never help Hispanics when they gain power and influence and that she would never vote for Sen. Obama. And now, quoting here, she said, 'Obama's problem is that he happens to be black.' "

Clinton was asked to react. ...

Obama backers plan Texas phone barrage

Texans who've made up their minds between the two Democratic presidential contenders,  who don't want to hear anything more about the campaign or who simply don't care to chat with strangers best head for the hills this Sunday.

That's because the political arm of MoveOn.org, the liberal online advocacy group that is nothing if not energetic, plans to swamp the state with telephone phone calls that day urging support for their candidate of choice, Barack Obama.

Most of the incoming rings apparently will come in the evening, in conjunction with close to 2,000 "Yes We Can" house parties the group is convening across the country. Overall, according to a MoveOn release sent out today, its members, "armed with cell phones," aim to make over 400,000 calls to Texas to help Obama prevail in the state's Tuesday primary.

Before the nighttime calling begins, folks at the parties will get a political pep talk from key Obama backers -- Sen. Ted Kennedy, liberal talk show radio host (and one-time Texas pol) Jim Hightower, and actress Halle Berry.

Unclear from the MoveOn announcement is whether any of that trio will be part of the massive phone bank. Too bad; we'd guess a call from Berry would be mighty persuasive for a fair number of males.

-- Don Frederick

[UPDATE -- A couple of readers pointed out, appropriately, that our original headline for this item, "Obama backers set to jam Texas phone lines," might be open to a nefarious interpretation, given the dirty tricks scandal that featured a Republican official a few years ago in New Hamphire. We agree, so we changed the head. And we very much appreciate the input.].

And the answer to Hillary Clinton's 'question' contention is???

MSNBC's David Shuster (back from exile after his ill-considered Chelsea Clinton crack) did the grunt work and came up with the information we've been awaiting: Over the course of the last 10 Democratic presidential debates, starting with one in Philadelphia on Oct. 30, it's close to a draw in terms of who draws the opening question.

To be precise, the initial query was posed to Hillary Clinton six times, to Barack Obama four.

Perhaps the most aggrieved party should be John Edwards, who was still on stage for seven of these faceoffs and never once got to spout off first.

A closer look at Shuster's data does buttress Clinton's contention in Tuesday night's debate in Ohio that she's been asked to replay first an unusually large number of times.

In four out of the last five debates, the opening questions have been directed at her. Also, Shuster's research did not include the onerous task of trolling through transcripts to determine how often, as the debates proceeded, Clinton was singled out for the first response.

As we suspected, her comment about the flow of the questioning -- as well as her segue to last weekend's "Saturday Night Live" skit poking fun at the press for supposedly fawning over Obama -- has been much-remarked-upon. And the critiques ...

Look out, Huck, Ron Paul's people are gonna be furious

OK, Disciples of Paul, here's the chance you've been waiting for to get Mike Huckabee, the only remaining contender between your guy, Rep. Ron Paul, and the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, that nobody senator from Arizona, John McCain.

Do you know what Huckabee wrote on Tuesday? You won't believe it. Seriously.

Because he needs the publicity and doesn't have the money to buy much advertising to convince the rapidly growing number of Republicans who see the former Arkansas governor as a lingering nuisance who can't take a hint that his presidential hopes are over, smoked, done, dashed, cooked, fried, kaput, finished, completed and hopeless, Huckabee has challenged McCain to a debate. Hey, it only cost a stamp.

Huckabee's letter says: "I believe a Lincoln-Douglas debate so that voters can better understand our views on critical issues such as health care, education, energy independence, terrorism and national security is just what we need."

Of course, the Lincoln-Douglas debates occurred in....

Hillary Clinton blows name of next Russian president

One of the things that is driving Hillary Clinton and her husband and their latest presidential campaign absolutely crazy is the favoritism of the media they see directed toward her opponent, Barack Obama.

This was captured last weekend in the opening episode of "Saturday Night Live" on a mock panel with actor reporters openly admitting they were "in the tank" for Obama, pressing Clinton with difficult questions while asking Obama if he was comfortable, with the followup question, was he sure he was comfortable.

Clinton couldn't hold it in any longer early in Tuesday night's debate in Cleveland. "Well," she said when asked the first two questions first, "could I just point....

Growing political interest powers CNN gains among key viewers

Speaking of debates:

Powered by a mounting national interest in the presidential races, CNN scored a rare ratings win over top-ranked Fox News in February among the key viewer democraphics of 25- to 54-year-old viewers during prime time for the first time in six years.

CNN drew an average of 614,000 viewers in that age group, a spike of 150% over February 2007, while Fox News earned 454,000 viewers, up 10%, according to Nielsen Media Research. MSNBC placed third with 326,000 viewers, an increase of 71%.

Fox News, however, still won a larger overall audience this month, with 1.87 million viewers in prime time, making it the third-most watched among all basic cable networks. CNN had 1.66 million and MSNBC drew 771,000.

The big audience gains for CNN were largely due to primary night specials and the three widely-watched debates the network hosted this month, including last week’s Democratic forum in Texas, which garnered more than 7.5 million viewers.

-- Matea Gold

Obama's Farrakhan answer gives Clinton an opening

When you've debated as often as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have, it's hard to find fresh material to spar over. But -- who knew? -- Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan provided such fodder Tuesday night. And the result may have been some crucial points scored by Clinton in their face-off in Ohio.

At the least, Obama appeared to dance around how far he should distance himself from the unsolicited backing he received over the weekend from Farrakhan until Clinton cornered him. At that point, he both denounced AND rejected that support.

Obama had been asked a straightforward question by moderator Tim Russert: Did he accept Farrakhan's support.

The following exchange occurred:

Obama: "You know, I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan's anti-Semitic comments. I think they are unacceptable and reprehensible. I did not solicit this support. He expressed pride in an African American who seems to be bringing the country together. I obviously can't censor him, but it is not support that I sought. And we're not doing anything, I assure you, formally or informally with Minister Farrakhan.

Russert: "Do you reject his support?"

Obama: "Well, Tim, I can't say to somebody that he can't say that he thinks I'm a good guy."

True enough, but probably ...

Clinton wonders about the debate process

On national television Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton seemed to wonder if she's being picked on -- by debate questioners.

And, in an offbeat moment sure to be replayed, she went on to refer to a skit on "Saturday Night Live" that (no doubt to the show's supreme delight) her campaign aides have previously sought to spotlight.

Clinton squared off with Barack Obama in Ohio and the two Democratic presidential contenders quickly engaged in a lengthy debate on their healthcare plans (16 minutes, according to moderator Brian Williams). Neither gave an inch -- each insisting their respective plans were superior and that a panoply of experts agreed. Presumably, it now will be up to voters in Ohio and Texas to vet this dispute in their closely watched primaries next Tuesday.

Clinton was asked to comment first on the issue, given that she harshly accused Obama over the weekend of unfairly representing her healthcare plan.

Turning to their next major dispute of late -- the North American Free Trade Agreement -- Clinton again was asked to comment first, given that during the early 1990s she seemed to stand foursquare behind her husband, President Bill Clinton, as he pushed the controversial pact through Congress.

Before focusing on the topic, she said she found it "curious" ...

Favorability persists as a Hillary Clinton problem

Dig deep into the new L.A. Times/Bloomberg nationwide poll, and the sources of Hillary Clinton's frustration over Barack Obama eclipsing her -- at least at the moment -- in the Democratic presidential race become obvious.

But one key question -- about a basic voter impression of the two, as well as of Republican John McCain -- seems to offer part of the answer to what clearly puzzles Clinton and her aides.

Overall, the survey (which you can read about here) found Obama edging ahead of Clinton, 48% to 42%, when those who have voted in a Democratic nominating contest or plan to were asked who they support. As we noted earlier today, the results confirm a stunning reversal in position between the two -- not so long ago, Clinton was the runaway leader for the party's nod.

But Clinton, on some key subjects, still appears to be in a stronger position than Obama when all voters polled -- Democrats, Republicans and independents -- were asked a series of issue-related questions that put McCain into the mix.

For instance, Clinton had a nine-percentage point advantage, 43% to 34%, when voters were asked ...

Obama indy ads go all-out in Ohio, Texas; Clinton's on hold

With the crucial voting in Texas and Ohio now just a week away, organized labor and liberal groups including MoveOn.org have spent $2 million in independent campaigns boosting Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic contests, while a separate outside effort organized for Sen. Hillary Clinton has stalled. And time is running out.

As of this morning, four days after its planned start, a newly formed pro-Clinton group, American Leadership Project, had failed to broadcast any of its proposed ads in Ohio and Texas.

Last week after the Clinton group announced its plan to launch TV ads on ...

The name game and Obama

Bill Cunningham, a conservative radio talk show host based in Cincinnati, won a National Assn. of Broadcasters Marconi Award in 2001. Today, he staked his claim for a different "honor" -- cheap shot artist of the year -- with his repeated and pointed references to "Barack Hussein Obama" as he helped emcee a rally in his hometown for John McCain.

As Times reporter Maeve Reston relates here, McCain, to his credit, quickly repudiated the type of "help" Cunningham was providing. Referring to the incessant use of Obama's middle name, the presumed Republican presidential nominee said, "It will never happen again. It will never happen again."

That comment earned a rapid note of thanks from Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton. "It is a sign that if there is a McCain-Obama general election, it can be intensely competitive but the candidates will attempt to keep it respectful and focused on issues," Burton said.

Despite McCain's pledge, though, the type of message Cunningham sought to send today almost assuredly will happen again. Perhaps not at an officially sanctioned ...

Rush Limbaugh commands you to think his way

Most Americans do not listen to Rush Limbaugh on the radio.

So, if they ever think about the talkative fellow, they know for sure that he's a chunky right-wing blowhard with a cigar who goes on and on about conservative causes and a while back had some sort of problem about prescription pills that allowed them to crack a smug smile over hypocrisy.

Recently, they learned that Rush has some kind of problem with Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, that offers hope for rampant divisiveness among conservatives that will allow Barack or Hillary or Ralphie (but likely not Ron) to romp into the White House next January.

However, there are nearly 14 million Americans who do ...

L.A. Times/Bloomberg Poll posts this evening

A new L.A. Times/Bloomberg survey of Democratic voters nationwide underscores Barack Obama's spectacular rise from spirited underdog to commanding figure in the party's presidential race.

We won't reveal the precise numbers here; for that, check for the detailed story on our home page about 4 p.m. PST and in Wednesday's print editions. Suffice to say that among a national sample of those who have voted or plan to cast ballots in Democratic nominating contests, Obama has erased the once-daunting lead held by Hillary Clinton and now appears to enjoy a slight advantage over her.

The results roughly parallel the figures of other national polls conducted in February, most of which have found Obama ahead or locked in a virtual tie with Clinton.

The race could still turn again, with both candidates keying on the March 4 primaries in Texas and Ohio (and squaring off tonight on MSNBC in another debate, starting at 6 p.m. PST). But here's a reminder of the ground Obama has made up:

* Just four months ago, a Times/Bloomberg poll found Obama barely holding onto second place against John Edwards, with both far behind Clinton. Her lead in that mid-October nationwide survey: 31 percentage points.

* In mid-January, after the pair had traded wins in the race's initial skirmishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton clung to a nine-point lead in a Times/Bloomberg national poll.

The full results... 

Gennifer Flowers to auction off The Tapes with Bill

This just in and what a real coincidence!

Just in time to ride the wave of publicity from tonight's Democratic primary debate in Cleveland, the last one before the decisive March 4 votes and, who knows, perhaps the last one period:

Gennifer Flowers has reemerged. She's trying for a comeback too, it seems.

Once, she was the other woman from Bill Clinton's past. Now, she's just another one of those women. But she's made an announcement that's important for her financial future. Flowers has decided to sell the tapes of the telephone conversations she secretly recorded with then-Gov. Clinton during their long relationship. You may recall back in 1992 the about-to-be president denied having an intimate relationship with Flowers.

But, oops, she called a news conference and played part of one of the tapes as convincing evidence. One can only imagine what else is on those tapes...

Sam Jackson skips the Oscars for Obama

Shockingly overlooked by the Oscars for his role in last year's "Black Snake Moan" -- he reportedly spent hours learning to play blues guitar, which ought to count for something -- Samuel L. Jackson still could have been a presenter at Sunday night's awards show. But he passed that up, too.

In the process, though, he might have sealed an invite to an inaugural ball.

On location in Louisiana for the film "Soul Men," he crossed the state line Sunday ...

The Latino generational divide

The Kennedys aren't the only political brood riven by the hard-fought Democratic presidential race. In Texas, where polls now show the March 4 contest a tossup, father-son splits have emerged in two prominent Latino families.

The Houston Chronicle noted over the weekend that while Hillary Clinton can claim the support of U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz and state Sen. Eddie Lucio -- both longtime officeholders -- Barack Obama has the backing of state Reps. Solomon Ortiz Jr. and Eddie Lucio III.

The story was one of several recent pieces spotlighting the generational divide within the Latino vote in Texas, which apparently is one of the key reasons Clinton's once-large lead in the state has vanished. You can also read about this trend here and here.

How much will it help Obama to make significant gains among younger Latinos? The Pew Hispanic Center reports that of the 3.6 million Latinos eligible to vote in Texas, 31% are between the ages of 18 and 29.

Of course, there have traditionally ...

Dueling Democrat photos! Now they both go native!!

Earlier today, as we noted then, "someone" (the finger, according to Matt Drudge, pointed at the Clinton campaign, a charge the campaign manager did not deny but made fun of) began distributing a photo of Sen. Barack Obama in Kenyan native costume during a visit there.

The Obama campaign arose in indignation, claiming it was part of an ongoing e-mail effort to portray the Illinois senator as a Muslim. Smear job! some cried, presumably because they thought it also negatively emphasized the Democratic candidate's African roots.

Others pointed out quite rightly it's a customary for visitors to dress in native garb during a visit. (Ever seen that famous photo of President Coolidge in an Indian headdress?)

Now, comes a photo of Sen. Hillary Clinton wearing, gasp, a Muslim head covering.

For what's next in the Democratic photo phight, click below.

--Andrew Malcolm

The heat keeps rising in the Democratic race

Another day, another mini-dustup between the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns.

Regardless of how "honored" she felt late last week about sharing a debate stage with Obama, Clinton spent the weekend expressing both anger and ridicule toward him, as The Times' Michael Finnegan and Mark Barabak detailed here. Today, there surfaced a more indirect effort to undermine Obama, apparently emanating from the Clinton team.

Throughout much of the day, the lead item on the influential Drudge Report has been a photo of Obama dressed in native garb as he visited Kenya two years ago -- a picture that, according to the post, was circulated by "stressed Clinton staffers."

Obama aides, already having dealt with anonymous efforts to depict Obama as a "Muslim plant," reacted with indignation. Campaign manager David Plouffe issued a statement saying: “On the very day that Senator Clinton is giving a speech about restoring respect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we’ve seen from either party in this election."

The response from Clinton's newly installed campaign manager, Maggie Williams, was intriguing: she essentially told ...

The N.Y. Times McCain scoop that really wasn't a scoop

Here's a footnote -- or perhaps something more than that -- to our Friday morning item about the Boston Globe refusing to publish the controversial New York Times investigative article on Sen. John McCain and his connections with Washington lobbyists.

Now, a semi-covert contact has injected an element of mystery into this story about a story and how big-time journalism is practiced in the United States today.

Not publishing such a big story from your corporate parent was a very unusual move by a newspaper that's wholly owned by that very same New York Times. Especially when the Globe's editors then turned around and published instead a competing version of a similar McCain story by two Washington Post reporters.

The Post has been a competitive thorn in the Times' side and psyche....