By: Emily Vaughan The Republican Party of Tennessee issued its own attack against Barack Obama, based on the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan endorsing the Illinois senator, says Don Frederick at the L.A. Times' Top of the Ticket. The release, titled "Anti-Semites for Obama" argues that an Obama administration would be anti-Israel.
The mystery is over: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg finally announced that he would not enter the presidential race, says The New York Times' on the Caucus. Bloomberg made the announcement in a Times' Op-Ed piece, insisting than an independent could win, but saying "I have listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not - and will not be - a candidate for president."
More proof that this presidential election has gotten more people excited about politics: MSNBC announced that Tuesday's 20th Democratic debate in Cleveland, Ohio was its most watched program ever, says Mark Memmott at USA Today's On Politics. A record 7.8 million viewers tuned in.
Pastor John Hagee, a Texan evangelical, endorsed John McCain yesterday. Hagee is an important ally in the upcoming Texas primary, home to many Christian evangelicals, whose support for Huckabee until now has been "highlighting a schism in the Republican Party," says Michael D. Shear at washingtonpost.com's The Trail.
Hillary Clinton says she has been preparing for a Texas showdown with Obama since last year, even when she was the far and away front runner, says Rick Pearson at the Chicago Tribune's The swamp. Clinton told PBS interviewer Judy Woodruff that she started planning ahead for Texas last spring and that "it is great that this has been a close contest."
The Kennedy clan isn't the only historic family split over the two Democratic contenders. Bobby Kennedy's kids are joined by the children of late labor leader Cesar Chavez, campaigning for Clinton and Obama in Texas, says Sasha Issenberg at the Boston Globe's Political Intelligence. Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cesar L. Chavez have appeared in a Clinton ad across Texas, while Christine Chavez and Max Kennedy (with mother Ethel) have appeared with the Obama camp.
It's official. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia revoked his endorsement of Clinton in favor of Obama after his state and his district went overwhelmingly for the Illinois senator, says Susan Davis at The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire. Lewis, a superdelegate, said the decision was difficult due to his friendship with Clinton, but that "Barack Obama has tapped into something that is extraordinary."
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