February 23

With nine days to go before Super Tuesday, Ohio, California and New York form the main focus for Kerry and Edwards, complete with the latter cosying up to Howard Dean's supporters.

And with indications that by time the November election comes, total political ad spending in the cycle will break $1bn, Dean's fundraising network is certainly worth courting.

There's also a Democratic debate in Los Angeles on Thursday, Edwards' first chance to emphasise his debate momentum and put some light between himself and Kerry, particularly on trade.

Ralph Nader, who turns 70 on Friday, appeared at the National Press Club to formally launch his campaign. Here's an interesting take, meanwhile, on Nader, Michael Moore and the 2000 election from our antipodean cousins.

The White House initially seemed wrong-footed this weekend by Halliburton's TV ads, saying the company has cleaned up on Iraq reconstruction contracts because of "what we know, not who we know". The company says they plan to run the ads throughout the campaign. No comment from the Bush-Cheney camp, who have bigger problems to deal with.

A nationwide CBS News poll released Feb. 16 found that 11 per cent of people who voted for Mr. Bush in 2000 now say they will vote for the Democratic candidate this fall. But there was some falloff among those who voted against him as well. Five per cent of people who said they voted for Mr. Gore in 2000 say this time they will back Mr. Bush.

With foreign policy forming a big part of Republicans' disaffection with the administration, Mark Levin in the National Review explores the 'Reagan-Bush doctrine', its role in the world and likely impact at the polls.