March 1

After John Edwards' combative performance in Sunday's debate, the question is inevitably being asked whether he's just too different from John Kerry to make an effective running mate.

As Dan Balz says in the Washington Post:

"Kerry allies say privately that the Senator is not a particular fan of Edwards, and a question to Kerry about what he has learned from Edwards about how to be a more likable candidate must have rankled the man who is in control of the Democratic race."

The 'dream' ticket may still happen, though; if there's enough pressure from party influentials, labour groups and activists who may previously have been committed to Howard Dean.

Super Tuesday looms, however, and Kerry is unlikely to let his main opponent's 11th-hour straw-clutching deflect him from his biggest moment in the spotlight.

Tomorrow's results should also offer some interesting pointers to November. Just as in 2000, the pivotal location was 'Florida, Florida, Florida'; this time around it could just be Ohio.

President Bush, meanwhile, is concentrating on doing what he does best - raising money.