February 27

Last night's debate showed that while John Edwards had to come out swinging if he had any hope of cutting John Kerry's lead in the remaining days before Super Tuesday, the front-runner was in no mood to ease off.

While the dinner-party format didn't really lend itself to confrontation, there were many instances where the two senators agreed, complimented (and complemented) each other, and generally kept their exchanges civil, and their powder dry for attacking President Bush.

Some of the evening's biggest cheers were reserved for Rev Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich, when they diverged from the Two Johns, particularly over Iraq and same-sex marriages. But Kerry seemed on solid ground when he steered the debate back to the President's call for a constitutional amendment on the latter issue, claiming it was a deliberately distracting and divisive move.

Yet just as Bush must feel he needs to cater to his core support, Kerry knows he needs to talk tough in order to reach crossover Republican voters. Tonight, for example, Kerry accused the Bush administration of adopting a "kid glove" approach to terror funding, and promised tough international sanctions against countries permitting the flow of terrorist finance. He also said that proliferation was the biggest challenge facing the nations of the world.

Ahead of Tuesday's contests, Kerry and Edwards are also trying hard to court former Dean supporters. And perhaps this is the best time, with a natural hiatus in the evolution of whatever Dean eventually turns his campaign organisation into.


Finally, with the Oscars coming up this weekend, Zero Four thought it might be fun to compile a list of the best political movies.
Here's this blog's top ten. Let us know what you think:

1. The Candidate
2. Mr Smith Goes To Washington
3. All The President's Men
4. Bob Roberts
5. The Contender
6. The Best Man
7. Dave
8. Wag The Dog
9. State of the Union
10. Primary Colors

Honourable Mentions for : Dr Strangelove and Being There (not really political per se..); as well as JFK, Nixon, Truman, Citizen Ruth, Election, All The King's Men, The Distinguished Gentleman, Bulworth and The American President.

February 26

Kerry's victories last night in Utah, Idaho and Hawaii have consolidated his grip on the delegate count.

They've also - as if it wasn't already true - made next Tuesday's contests seem even more like the final stand for John Edwards. While the Carolinian appeared initially to be running well in Georgia, if he dosen't win one of either Ohio, California or New York, any realistic hope he might have of overhauling Kerry will pretty much evaporate.

That's why tonight's debate in Los Angeles might be crucial. Edwards might be ready to surrender part of his nice-guy image in order to be more confrontational in outlining the differences between himself and Kerry.

The front-runner, meanwhile, picked up the endorsement of Ohio's influential former senator and astronaut John Glenn.

Ohio looks to be a key state for whoever wins the nomination. It could be the difference between a southern strategy and a midwest strategy; particularly with it being far from certain that the southern states would abandon President Bush despite feeling the economic pinch.

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.