Today on the presidential campaign trail

Images (showing 1 of 52 photos)

IN THE HEADLINES

McCain tours New Orleans, says he would have responded differently than Bush to hurricane ... Clinton raises $10 million, aided by 80,000 new donors, after Pennsylvania win ... North Carolina expected not to matter, but is excited to help decide between Clinton and Obama

___

McCain draws contrast to Bush's hurricane response

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _John McCain toured still hurricane-damaged areas of New Orleans and declared that if Hurricane Katrina had happened on his watch, he would have immediately landed his plane at the nearest Air Force base.

The Republican presidential candidate is campaigning this week in what he calls forgotten areas of the country. He offered a pledge Thursday to New Orleans residents that their situation will not be forgotten and that such a botched disaster response will never happen again.

McCain was unsparing in his criticism of the Bush administration. He said Congress must share some of the blame, too.

Drawing a sharp contrast to President Bush, McCain said he would have landed his plane "at the nearest Air Force Base and come over personally."

___

Clinton raises $10 million, helped by 80,000 new donors

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton raised $10 million in the 24 hours after winning the Pennsylvania primary, aided by contributions from 80,000 new donors, her campaign said Thursday.

The $10 million came from a total of 100,000 donors, spokesman Mo Elleithee said.

Clinton, who was strapped for cash going into Tuesday's contest against Barack Obama, started making fundraising pleas as soon as the race was called. She told supporters during her nationally televised victory speech to go to her Web site to send money.

She continued making the point the next day in Indianapolis, telling supporters she was being outspent by Obama and that she has to "hustle" to keep up. She urged them to go to the Internet to read about her positions on the issues.

Clinton reported having just over $9 million cash on hand at the end of March and $10 million in debt, compared to Obama, who began April with more than four times the amount of money, or $40 million, in the bank.

___

North Carolina voters excited to choose

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Not since 1988 has North Carolina had much of a voice in choosing a presidential nominee. Back then, it joined several Southern states to help pick Al Gore, a neighbor from Tennessee.

But the longer-than-expected race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination will thrust the state into the national spotlight when it has its say on May 6.

Voters, especially new ones, have taken note.

More than 165,000 people have registered to vote in North Carolina in the first three months of the year, a nearly threefold increase from the same period in 2004. Election officials expect a record turnout May 6 — about half of the more than 5.7 million registered voters, compared with past turnouts ranging from 16 percent to 31 percent.

Another wild card: A new law allows unregistered voters to sign up and vote on the same day through May 3. Both campaigns have launched efforts to turn out those voters, and the polling sites have been flooded since they opened last week.

As of mid-afternoon Wednesday, more than 74,700 "one-stop" ballots had been cast — about eight times higher than during the 2006 primary, according to the state Board of Elections. An additional 8,400 absentee ballots have been collected, officials said.

The North Carolina primary offers 115 national convention delegates, the largest prize among the nine contests remaining. Indiana also holds its contest May 6.

___

DAILY TRACK

Barack Obama has a narrow 5-point lead nationally over Hillary Rodham Clinton, 49 percent to 44 percent, according to the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update.

___

THE DELEGATE BREAKDOWN

Barack Obama: 1,724.5

Hillary Rodham Clinton: 1,593.5

___

THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with voters in North Carolina. Barack Obama visits union members in Chicago.

___

THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain stops in New Orleans.

___

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"My crystal ball wasn't working well last year, and I certainly would not have anticipated this. But, in retrospect, having a May primary was a tremendously astute decision." — Jerry Meek, North Carolina Democratic Party chairman, about the state's May 6 contest.

___

STAT OF THE DAY:

Republican George H.W. Bush beat Democrat Bill Clinton by 20,619 votes, or 0.7 percent, in North Carolina's general election in 1992.

___

Compiled by Ann Sanner.

Back To Top

	Former Clinton cabinet member, 2 ex-senators endorse Obama	Associated Press	Fri Apr 18	6
	Top Michigan Democrats suggest splitting delegates	Associated Press	Wed Apr 23	4
	Mich. Democrats fill 1st round of national convention spots	Associated Press	Sat Apr 19	6
	Clinton emphatically says Obama can win White House	Yahoo! News	Wed Apr 16	2
	North Carolina excited to choose between Clinton and Obama	Associated Press	Thu Apr 24	16