Presidential candidates honor Martin Luther King
On the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the presidential candidates spoke about the reverend's work and legacy.

"The quality of his character is only more apparent," John McCain said of King. "His good name will be honored as long as the creed of America is honored." McCain spoke in front of the motel balcony where King was shot in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. The motel is now a civil rights museum.

Hillary Clinton also spent the day in Memphis and talked about Martin Luther King's legacy. "Dr. King saw the darkness of a nation torn apart by petty human differences, but he imagined one knit back together by our shared humanity," said Clinton.

Barack Obama, campaigning in Indiana, North Dakota and Montana, honored the day as well. "Dr. King understood that the struggle for economic justice and the struggle for racial justice were really one, that each was part of a larger struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity,” Obama said.

To learn more about Martin Luther King, see Martin Luther King’s Dream Lives on 40 Years After His Death.

International observers invited to watch democracy in action
The Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe have sent their monitors across the continent to observe elections including Spain, Montenegro, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Croatia, Poland and Switzerland.

The United States might be the next stop for some of these monitors. Although it is the world's oldest democracy, the United States continues to check that its elections are conducted in a free and fair manner. Which is why Julie Finley, ambassador to the OSCE, invited the organization to assess the state of the American electoral system.

In a statement April 3, Finley said that the United States has invited the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to conduct a needs assessment mission in the United States. Such a mission is carried out in preparation for a possible election-monitoring mission. The OSCE has monitored every U.S. congressional and presidential election since 1996.

"The United States fully supports the OSCE's important work, in particular its election observation efforts," Finley said. "We consider this invitation an opportunity to demonstrate, once again, the United States' dedication to fulfilling its OSCE commitments."

John McCain embarks on "biography" tour
Now the presumed Republican nominee, John McCain wants voters in both parties to know more about him. The Arizona senator wants American voters to learn not just about his political viewpoints, but about his personal background. This week McCain is telling these personal stories across the country as part of his "biography tour."

Monday McCain launched his tour in Meridian, Mississippi, where he attended an air show at McCain air field. The matching names are no coincidence – McCain air field is named for the senator's grandfather, who the senator said "had an illustrious career in the Navy, and who remained proud of his Mississippi roots until the end of his life." The McCain family first settled in the state in 1848.

Tuesday McCain visited his old secondary school in Arlington, Virginia. While sharing tales of his high school days, McCain said that every child should have the opportunity "to learn at institutions with high academic standards and codes of conduct that reinforce the values their parents try to impart to them."

Next stops on McCain's tour include the U.S. Naval academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and a flight school in Pensacola, Florida, where McCain trained before entering the navy. McCain also will be spending a day in Jacksonville, Florida, at the base where he was stationed before deploying to Vietnam. McCain will spend the final day of his tour in his hometown of Prescott, Arizona.

You don't need to be on the campaign trail to learn about McCain's background. Learn about him on the America.gov's Candidates Web page.

America.gov Web Chat: Your Questions Answered
Wondering about how delegates are counted or how the Electoral College works? Curious where the presidential candidates stand on issues that affect your country? Join America.gov's elections experts Michelle Austein and George Burkes on the first Tuesday of every month to discuss the people, processes and issues that shape the U.S. presidential race. They will answer your questions and talk about the latest events on the 2008 campaign trail.

Like or don't like what you see on America.gov's 2008 Elections Web page? Readers' questions and comments will shape America.gov's elections coverage, so now it is your turn to tell the experts what elections topics you care about.

The next Web Chat will be April 1 at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT.) Ask your questions now by joining the Web Chat.

Democratic leaders speak out on prolonged race
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey recently reported that 16 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters said they would not vote in the general election if Barack Obama is the nominee. The same percentage of Obama supporters said they would not vote in the general election if Clinton is the nominee. This is an example of why some Democrats are becoming increasingly nervous that a prolonged nomination battle could hurt the party's candidate in the campaign against presumed Republican nominee John McCain.

It is not just Americans who are concerned. Some overseas are watching the race closely as well. A Campaign Trail Talk reader in the Philippines says:

While Sen. John McCain may have clinched the GOP nod, people around the world are excited about the outcome of the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination race. The most popular democracy has come of age, with the possibility of having either a woman, or an Afro-American as its next President, either way a first for US. We just hope that all the hoopla regarding Senators Obama and Rodham-Clinton wouldn't sow that much division in the party's ranks. I am looking forward to a very interesting race. Good luck to good ole US of A.

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic Party, spoke about the party's desire to determine a nominee soon. "I think it would be nice to have this all done by July 1," Dean said. "If we can do it sooner than that, that's all the better.

"We don't want this to degenerate into a big fight at the convention," Dean said. The Democratic Convention will be in Denver at the end of August. The last primaries and caucuses will be held during the first week of June. It is possible that neither candidate has the majority of delegates needed to secure the nomination in June, but Dean said he would like superdelegates to speak about for whom they plan to vote at the convention, a step that could help the party realize who their nominee will be before the convention. For more on superdelegates, see Superdelegates May Decide Democratic Nominee.

John McCain outlines foreign policy plan
Campaigning in California March 26, presumed Republican nominee John McCain gave one of his most detailed foreign policy speeches to date, outlining how he would interact with the world if he were president. Most Americans know McCain has been supportive of President Bush's policies on Iraq and Afghanistan, but this speech showed that McCain would handle some international issues differently.

Discussing the importance of working with allies, McCain said, "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies.

"Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed," he said. "When we believe international action is necessary, whether military, economic or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we, in return, must be willing to be persuaded by them."

McCain's speech comes after an overseas visit in which he met with European and Middle Eastern leaders and made a surprise visit to Iraq.

Your Delegate questions answered
Campaign Trail Talk readers have been asking lots of questions about the unusual system of appointing party representatives, or delegates, to cast votes for presidential nominees. Who can be a delegate? How are the delegates picked? Must they cast their vote for a certain candidate?

The answer to these questions and more are available in “Delegate System Aims to Give Nominating Power to the People.”

Delegates are pledged to vote for the candidate their states' voters selected them to vote for. However, there are some unpledged delegates, typically important party leaders, who can cast their vote for any candidate they choose. Both parties have these unpledged delegates, but the Democrats have a greater number. The Democrats usually refer to these people as "superdelegates." For more on superdelegates, read ”Superdelegates May Decide Democratic Nominee.”

In a tight race, as is the case now between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, superdelegates hold a lot of power. Some argue that it is unfair that superdelegates could nominate a candidate that did not win the most primary votes. Others say that as superdelegates, they know the candidates well and are better informed to make a good decision. What do you think? Weigh in on the debate by taking our U.S. Elections Poll.

Proposals for Michigan, Florida re-votes fail
Over the past few weeks, Democratic leaders in Michigan and Florida have been trying to find a way for their delegates to participate in the national convention.

With the race so close between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, voters in these states want to have a say in the race. In the fall of 2007, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said it would not count the states' delegates because the states violated party rules by scheduling their primaries prior to February 5. The presidential candidates agreed not to campaign in those states, and Barack Obama and most other Democratic candidates removed their names from the Michigan ballot.

Leaders in Michigan and Florida were eager to come up with a solution – fearing that angry Democrats might vote in the general election for presumed Republican nominee John McCain.

Florida considered conducting an election by mail, while Michigan looked at holding a new election in June. Both options ultimately failed to make it through the states' legislatures.

These failures do not necessarily prohibit the states' delegations from being seated at the national convention. Proposals are being considered that would enable the delegates to participate, either by allowing half their delegates to count or by splitting their votes between Obama and Clinton equally.

For more on delegates, see Delegate System Aims to Give Nominating Power to the People.

“Pro-life” candidate seeks Idaho Senate seat
Marvin Richardson, an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Idaho’s Larry Craig, wanted voters to know that he is against abortion. He has come up with a clever way to make it clear – by legally changing his name to "Pro-life." His new legal name is the name that will appear on the ballot.

Pro-life has admitted that he is not a viable candidate – he says he expects to earn about 5 percent of the vote – but he hopes by changing his name, he will draw more attention to his cause. He also told a local newspaper he will seek office every election season – with his new name.

There is potential for such a name to cause confusion for voters who may think Pro-life is a viewpoint and not a candidate. If a voter selects both Pro-life and another candidate, his or her ballot will be nullified.

Clever or famous names might have helped candidates in the past, such as Texas' Democratic Senate candidate Gene Kelly – who is not the famous (and deceased) actor/dancer of Hollywood movie musicals. To learn more about the Texas and other interesting local-level races, see America.gov's State and Local Web page.

Obama speaks about U.S. race relations
Democrat Barack Obama, who could become the first African-American president, took on the topic of race in a speech in Philadelphia March 18. In the first such speech in the 2008 campaign, Obama acknowledged that there are still racial tensions in the United States.

"The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races," Obama said.

In the speech, Obama encouraged Americans to discuss these racial issues. Obama also talked about his background with a mother who is a white woman from Kansas, and a father who is a black man from Kenya.

The speech came after a week where racially charged comments were made by supporters of both Hillary Clinton and Obama. Obama discussed statements made by the minister who officiated his wedding.

While addressing the reverend's comments, Obama said, "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother."

For more about Obama's candidacy, see Obama's Presidential Bid Bridges Racial Divide.

Tiger Woods, Albert Einstein are big "winners" in Oregon contest
Here is a note from America.gov's special correspondent Steve Holgate. As part of America.gov's U.S. elections coverage, Steve is reporting on the local political happenings in Oregon's 1st Congressional District:

The votes have all been counted in Yamhill County Oregon’s special election and the winners are … well, mostly long dead.

Albert Einstein bested a strong field to gain the nod as the new university president. Screen legend John Wayne was a candidate for director of recreation, but, in a morale-boosting win for the living, the world’s Number 1 golfer, Tiger Woods, won that race.

Confused?

This primarily agricultural county, nestled in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, recently purchased a new vote-by-mail system and was required by law to inform local voters. The best way to do that, the county decided, was to hold a mock election, with most of the candidates historical figures. A remarkable 21 percent of the electorate, about 10,000 voters, made their choices and sent their ballots in.

“It was a real success,” laughed County Clerk Jan Coleman, who oversaw the vote. “A very good turnout, in my opinion.” More seriously, she said the chance to test the new system with a full-fledged, if nonbinding election, “was really important for us.”

And very few of the losers are in a position to ask for a recount.

For more on Oregon's political races, see America.gov's State and Local Elections web page.

John McCain visits Iraq
Presumed Republican nominee John McCain left the campaign trail – and the country – this week to head overseas. On March 18 he made an unannounced trip to Iraq with other Congressional leaders for what he called a "fact-finding trip." Although McCain said this trip had nothing to do with his campaign, some political pundits suggest McCain may have planned the trip as an opportunity to highlight his foreign policy experience.

Few details were released about McCain's visit, his eighth to the country. He met with Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh and with American officials working in Iraq. McCain has been supportive of President Bush's surge and other efforts to improve the security situation in that country.

McCain is expected to spend the next few days visiting political leaders in London and Paris.

The candidates take a break from the campaign trail – to go back to work
The presidential campaign trail was quiet March 13 – a rare occurrence in this busy election season. Senators John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton headed back to Washington to participate in what they viewed as important votes on tax cuts and spending. It was the first time in more than a month that all three were in the Senate chamber.

Taxes is one of the issues often debated on the campaign trail, where Obama and Clinton have advocated reversing tax cuts passed by President Bush that they say overly benefit the wealthy.

The visit to Washington was a good opportunity for the Democratic candidates to network with their fellow party leaders - including several uncommitted superdelegates. Learn more about the Role of Superdelegates.

Speculation over potential vice-presidential nominees
Now that John McCain is presumed to be the Republican nominee for president, Americans are wondering who he will pick to be his running mate.

Some have asked if former candidate Mitt Romney could be selected. Responding to these comments March 11, Romney said he would take the job if asked.

"I think any Republican leader in this country would be honored to be asked to serve as the vice presidential nominee, myself included," he said.

Meanwhile, in a speech March 10 Democrat Barack Obama made it clear he was seeking the top political office in the country – not the vice presidency. A few days before, Hillary Clinton implied she would consider asking Obama to be her running mate if she became the party's nominee.

"With all due respect, I've won twice as many states as Senator Clinton. … I have more delegates," he said. "So, I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who is in first place."

"I don't want anybody here thinking that somehow, 'Well, you know, maybe I can get both,'" Obama said. "Don't think that way. You have to make a choice in this election."

Who really won the Texas Democratic primary and caucuses?
Texas Democrats voted March 4 in a unique two-part presidential nomination process in which they can participate in both a primary and a caucus. After a record number of voters participated, Hillary Clinton narrowly earned the most votes in the primary. This was viewed as a victory by Clinton's campaign and much of the media.

However, only two-thirds of Democratic delegates are awarded based on the primary results. Nearly a week later, as the caucus results continue to be tallied, it appears that Barack Obama will pick up more pledged Texas delegates than Clinton. This means that even though Clinton won the most votes in the primary, Obama is expected to earn the most delegates from Texas due to his gains from the caucuses. The Green Papers, an organization that tracks the awarding of delegates, Obama likely will earn five more delegates than Clinton in Texas.

For more on the delegates race, see The Path to the Presidential Nomination.

Could there be a Democratic “dream ticket?”
Campaign Trail Talk readers have been asking whether a Democratic “dream ticket” is a possibility. Some Democrats, eager to avoid a lengthy nomination process, are supporting the idea that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could run together, forming a “dream ticket.” The problem lies in determining who should serve as the presidential nominee and who should be running for vice president.

In a media interview March 5, Clinton suggested she might consider such an option. “That may be… where this is headed,” the New York senator said. “But of course we have to decide who’s on the top of the ticket.”

Obama also addressed the topic March 5, saying, “we are just concentrating on winning this nomination ... it is very premature to talk about a joint ticket.”

Many political pundits are skeptical that such a match up could occur. What do you think? Should Clinton and Obama run together? And who should be on top of the ticket? Share your thoughts and comments.

President Bush endorses McCain
President Bush has stayed fairly quiet about the presidential race, but now that John McCain has earned enough delegates to be the presumed Republican nominee, the president is ready to support the Arizona senator. At the White House March 5, Bush officially offered his endorsement of McCain.

"John showed incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance in order to get to this moment, and that's exactly what we need in a president, somebody who can handle the tough decisions, somebody who won't flinch in the face of danger," President Bush said.

Bush and McCain fought each other for the nomination in 2000, but since then McCain has helped Bush campaign for office. McCain says he looks forward to campaigning with the president during the 2008 general election.

For more on McCain's recent wins, see John McCain Wins Enough Delegates To Become Republican Nominee.

Obama thanks supporters … in Japan
Barack Obama has hundreds of supporters in a rather unusual place – a small fishing town in Japan that shares his name. Residents in the town of Obama have been watching the U.S. presidential race closely, hoping that if he is victorious, the Illinois senator will visit their town. Residents, many donned in shirts with images of Obama (the candidate) on them, watched the results come in from the March 4 primaries and cheered him on.

Even though their candidate did not win as many states as Hillary Clinton did, they still had reason to celebrate: Obama's mayor announced that he received a letter from the senator.

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the city of Obama for your support," Obama wrote. "We share more than a common name. We share a common planet and common responsibility. I look forward to a future marked by the continued friendship of our two great nations."

Canada caught in the middle of campaign battle over NAFTA
Both Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have spoken critically of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) while campaigning in Ohio ahead of today's primary in that state. The debate over free trade with Canada and Mexico took a rather unusual turn this week and has brought the Canadian government into the fray.

A memo sent from one of Obama's economic advisers to a Canadian official said that Obama's statements on NAFTA in Ohio were "political posturing" and not reflective of his real views on NAFTA, which are less negative. Clinton obtained a copy of the memo, and used it at a campaign event to argue that Obama's public words do not match his private views.

Obama's campaign has said the memo was misinterpreted, and that their candidate means what he says on NAFTA. The Canadian embassy in Washington also issued a statement trying to clear things up. "There was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private, including about NAFTA," the embassy statement said. "We deeply regret any inference that may have been drawn to that effect."

The memo also sparked controversy in Canada where in a session of parliament, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was accused of interfering with the American presidential race, a fact he quickly denied.

"The American people will make the decision as to their next president," Harper said. "I am confident that whoever that person is ... [he or she] will continue the strong alliance, friendship and partnership that we enjoy with the United States." Read this article for more on NAFTA and The Presidential Campaign.

Journalists covering Clinton campaign report from the men's bathroom
In recent days, some members of Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign staff have suggested that she has not received media coverage as positive as that given Barack Obama.

So when reporters were covering a Clinton town hall event in Austin, Texas, March 3, Clinton spokesman Dough Hattaway had to explain, "these accommodations should in no way be taken as a comment on the quality of our media coverage."

Hattaway had to explain this because the accommodations were a men's bathroom, where journalists filed stories at tables set up alongside urinals and sinks. A campaign staff member said that when they chose the room as a press area, they thought the facility was more like a traditional locker room, not a large bathroom.

Clinton was in Texas making her final pitch to undecided Texan voters, who participate in primaries and caucuses today. Clinton is seeking wins in Texas and Ohio in hopes of narrowing the delegate gap between herself and Obama.

For more, see Texas Democrats Encouraged to Vote Twice.

President Bush speaks about the presidential race
So far, President Bush has said little about the 2008 presidential race, and he is trying to keep it that way. The media, however, are eager to hear what Bush thinks about the candidates. At a press conference February 28 to discuss his recent trip to Africa and the status of the war on terrorism, Bush faced a number of questions about the 2008 contest.

"You're trying to get me to be the pundit again," Bush said when asked if he thought the current economic downturn would hurt Republican John McCain's chances to win the election. "Look, you all figure that out."

Although Bush avoided referring to the Democratic candidates by name when discussing issues, the president was critical of some of their recent comments on Iraq, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and engaging with foreign leaders.

When asked specifically about Democratic candidate Barack Obama's recent statements on the situation in Iraq, Bush answered, "I believe Senator Obama better stay focused on his campaign with Senator Clinton, neither of whom has secured their party's nominee yet -- nomination yet. And my party's nomination hasn't been decided yet either."

"There will be ample time to discuss the positions of whoever their candidate is," Bush said. And during that time, it is likely that journalists will continue to ask for the current president's views on the people who potentially could follow him.

Democrats debate for the twentieth time
Back in April 2007, eight Democratic candidates for president gathered on a stage in South Carolina to debate. Ten months and nineteen debates later, the final two viable candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, met in Cleveland, Ohio, for a fairly contentious debate over a number of issues.

Among the topics addressed, the candidates discussed their differing views on health care, Iraq and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA.)

NAFTA is an issue of particular interest to Ohio voters, as many Ohio jobs have been lost to positions moving overseas. And while they have differing opinions on the agreement, both candidates said the agreement needs to be renegotiated with Canada and Mexico to better protect American workers and the environment.

This is the candidates' last scheduled debate, though others could possibly be added later. Voters in Ohio, as well as in Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island head to the polls March 4. Ohio and Texas, states with large populations and therefore a large number of delegates, are seen as important races for Clinton to win, as Obama has won the past eleven contests in a row.

Huckabee pokes fun at his own campaign
Many Americans have been wondering why former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is still campaigning to be the Republican nominee when it seems impossible that he can win the nomination. Arizona Senator John McCain is about 300 delegates short of the 1,191 needed to earn the nomination. Meanwhile, Huckabee has just 227 delegates and political experts say it is mathematically impossible that he could catch up.

Huckabee, who has been known for cracking jokes on the campaign trail, discussed February 23 why he is still in the race during a fake news segment on the well-known comedy show Saturday Night Live.

Huckabee said that while it may be mathematically impossible to win enough delegates, he could catch up by winning superdelegates. It was then pointed out to him that only the Democrats have superdelegates. (Read more about superdelegates here.)

“Uh oh, that’s not good news,” Huckabee said.

“Mike Huckabee does not overstay his welcome,” he said. “When it’s time to go, I’ll know. And I’ll exit out with class and grace.” Then, despite obvious cues from the host and the audience encouraging him to leave the stage, he stayed put.

Huckabee is not the only presidential candidate to appear on Saturday Night Live. Barack Obama made a brief appearance in a Halloween sketch last October and McCain hosted an episode of the show in 2002.

Ralph Nader to try again
Third-party candidate Ralph Nader announced February 24 that he will once again make a run at the presidency. Nader has tried many times before, most notably in 2000 when he received 2.7 percent of the extremely close national vote in the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Nader has not yet announced if he will run on a party ticket, such as the Green Party, or as an independent.

Some Democrats still resent Nader's 2000 bid, arguing that he cost Al Gore the election. Just 537 votes separated Bush and Gore in Florida. Nader received 97,000 votes in Florida, and exit polls indicated that these voters favored Gore over Bush. These Democrats have said that had Nader not entered the race, Gore would have received enough votes to win Florida, giving him enough electoral votes to win the presidency.

The top Democratic candidates have commented on Nader's potential run. “Ralph Nader deserves enormous credit for the work he did as a consumer advocate,” Barack Obama said. “But his function as a perennial candidate is not putting food on the table of workers.”

"Well, you know [Nader's] being on the Green Party prevented Al Gore from being the greenest president we’ve ever had,” Hillary Clinton said. “And I think that’s really unfortunate.”

Why do third-party candidates struggle in U.S. politics? Read Political Parties in the United States.

Obama or Clinton? International readers weigh in
Just as Americans are torn on whom their Democratic nominee should be, America.gov readers have their own opinions about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Here is what some readers have to say:

From B. Lau in Singapore:

My friends and I in Singapore prefer Senator Clinton to Senator Obama as we believe she is far more qualified and experienced than he is. America needs a tried and tested person like Senator Clinton who understands local and international issues to lead America and especially at this time when America is facing an economic crisis. Our vote is definitely for Hillary Clinton.

From Jessica Nakibuule in Uganda:

I would like Obama to know that we are praying for him he is such a good speaker and I think he deserves to be a leader.

From Wisdom Chasaya in Zambia:

I want to encourage you in your democratic maturity you are showing to the world these days when you take the primary polls to decide who should run for the US top job. I myself want cheer you for the manner you have advocated for change; and your openmindess to bring a man like Obama to the road towards the White House.

A group of high school students from Russia, Ukraine and Georgia had plenty to tell America.gov about their opinions on the candidates after spending a day watching American democracy in action. Learn about their story by reading Exchange Students Get Close-up View of American Primary Politics.

Recent wins make it ten in a row for Obama
Democrat Barack Obama won two more nominating contests February 19 – the Midwestern state of Wisconsin and the pacific island state of Hawaii. Obama has won all ten of the Democratic primaries and caucuses held since Super Tuesday on February 5.

"In Wisconsin, when you go to vote, it's five degrees [Fahrenheit] outside. But that has not deterred people from Milwaukee to Green Bay to Eau Claire, all across that state, from casting their ballot and exercising their civic duty," Obama said.

All eyes in the Democratic race are on March 4 contests in the delegate-rich states of Ohio and Texas, where polls show Hillary Clinton with a slight lead.

Republican John McCain also won the Wisconsin primary February 19, but he does not yet have enough delegates to secure the nomination.

For more primaries news, see The Path to the Presidential Nomination.

Presidential candidates speak out on Castro resignation
Hours after Cuban President Fidel Castro announced he would be resigning from the office he has held for nearly 50 years, the U.S. presidential candidates spoke on what this means for the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. The top candidates – Republican John McCain and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – all issued statements noting their interest in seeing Cuba transition to a democracy.

Presumed Republican nominee John McCain, calling Castro's resignation "nearly half a century overdue," said "we must press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions and free media, and to schedule internationally monitored elections."

New York Senator Clinton said, "the people of Cuba want to seize this opportunity for real change and so must we….I would say to the new leadership, the people of the United States are ready to meet you if you move forward towards the path of democracy, with real, substantial reforms."

Illinois Senator Barack Obama said, “Today should mark the end of a dark era in Cuba’s history… If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United States must be prepared to begin taking steps to normalize relations and to ease the embargo of the last five decades."

The candidates' views on Cuba matter to many Americans, especially many of the more than 650,000 Cuban Americans living in Florida, which is commonly a swing state.

Romney endorses McCain
On February 14, Arizona Senator and presumed Republican nominee John McCain received the endorsement of his former chief-rival, Mitt Romney.

McCain and Romney had many negative things to say about one another on the campaign trail, but "even when the contest was close and our disagreements were debated, the caliber of [John McCain] was apparent," Romney said.

Romney released his pledged delegates and is encouraging them to vote for McCain at the Republican convention. However, he cannot bind them to a McCain vote. Even if all of the Romney delegates select McCain, the Arizona Senator is still short of a majority of delegates needed to officially be the nominee at this time.

Democrat Barack Obama received an interesting endorsement this week as well – from former Rhode Island Congressman Lincoln Chafee. Chafee – who is a Republican – said, "I believe Senator Obama is the best candidate to restore American credibility."

For more about endorsements, see Experts Weigh Value of Endorsements.

Political parties “celebrate” Valentine’s Day
Even though it’s Valentine’s Day, the American political parties are not showing their love for each other. In fact, both are using the holiday to highlight their political messages.

In honor of the holiday, the Republican National Committee has created electronic greeting cards that people can send to their friends via the Internet. The cards feature fake Valentine’s messages from the top Democratic presidential candidates. For example, a user can send his friend a “Valentine’s greeting” from Hillary Clinton that plays off of a famous nursery rhyme: “Roses are red, Violets are blue, I’ll raise your taxes and there’s nothing you can do.”

Each card clearly states that no candidate authorized the making of these cards.

The Democratic National Committee has a Valentine’s gift for Americans too – it has made a video highlighting the friendship between presumed Republican nominee John McCain and President Bush. With romantic music playing in the background, images of the two are shown together and hearts float across the screen. At the end, a message asks “Next Valentine’s Day, do you really want to give your loved ones John McCain, a third Bush term?

The video also notes that no candidate authorized the making of this video. But because President Bush has had a low approval rating for more than a year, it is likely that similar images of the two together will appear in Democratic campaign ads during the general election season.

Proposed Electoral College ballot measure fails
Since the 2000 presidential election, when Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College vote to George W. Bush, there have been a number of proposals to change the Electoral College.

States have looked at different ways to allocate their electoral votes. For example, Maryland passed a law giving its Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote nationwide. However, the law does not go into effect until a majority of states agree to do the same, which seems unlikely in the near future.

A group in California tried to get a new Electoral College proposal on the state's ballot this election season. If passed, voters would decide whether the state's 55 electoral votes should be allocated per congressional district. The Democratic candidate has won California in every election since 1992. However, if this measure passed, Republicans, who have strong majorities in almost half the congressional districts, easily would pick up about 20 Electoral College votes.

The controversial measure ultimately did not have enough supporters to give it a place on the ballot. At least 400,000 petition signatures were needed by February 4, and that failed to happen.

To learn more about the Electoral College debate, read Has the Electoral College Outlived Its Usefulness? Or tell Campaign Trail Talk What you think about the Electoral College – send your comments here.

Can Edwards still influence the Democratic race?
Andreas in Copenhagen, Denmark asks Campaign Trail Talk:

Even though not able obviously to vote in the 2008 election - I'm following intensively. A quick question:
How is it possible that Edwards gained votes on Tuesday Feb 5th?
E.g. according to CNN these results came out of the voting:
Clinton 2,132,166
Obama 1,735,105
Edwards 170,013
Same happened in other states - e.g New Mexico where the race is very close between Hillary and Obama. Edwards seems to have gotten votes here as well. But he's out of there race. So how is this possible?

Even though numerous candidates have dropped out of the presidential race, most of them are still named on state ballots. Most of the ballots are printed long in advance and cannot be changed when a candidate withdraws from the race. Therefore, Americans still have the option to vote for candidates no longer campaigning. They might receive the votes of those who are unwilling to support one of the remaining candidates. Voters may not agree with the remaining candidates' views and hope that a show of support for a withdrawn candidate will allow that candidate to play an influential role in shaping the party platform.

However, John Edwards' Super Tuesday votes will not influence the Democratic race. Party rules state that in order for a candidate to receive any delegates, he or she must pick up 15 percent of a district's vote. So while many Americans voted for Edwards, he did not receive 15 percent of the vote in any district, and therefore earned no delegates.

Before dropping out, Edwards had earned 26 delegates. Some U.S. media outlets are reporting that Edwards quietly met with Hillary Clinton last week and will meet with Barack Obama this week, sparking rumors that he soon will endorse a candidate. In doing so, Edwards can encourage his delegates to vote for the person he endorses. However, the 26 delegates are not "pledged" to the candidate Edwards selects, and can choose to vote for a different person instead.

Candidates court Potomac Valley voters
Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia will hold nominating contests tomorrow in what is being called, "the Potomac Primaries" for the river that all three border.

With John McCain the presumed Republican nominee, most of the attention has been on Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The two have spent the past few days talking with voters in churches, schools and convention centers.

Just as Democrats nationwide are splitting their support among the two candidates, so are the Chesapeake Bay area’s Democratic leaders. All three jurisdictions are led by Democrats: Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine support Obama, while Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has endorsed Clinton.

The governors have been campaigning for their candidates this week. And while they disagree on whom to support, they agree on one thing: that Democrats will support whoever eventually becomes their party’s nominee.

For more on the close Democratic race, see Democratic Race Could Continue for Weeks or Months, Experts Say.

Republicans one step closer to picking a nominee
Going into Super Tuesday, political pundits said it was a two-person race for the Republication nomination between Arizona Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

As it turned out, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee picked up several big wins on February 5 while Romney’s campaign faltered. Huckabee noted this in a Tuesday evening speech: “You know, over the past few days a lot of people have been trying to say that this is a two-man race. Well, you know what? It is. And we're in it!”

Now Huckabee’s comments ring true – Today Romney announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.

“I entered this race because I love America,” Romney told his supporters. “And because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.” He said that bring Republicans together as a unified party was more important than continuing the nomination fight.

With a large lead in pledged delegates and the withdrawal of his biggest competitor, McCain is poised to become the Republican presidential nominee. For the latest information about the campaigns, see America.gov’s U.S. Elections Web page.

In one New York city, the race really is a tie
Super Tuesday results across the country show the Democratic race remains close. Barack Obama won more states February 5, but Hillary Clinton won the states with more delegates. Clinton also won the most votes nationwide, but barely. She received 50.2 percent of the vote compared to Obama’s 49.8 percent. The final delegate count still is being tallied, but the candidates likely will each receive about the same number of delegates as a result of Tuesday’s contests.

U.S. media consider this race so close that most are reporting the Democrats’ Super Tuesday race as a virtual tie. In the city of Syracuse, New York, it was actually a tie.

Clinton did well across her home state of New York, but Obama picked up a large number of votes in college towns. Results show both candidates did well in Syracuse, home of Syracuse University: Clinton received 6,001 votes. Obama received 6,001 votes as well. A university mathematics professor told the local newspaper that the odds of that happening were less than one in a million.

Following tradition, New Mexico race too close to call
New Mexico voters are used to close general elections. The congresswoman who represents the largest city of Albuquerque won her last election by only 800 votes. The 2004 presidential race was a close one, as was the 2000 contest, which Democrat Al Gore won by a mere 300 votes.

But voters in the Southwestern state might not have expected their 2008 Democratic caucus to be nearly tied. They showed up in unexpected record numbers to vote, resulting in waits as long as two hours at some polling sites.

Within an hour of the last polls closing, Super Tuesday winners were projected for nearly every race. Yet 15 hours after their polls closed, New Mexico Democrats are still counting votes and still unsure which candidate ultimately will win. With 98 percent of the votes counted, Clinton currently has a 100-vote lead.

In reality, because of the Democrats' system of awarding delegates by proportional representation, it does not matter much who wins New Mexico because the candidates likely will gain an almost equal number of delegates.

As part of its State and Local project, America.gov is following this and other events that will influence how New Mexico citizens vote in November. Check the State and Local Web page out for more about how national issues are playing out on local stages.

Voters head to the polls in Virginia … on the wrong day
Record voter turnouts were reported across the country on February 5, when voters in 24 states headed to the polls for Super Tuesday. With all the discussion of primaries and caucuses lately, hundreds of voters in Virginia also headed to the polls to cast their ballots. But when they got there they found no polling sites set up – Virginia does not hold its primaries until next Tuesday, February 12.

There are still a few more days until Louisiana voters cast ballots on February 9, but voters still found a way to celebrate Super Tuesday. February 5 was the date of New Orleans's famous Mardi Gras celebrations. As parades moved across the city, some revelers dressed up in traditional Mardi Gras gear but others donned costumes as their favorite candidates.

Much to the surprise of political experts who expected Super Tuesday to be the day that candidates would secure the nominations, voters in Louisiana and Virginia will get a chance to have a meaningful say on who will represent their party’s ballot in the November presidential election. For the latest on Super Tuesday results, see No Nominees After Super Tuesday.

Obama, McCain split California's first family's endorsements
Days after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Arizona Senator John McCain for Republican race, his wife Maria Shriver made an announcement: she was supporting Democrat Barack Obama.

Shriver comes from a well-known Democratic family – she is the niece of former President John F. Kennedy and current Senator Edward Kennedy. Even though Schwarzenegger and Shriver make up one of the best known politically split families in the United States, political experts were surprised when she attended an Obama rally to voice support for the Illinois senator.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver do not have to worry about drawing voters away from each other. California, which votes today, has a closed primary, meaning that only registered party members can participate in each party's nominating contest.

Mitt Romney wins Maine caucus
With all the candidates gearing up for Super Tuesday, few Americans noticed that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the Republican Maine Caucuses February 2 with 52 percent of the vote. Arizona Senator John McCain finished second with about 21 percent. Democrats in Maine will caucus February 10.

"All across the state, men and women gathered to help chart the future course of our country," Romney said in a press statement following his win.

Although many of the candidates took breaks from the campaign trail the evening of February 3 to watch the Super Bowl, they are all now back at work trying to reach as many voters as possible before 24 states head to the polls for tomorrow's Super Tuesday.

To learn more about Super Tuesday, read Presidential Candidates Gear Up for Toughest Challenge Yet.

Witness democracy in action! America.gov will be webcasting a Super Tuesday event featuring political experts who will analyze the races as the winners are announced. See Join Us For Super Tuesday for more information.

A week of super events around the corner
One of the biggest days on some Americans' calendars is this weekend – the Super Bowl. On February 3 Americans will gather to watch the New York Giants play the New England Patriots in the American football championship game. But this year there is another "super" day that Americans are excited about – "Super Tuesday," February 5, when 24 states vote for their presidential nominees.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll asked people which event they are more excited about – the Super Bowl or Super Tuesday. Perhaps surprisingly, Super Tuesday narrowly won with 40 percent of the vote.

Fox, the television network that will air the Super Bowl, is well aware of Americans' political interests. The network has planned hours of pre-Super Bowl coverage that not only includes sportscasters' game analyses but reports on the upcoming primaries and caucuses.

Excited about Super Tuesday? Join America.gov's live webcast and watch democracy in action.

Giuliani’s loss may be McCain’s gain
Campaign Trail Talk reader Nick asks:

If Giuliani drops out after FLA, whom will it help the most of the remaining candidates?

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani dropped out of the race after the Florida primary on January 30. Political experts believe Arizona Senator John McCain, the winner of the Florida contest, stands the best chance of picking up Giuliani’s former supporters.

Upon withdrawing from the race, Giuliani endorsed McCain, calling him “the most qualified to be the next commander in chief of the United States.”

On January 31, Giuliani stood by McCain’s side as the senator received another high profile endorsement from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor said McCain had a proven record of working with both parties to get things done.

To learn more about McCain’s recent Florida victory, read Primaries Narrow Field of Candidates.

Clinton wins the most delegates…at a mock convention
The Democratic National Convention is months away, but Clinton already has won the most delegates at a mock convention with a surprisingly accurate record.

Since 1908, every four years the students at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, gather to hold their own unofficial convention. About 95 percent of the study body participated in the January 26 event, serving as "delegates" for the Democratic candidates. Based on of their years of research on the campaigns and political issues, the delegates selected the candidate they thought most likely would win the state they were assigned to represent. The students nominated Clinton with 2,117 delegates followed by 1,642 for Obama and 288 for John Edwards.

Washington and Lee students have a good record of selecting the nominee for the party aiming to take back the White House. Since 1948, the school has only been wrong once – in 1972 when they picked Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy instead of George McGovern.

For the latest in the real delegates race, see Path to the Presidential Nomination.

Another big endorsement for Obama
The 2008 campaign has seen a number of surprising endorsements. Evangelical leader Pat Robertson's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani surprised those who thought Giuliani didn't share many of Robertson's religious views. Many Americans also were surprised when the 2000 Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman endorsed Republican John McCain.

Yesterday, many older Americans were surprised by another big endorsement: The Kennedy family’s support of Democrat Barack Obama. The relatives of former president John F. Kennedy – nephew and Rhode Island Representative Patrick Kennedy, daughter Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and brother and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy – gathered in Washington January 28 to voice their support for Obama.

"Over the years, I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me that they wish they could feel inspired and hopeful about America, the way they did when my father was president," Schlossberg said. "Fortunately, there is one candidate who offers that same sense of hope and inspiration."

Political experts often say endorsements do not matter much, but some of those same experts are wondering whether the Kennedy endorsement can swing the outcome of a close race. Voters who have fond memories of John F. Kennedy as president tend to be older, which could supplement Obama’s broad base of young supporters. Obama's campaign is hoping that older voters will see Obama as a Kennedy-like leader. For more about endorsements, read Experts Weigh Value of Endorsements of Presidential Candidates.

Obama wins big in South Carolina
Most of the Democratic primaries and caucuses had been close races between Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton – until South Carolina's primary January 26. Obama won the record-turnout primary with more than 55 percent of the vote.

Some political experts credit Obama's victory to his support among African Americans who make up more than half of Democratic South Carolina voters. About 80 percent of African Americans voted for Obama.

Obama's victory helped his lead over Clinton in pledged delegates grow, but with more than 1,700 delegates at stake among the 22 Democratic primaries and caucuses being held February 5 – the current delegate count does not mean much.

For a schedule of upcoming primaries and caucuses, see Voting and the Elections Process.

What happens when the election is a tie?
Occasionally in American politics, a race ends with each candidate getting the same number of votes. U.S. election authorities have developed a number of creative ways to resolve such ties. Ties are most likely in contests with few voters; sometimes the outcome of a small-town mayor’s race can be determined by the flip of a coin.

The results in the January 19 Nevada caucuses were another indicator of how close the Democratic race is between New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama: at least two of the precincts recorded ties.

The Tahoe Daily Tribune reported that two Douglas County caucuses resulted in ties: one had 26 votes each for Obama and Clinton, the other reported 24 votes per candidate. Each precinct was required to select three pledged delegates for their state convention, where the delegates to the national convention would be selected. Each precinct awarded one delegate each to Clinton and Obama, but then had to figure out who would receive the third delegate.

The answer was in the cards, literally. In order to break the tie, a Clinton supporter and Obama supporter drew a card. The person with the highest card won the delegate. In both cases, the winner was Obama.

Learn more about the Nevada caucuses here.

The candidates roll out their economic stimulus plans
After a tough week for the financial markets, Americans are increasingly paying attention to the current state of the economy and the president's and Congress' plans to improve it.

Since economic matters top voters concerns, the presidential candidates are also proposing economic stimulus plans. Many hope that their plans will demonstrate their ability to lead in an economic recession – which polls indicate most Americans believe is on the way.

While campaigning in South Carolina, Democratic candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama outlined plans that would benefit voters in that state. In a press statement, Edwards said his economic plan would create new jobs that would bring $1.5 billion to South Carolina. Obama said his plan calls for a $500 tax cut for families and a $250 supplement to senior citizen's social security checks. He criticized his opponent Hillary Clinton for not being as forthcoming with tax benefits.

Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain are also calling for tax breaks in their economic stimulus plans. Romney's plan would lower taxes for individuals and businesses. For businesses, he would reduce the corporate tax rate in order "to attract capital, stimulate investment, and increase American competitiveness." McCain also proposes lowering the corporate tax rate and providing tax credits for research and development.

Learn more about the economic matters on voters' minds here.

Obama and Clinton clash in South Carolina debate
After a close race in Nevada, the Democratic candidates are focused on winning the January 26 primary in South Carolina, the first southern state to hold a nominating contest and the first with a sizable African-American population. More than half of Democratic South Carolina voters are African-American.

Trying to reach these South Carolina voters, the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and CNN hosted a debate with Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. In a sign that the race is becoming more competitive than ever, Clinton and Obama traded many fierce attacks.

Both candidates strongly criticized the other's past experience and campaign methods. Obama said that while he was fighting for workers' rights, Clinton was sitting on the board of Wal-Mart. Clinton fired back saying that Obama once worked on behalf of a slum landlord in Chicago.

When attacking each other on their campaign tactics, Clinton told Obama "it is very difficult having a straight-up debate with you, because you never take responsibility for any vote." Obama criticized not only Hillary Clinton's campaign tactics, but her husband Bill Clinton's campaigning as well. "It is hard to tell who I am running against sometimes," Obama said.

Do you think political debates are helpful? Let Campaign Trail Talk know what you think about debates.

A big win for Romney in Michigan
Shortly after the polls closed in Michigan Tuesday night, the Michigan Republican Party sent e-mails to several media outlets congratulating Arizona Senator John McCain on his victory. The only problem was that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney actually won the Michigan primary.

Uncertain who would win, the party had written a press release for both candidates, and accidentally sent out the wrong one. The mistake was fixed quickly. Romney defeated McCain by nine percentage points. "Only a week ago, a win looked like it was impossible," Romney told his supporters, "but then you got out and told America what they needed to hear …. Michigan heard and Michigan voted tonight. Congratulations." With his Michigan victory, Romney continues to hold the lead in the number of pledged delegates.

The Democratic result was not surprising with Hillary Clinton winning more than half the votes. What was unusual was the 40 percent of voters who selected "uncommitted," or no candidate. Because Michigan violated party rules by holding its primary before February 5, Clinton's biggest competitors, Barack Obama and John Edwards, decided to take their names off the ballot. As part of its punishment, the Democratic National Committee stripped Michigan of its delegates, meaning Clinton's Michigan victory does not bring her any closer to winning the nomination.

Hillary Clinton wins the media coverage
Not surprisingly, Democrat Hillary Clinton's unexpected New Hampshire victory helped her receive more media coverage than any presidential candidate last week. The Project for Excellence in Journalism tracked the media coverage of the candidates from January 6-11 and found that 37 percent of campaign stories were primarily about Clinton, followed by Obama with 32 percent. John McCain, winner of the New Hampshire Republican primary, was primarily covered in 24 percent of the campaign stories.

Republicans Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee received significantly more national news coverage than Democrat John Edwards. The Project for Excellence in Journalism suggests this may be because Edwards is seen as having little chance of defeating Clinton and Obama, while the Republican race is viewed as wide open. Obama's coverage was likely so high because his New Hampshire loss was a surprise.

The study also found that nearly half of all news coverage last week was about the presidential campaign. This is another indication that Americans are paying attention to the race. For the latest on the presidential elections, see the new America.gov U.S. Elections Web page.

What is the point of a primary or caucus?
Campaign Trail Talk readers are interested in knowing why Americans hold primaries and caucuses and how they operate. For example, David Jones in Ontario, Canada, asks:

Can you either give me a comprehensive rundown of the American Primaries system or tell me where I can go to find a source to help me understand the system. As a Canadian, I fully realize that what happens in the U.S. will inevitably affect me -- without question. Hence my interest in learning more about the American system. Thanks very much.

The U.S. presidential nomination system is complex. Each party holds a national convention in the summer of 2008, at which delegates from each state will vote for candidates to select the party’s nominee. To become a party's nominee for president, a candidate must win the support of a majority of these delegates. Delegates cast their votes based on the outcomes of state caucuses and primaries. Convention delegates are divided among states proportionally.

Each party in each state has its own guidelines for committing (or "pledging") delegates. Some states award all the delegate votes to the candidate who wins the state's primary or caucus, while other state delegations allocate votes proportionally based on the votes cast in the primary for each candidate. Some states' party leaders also select a few "unpledged" delegates who can vote for any candidate. If no candidate receives a majority of the delegates' votes on the first round of voting -- something that has not occurred in recent election cycles -- most states allow delegates to change their votes, and additional rounds of voting will occur until a majority is reached.

With three states having held primaries and caucuses, Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat Barack Obama have the most delegates. But this could change as more states hold races in the coming weeks.

To learn more about how delegates are awarded, read The Path to the 2008 Presidential Nomination. Keep checking this page, as it will be updated as more delegates are awarded.

Obama collects endorsements
Despite his loss in New Hampshire, Illinois Senator Barack Obama won some major endorsements this week. One came from a person who knows what it is like to run for president – 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry.

Kerry said January 10 that "I have the confidence that Barack Obama can be, will be and should be the next president." Some say Kerry's endorsement snubbed candidate John Edwards, who was Kerry's running mate in 2004.

Another potentially important endorsement for Obama came from the 60,000 member Culinary Workers Union. Union members – many of whom work in restaurants and hotels near Nevada's famous casinos – are well-known for their political organizing skills. Nevada holds the next meaningful Democratic contest on January 19.

Obama did not get the endorsement of Bill Richardson, a Democratic candidate who dropped out of the race yesterday. But neither did anyone else. "All I ask is you make your own careful choice," Richardson said.

Do endorsements matter? Let Campaign Trail Talk know what you think about endorsements.

Oops ... What happened in New Hampshire?
The outcome in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary reminded Americans that sometimes polls and political experts are wrong.

Every poll said Democrat Barack Obama would win his party's primary. Political experts pondered whether Hillary Clinton's campaign was finished. Newspapers ran headlines January 8 saying "Clintons in Crisis" and "Democrats Hunger For Obama."

And yet that evening, the New York senator defied expectations and won the primary by a narrow margin. Today's headlines include "Clinton Defies Polls."

How did she defy the polls? Clinton says her performance in a January 5 debate helped people understand her experience and future goals. But many in the media are asking if it was something else: her emotions. When asked at a campaign stop how she kept so upbeat during a tough campaign, Clinton answered, with tears welling in her eyes “It’s not easy, and I could not do it if I just didn’t passionately believe it was the right thing to do ... This is very personal for me." Some say voters might have felt better able to connect with Clinton after she showed this more personal side.

Even though most recent polls indicated Republican John McCain would win New Hampshire, the Arizona senator had been counted out by most political experts a few months ago when his numbers, and his campaign budget, sank over the summer.

Learn more about the New Hampshire primary by reading this article.

New Hampshire voters head to the polls
Today New Hampshire residents cast their votes in the first 2008 presidential primary. Since the Iowa caucuses January 3, most of the candidates have been in New Hampshire campaigning – you can read about their campaigns here.

Voting booths are open until 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, but the 17 residents of the very tiny town of Dixville-Notch already have cast their ballots. In what is a nearly 50-year tradition, the town voted at midnight. Voting only lasted a few minutes. John McCain won the Republican primary with four votes and Democrat Barack Obama won with seven votes.

Those living in Dixville-Notch and other New Hampshire towns have plenty of options on who to vote for – including a number of candidates most have never heard of. Each state sets its own rules for getting on the ballot. In New Hampshire one must meet the Constitutional requirements for running for president and pay a $1,000 filing fee. Twenty-one Republicans and 21 Democrats did just that.

Another unusual thing about the New Hampshire ballot is that it asks citizens to vote for vice president. This is a non-binding vote and, because no well-known politician is campaigning for the office of vice president at this time, a write-in candidate often wins. In reality, the presidential nominee selects his or her own running mate.

Will Dixville-Notch accurately predict the New Hampshire winner? The latest information on the primaries throughout the electoral season will be found on USINFO's Elections Web page.

Romney wins Wyoming
While the candidates and the media focus on the upcoming New Hampshire primary, Republican Mitt Romney won a little-noticed Wyoming caucus.

Wyoming Republicans hoped that by moving their nominating event earlier in the year they would bring attention to the state. But in fact, the opposite happened. Because the Wyoming caucus ended up sandwiched between the traditional first in the nation voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, most candidates skipped campaigning in the state. Wyoming also lost half its delegates as punishment for violating party rules by holding their caucus before February 5.

Romney called the results of the Wyoming race "evidence that Americans want change, and our message of strengthening America through strengthening our economy, our military and our families is resonating with voters."

For a full schedule of the upcoming primaries and caucuses, see USINFO's Voting and the Election Process Web page.

Iowans vote in record numbers
Along with Republican Mike Huckabee’s and Democrat Barack Obama's wins at the Iowa caucuses last night, another big story came out of the first nominating event of the 2008 campaign. Turnout was high – much higher than anyone had predicted.

This was especially the case for the Democrats, with more than 239,000 participating in caucuses – nearly twice as many as in 2004. Democratic Party leaders are hoping this record-high turnout will be repeated in the general election. Iowa often is considered a swing state, and Democrats hope that if these same voters show up in high numbers in November, the state will swing blue.

Many of the candidates mentioned the turnout in their congratulatory and conciliatory speeches. Democrat Hillary Clinton opened her speech by saying, "We have seen an unprecedented turnout here in Iowa and that is good news because, today, we're sending a clear message that we are going to have change and that change will be a Democratic president in the White House in 2009."

For all the latest happenings in the primaries and caucuses check out USINFO's Elections Web Page.

Candidates make final push in Iowa
Most of the presidential candidates are spending the day in Iowa, making their final appeals to voters before tonight's caucuses. The caucuses mark the beginning of the 2008 election voting season, and candidates hope that a win here will propel them to victory in other states. And with the New Hampshire primary five days later, momentum might matter more than ever before. (Read more about momentum here.)

The candidates are doing everything they can to make sure their supporters show up to vote. Unlike other elections, voters cannot vote absentee in a caucus, and must arrive at their assigned precinct by a designated time. Late arrivals will not be admitted. Hillary Clinton's campaign has arranged for more than 5,000 drivers to help get candidates to the polls. Barack Obama's campaign will provide babysitters for parents heading to caucuses. Mike Huckabee told his supporters, "Don't go alone. Take people with you. Fill up your car. Rent a van. Hijack your church's bus, whatever you've got to do to get people to the caucus who are going to vote for me."

The campaigns have kept a close eye on the weather forecast, fearing that inclement weather will keep potential caucus-goers at home. But there is some good news – although it's going to be cold in the capital city of Des Moines, there is no snow in the forecast. Just in case, campaigns are arming volunteers with snow shovels to help Iowans get out of their houses and into caucuses.

How raucous is a caucus? Learn all about how the Iowa caucuses work.

2008 is finally here!
Although it seems like the 2008 campaign has been ongoing since early 2007, early and absentee votes now are finally being cast. And tonight, the primaries and caucuses officially begin with the famous Iowa caucuses.

Because it’s a new year, we’re beginning a new Campaign Trail Talk. To check out anything you missed in 2007, read the Campaign Trail Talk Archives.