FLORIDA SPAT: Democrats Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd and Joseph Biden on Friday pledged not to campaign in states that hold early nominating contests in violation of party rules, drawing a rebuke from Florida officials who are challenging the system. The three have signed a pledge circulated by Democratic leaders of the four states that have the party’s blessing to hold early contests — Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The pledge says they will avoid competing in states that vote before Feb. 5, as Florida is planning to do. Aides to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton said they were reviewing the pledge.
‘HATRED’ FOR CLINTON? Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, says “hatred” of his rival Hillary Clinton would motivate Republicans to vote against her in the election. “I want to be perfectly clear: I do not think the hatred against Hillary Clinton is justified,” Elizabeth Edwards said in an interview with Time magazine out this week. “I don’t know where it comes from. I don’t begin to understand it. But you can’t pretend it doesn’t exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won’t energize them, Bush won’t, but Hillary as the nominee will. It’s hard for John to talk about, but it’s the reality.” Responding, a Clinton spokesman said polls show that Clinton will be a strong opponent against the Republican candidates.
FORUM FIZZLES: Citing “scheduling conflicts” among presidential candidates, Univision, the country’s leading Spanish-language channel, announced that the first-ever Hispanic forum featuring GOP hopefuls has been postponed. It was scheduled for Sept. 16, a week after Democrats take the stage in a similar forum in Miami. Univision said it’s working with the Republicans to find a later date.
