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Democrats Take
Campaign West; Republicans Debate Ahead of S.C.

Democrats Take
Campaign West; Republicans Debate Ahead of S.C.

Democratic front-runners Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were taking their campaigns to the West on Friday in their tight race for their party's presidential nomination, while Republican contenders vied for support in a debate that focused on Americans' anxiety about their nation's economy.

Democratic front-runners Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were taking their campaigns to the West on Friday in their tight race for their party's presidential nomination, while Republican contenders vied for support in a debate that focused on Americans' anxiety about their nation's economy.

Clinton, following her unexpected triumph Tuesday in New Hampshire's primary, visited Las Vegas neighborhoods Thursday and led a discussion of the mortgage crisis -- an especially strong issue in Nevada, a state that has led the U.S. in foreclosure rates 11 months in a row. She also spoke about the economy Friday at a Los Angeles rally, where she detailed a massive economic-stimulus package that she said she would introduce in Congress.

On Thursday Obama received a boost from Sen. John Kerry, the party's 2004 presidential nominee. The Illinois senator came to Las Vegas Friday for a rally with members of the Culinary Workers Union, which endorsed him earlier this week.

Obama also secured the endorsement of Arizona's Democratic governor Janet Napolitano. The endorsement is a major gain for Obama, since Napolitano is the most prominent Democrat in Arizona and her support could be significant in a state now regarded as winnable by a Democratic presidential candidate after decades as a near-lock for Republicans. The Arizona primary is on February 5, when more than 20 states will hold primaries or caucuses.

Both candidates are seeking a victory in the Nevada caucuses on January 19 as they try to build up momentum heading into the February 5 contests. Their next race after Nevada is in South Carolina, which holds its Democratic primary on January 26, a week after the Republican primary there.

Obama on Thursday was in South Carolina to receive Kerry's endorsement -- support which the Massachusetts senator offered in the words of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and said reflected his faith in Obama's ability to bring Americans together.

''Who better than Barack Obama to turn a new page in American politics so that Democrat, Independent, and Republican alike can look to leadership that unites to find the common ground?'' Kerry said. ''That's what this is about.''

Obama supporters hoped Kerry's endorsement could give him a lift as he seeks to put his New Hampshire primary loss behind him. But it was also a snub aimed at Clinton and his 2004 vice-presidential nominee, former North Carolina senator John Edwards, who has vowed to say in the race until the Democratic party's national convention this summer. Edwards remains the spoiler in the Democratic race, particularly after veteran diplomat and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, the only Latino candidate in the field, withdrew Thursday.

Both Edwards and Clinton responded to the endorsement saying they respect Kerry and his decision.

While Obama, who is vying to become the U.S.'s first black president, and Clinton, who wants to be the country's first female president, are eager for a win in Nevada, they are also in fierce competition for the support of black voters in South Carolina.

Obama's campaign is counting on the support of blacks, who make up half of the Democratic primary voters in the state. But Clinton is bucking for the black vote and could find some added support in that her surname is one of the most beloved in the black community.

Also in South Carolina, six Republican candidates, whose party's primary in the state is on January 19, debated Thursday night in Myrtle Beach, pushing hard to differentiate themselves from their rivals in what has become the most wide-open presidential campaign in nearly a half-century. All of the Republican candidates backed a blend of tax and spending cuts to head off an election-year recession they generally agreed is avoidable. Analysts felt that the debate did little to provide any one candidate with a boost going into the upcoming races.

The first three contests of the Republican campaign have yielded three different winners: Baptist preacher-turned-politician Mike Huckabee, first in the leadoff Iowa caucuses; Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who won in the little-contested Wyoming caucuses; and veteran senator and prisoner of war John McCain, triumphant in last Tuesday's fiercely fought New Hampshire primary.

While the debate was held in South Carolina, the January 15 Michigan primary is next on the campaign calendar. Romney, Huckabee, and McCain are the principal contenders in Michigan, and many analysts believe Romney needs to win Michigan if he hopes to realistically keep his candidacy alive.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is looking to the Florida primary on January 29 for his first victory.

Former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee, who quit his role on the Law & Order TV series to enter the race underscored the urgency of a strong South Carolina showing when he launched an attack on Huckabee on the debate stage. ''This is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party and its future. On the one hand you have the Reagan Revolution ... on the other hand you have the direction that Governor Huckabee would take us ... liberal economic policies, liberal foreign policies,'' he said.

Huckabee seemed unruffled. ''The Air Force has a saying that if you're not catching flak you're not over the target. I'm catching the flak. I must be over the target,'' he said.

In a 90-minute debate that also touched on foreign policy and immigration, the candidates were asked about last weekend's Persian Gulf incident in which Iranian speed boats reportedly harassed U.S. warships, none of the presidential rivals found fault with U.S. naval commanders on the scene. But several took the opportunity to stress their determination to take stronger steps against Iran in the future.

''I think one more step, you know, and they would have been introduced to those virgins that they're looking forward to seeing,'' said Thompson.

Huckabee said that if it happened again the Iranians ''should be prepared to see the gates of Hell.''

The debate unfolded as one poll showed McCain getting a bounce from his New Hampshire triumph and moving narrowly ahead of Huckabee and Romney in South Carolina. (AP)

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