Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign released a detailed economic plan yesterday on the eve of Wisconsin's presidential primary, as Barack Obama snuck in an unannounced visit with John Edwards, who has not yet endorsed either of his former rivals in the close Democratic race.
On the Republican side, John McCain, the party's presumptive nominee, tried to differentiate himself from US President George W. Bush on such issues as climate change and government spending, while offering conservatives a "no new taxes" pledge and hitting the Democratic candidates for supporting an early Iraq withdrawal.
Both Democrats had planned to campaign on Sunday in Wisconsin, but they were grounded by a heavy snowstorm that blanketed the Midwestern state.
Although reporters normally travel everywhere with Obama, he left them behind on Sunday to fly to North Carolina in secret from his hometown of Chicago.
His campaign confirmed the meeting with Edwards, but wouldn't comment on the possibility of an endorsement.
Both Democratic candidates are actively seeking Edwards' support because of his appeal to working-class Democrats, who are heavily represented in upcoming primaries in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Clinton stayed in Milwaukee, where she ate breakfast at a diner and visited a Hispanic grocery on Sunday.
There are 92 Democratic delegates at stake in Wisconsin's primary and 20 in caucuses in Obama's native Hawaii today. Polls show a tight race in Wisconsin even as Clinton advisers have publicly downplayed their expectations for the state. The first lady appears to be looking ahead to bigger races next month to regain her lead.
Obama, who usurped Clinton as the leader by a slender margin last week, has been campaigning in Wisconsin for most of the week. Clinton arrived in Wisconsin on Saturday after spending most of the week campaigning in Ohio and Texas, two bigger states that vote on March 4.
The former first lady had scaled back plans to campaign in Wisconsin, but was to try to squeeze in some of the canceled events yesterday. Obama and his wife, Michelle, planned to campaign in Wisconsin yesterday.
Clinton's campaign released yesterday a 13-page blueprint for fixing the economy, detailing her plans to achieve universal health care, address the home foreclosure crisis and develop jobs for the middle class.
The pamphlet, which will be distributed to voters at campaign events and posted online, outlines many of the ideas she talks about on the campaign trail each day. But by pulling them together, the document resembles a populist manifesto -- with Clinton championing the needs of working-class voters over corporate and business interests.
Meanwhile, Clinton's advisers argued on Sunday that Obama had abandoned a commitment to accept public funding if he wins the Democratic presidential nomination.
Last week, Obama's campaign walked back from a proposal the Illinois senator made last year to accept public financing for the general election if the Republican nominee also agreed to do so. Such a commitment would level the financial playing field with McCain, whose campaign has had a harder time raising money than Obama, who has broken all fundraising records.
Candidates who take public funds for the general election would have to return the money they raised.
Obama's campaign said accepting public financing was an option he would consider if he wins the nomination, rather than a hard pledge.
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