Presidential Daybook: 1 February 2008

Heading into the final weekend before Tennessee's primary, the candidates and their supporters circle the region

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

If you didn't early vote yesterday, you have from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday to cast your ballot for who you'd like to see be either the Democratic or Republican candidate for President of the United States. For all of those who voted early for Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards and the like, take some comfort in that no matter what happens come Tuesday, you won't be surprised your candidate lost.

Unless you are State Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville), that is. Norris is still feverishly manning the Thompson phone lines and holding out hope that he will get elected as a delegate for Thompson to the Republican National Convention. With persistence like that, you'd think he was a Tennessee Democrat.

Over the weekend, we know of only one contender that will actually be in Nashville: Arizona Sen. John McCain. As noted yesterday, McCain will be at Montgomery Bell Academy at 10:45 a.m. for a rally in the gymnasium.

As of now, we don't have any Volunteer State appearances over the next few days for former Govs. Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, but that can change as quickly as the polls do.

On the Democratic side of the aisle, the mid-state will get a Barack Obama surrogate today while Hillary Clinton supporters can drive a bit to see Hillary's spouse.

At this point, it is highly unlikely Nashville will see Sen. Obama. If he comes to Tennessee between now and Tuesday, it is more likely he will go to Memphis and pick up coverage in a tri-state media market. However, former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus will be on the campuses of Vanderbilt and MTSU today to meet with students on Obama's behalf. Mabus also was U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1994 to 1996 for none other than then-President Bill Clinton.

Speaking of Bill, he will be appearing in Huntsville, Ala., Saturday morning on behalf of Hillary. The rally, dubbed "Solutions for America," will be at Huntsville High School at 9 a.m. for those who feel like making the drive. Those going probably won't make it back to Nashville in time for the McCain rally, but it's doubtful that they will care.

For those who want to see Hillary, her campaign will be Webcasting a "national town hall meeting" on Monday night at 8 p.m. at hillaryclinton.com.