By winning delegate-rich states such as New York, John McCain attained a solid lead over his rivals Tuesday but must continue to accumulate victories this month and in March to secure the Republican presidential nomination. ...more

February 6, 2008

The famously superstitious John McCain carries a lucky nickel. It apparently has been working its magic. ...more

February 4, 2008

Despite John McCain's building political momentum, Mitt Romney said Saturday he does not expect the Republican presidential nomination to be settled during the coming week and he is planning to continue campaigning beyond Super Tuesday. ...more

February 3, 2008

Democrat Barack Obama told young voters Saturday his multicultural background lets him "see through the eyes of other people" abroad in ways another president could not. Closer to home - and student pocketbooks - Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke of aggressive steps to make college affordable. ...more

February 3, 2008

After devoting two years and more than $35 million of his own money trying to win his party's nomination for the presidency, Mitt Romney and his advisers face the possibility that his effort could end with the nominating contests Tuesday. ...more

February 2, 2008

Just because the smoke has cleared here in Highlands County doesn't mean that competitive barbecuing has come to an end in the area. In fact there is one going on in Wauchula today. And last week by far the largest Florida state contest was held up in Lakeland. At our 12 Hours of BBQ contest there were a total of 42 teams. In Lakeland they had almost 60 professional teams, 80 backyard teams and around 20 kiddie teams. That's a lot of smokin' going on, and a lot of barbecue enthusiasts. And, of course, during this time of our political cycle where there's a crowd of more than three people there is a candidate trying to garner just one more vote. Last Saturday in Lakeland was no exception. Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee siezed the opportunity to shake a few hands. Through the sea of people attending the cook-off I saw some TV cameras and boom mikes and went to see what was going on. It was Huckabee who was the focus of their attention. Since there weren't any more than maybe 20 non-media people around him I elbowed my way to the front of the group. I got to shake his hand and exchange a few pleasantries. What I didn't share with him however was the fact that I had already taken advantage of Joe Campbell's convenient offer to beat the rush and voted early at the county building. ...more

February 2, 2008

In a fiercely contentious debate, Mitt Romney tried to halt the momentum propelling Sen. John McCain after his victory in the Florida primary by charging in a debate Wednesday that McCain's positions on immigration, campaign finance and the environment were "outside the mainstream of conservative Republican thought." ...more

January 31, 2008

SEBRING — A record number of Floridians went to the polls Tuesday to vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries, and to OK a property tax. But even more may have showed up if the national Democratic and Republican parties had said they would seat the Florida delegations at the national conventions this summer. "I think it's a very misunderstood situation," said Justine Devlin, chair of the Highlands County Republican Party. ...more

January 30, 2008

Arizona Sen. John McCain won the Florida Republican presidential primary Tuesday night, solidifying his comeback in the nomination race and sealing his front-runner status heading into Super Tuesday. ...more

January 30, 2008

Pasco Middle students gathered in the school's auditorium hooted. They hollered. ...more

January 29, 2008