Today on the presidential campaign trail

[Ron Burgundy]

IN THE HEADLINES

With both Clintons dominating the convention's next 2 days, Hillary faces new GOP attacks ... Republicans debate platform shaped by conservative base as well as by McCain ... Biden stops by Delaware breakfast, offers mea culpa for past mistakes ... Caroline Kennedy says her uncle went through a lot to get to Democratic convention

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Clinton faces new GOP attacks ahead of her speech

DENVER (AP) — Republicans on Tuesday invoked Hillary Rodham Clinton's past criticism that Barack Obama wasn't ready to lead as Democrats faced two days at their national convention to be dominated by the old Clinton regime.

Clinton, Obama's former rival for the nomination, was expected to urge her disappointed supporters to line up in unity behind Obama in a prime-time speech to the Democratic National Convention. Her husband, former President Clinton, speaks to the convention on Wednesday night.

Some Democratic activists, meanwhile, voiced concern that the convention, which began on Monday, had yet to produce a sustained or effective attack against Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

In particular, they cited comments by former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, who also was to address the convention Tuesday night, suggesting that his speech would not be a red-meat attack on McCain but an appeal for bipartisanship.

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GOP base exerts influence on platform

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Republicans on Tuesday debated election principles influenced by their conservative base as well as by presidential candidate John McCain.

They were taking a tough line on abortion and immigration while weighing an energy policy that would acknowledge — if grudgingly — the human imprint on climate change.

Nothing written into the platform will tie McCain's hands in the campaign and it was questionable whether he'd pay much attention to it. Presidential candidates often don't.

But the two days of platform hearings were focusing the party on a review of what it stands for and exposing familiar divisions between conservative and moderate elements.

The 112-member platform committee opened meetings with a draft document about half as long as the swollen 2004 platform, and party officials were determined to keep it relatively succinct despite the amendments to come.

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Biden delivers mea culpa to home-state delegates

LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday thanked Delaware delegates for standing by their home-state senator and served up a mea culpa for his foibles and imperfections.

Biden, known for an unscripted style that sometimes gets him into trouble, told a small breakfast gathering that he couldn't have weathered personal failures without their help, and allowed that his spot on the ticket will come with challenges, drawing knowing laughter from the crowd.

"It's all out there, in the clear public view," Biden said. "I didn't always comport myself in the way that I wanted to."

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Caroline Kennedy: Ted was determined to get to DNC

DENVER (AP) — Caroline Kennedy says her uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, went through a lot to get to the Democratic Convention but is "doing unbelievably" well and remains determined to return to the Senate.

The Massachusetts senator on Monday night delivered a ringing summons to fellow Democrats to rally behind Barack Obama's quest for the White House.

The senator, 76, has been battling brain cancer, but his niece said he was "doing unbelievably."

"What it took for him to get here was something I never thought I'd see in my life," Caroline Kennedy said in an interview aired Tuesday morning on CBS' "The Early Show."

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THE DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama meets with voters in Kansas City, Mo.

Joe Biden attends events at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain addresses the American Legion National Convention in Phoenix.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I've never been a team. I should've been a one-man band." — Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, noting how he's not used to playing a supporting role.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

The Pepsi Center seats 20,000 in its enclosed arena.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner.

source: AP - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_el_pr/2008_race_rundown [link]