A big setup week behind us and the moment of truth ahead. Sunday Hillary officially jumped into the race for Patrick Moynihan's Senate seat in New York. While she reveled in a highly produced stage show Giuliani hit all five morning shows. Jake Tapper caught a whiff of the heavy hitting race to come when he visited Giuliani HQ and noted a Vince Foster bumpersticker.
The gloves are already off: A Vince Foster bumper sticker is just a sign of things to come in the New York Senate race. By Jake Tapper http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/08/rudy/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
Hillary makes it official: President Clinton stands by his woman as the candidate gets a full image makeover. By Jake Tapper http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/07/hillary/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
But the real story of the week was George W. Bush's transformation after his weekend in the wilderness. Last Saturday Bush retreated to Texas to rest and plot strategy for his South Carolina run. Monday saw a revitalized campaign which called its candidate a reformer and labeled John McCain as Chairman. Bush even changed his stump appearances to once again proove the old adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Bush roughly quartered his stump speech and spent much more time on the patented McCain Q&A technique. That's not to say that the content of his answers has changed.
How Dubyah got his groove back: Meet the rough and tumble George W. Bush. Is this how GOP nominations are won? By Jake Tapper http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/10/bush/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
Bush's good ol' money boys: A Texas group hammers George W. for his close ties to lobbyists. By Robert Bryce http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/10/lobby/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
The roar of the dowager: While the rest of the country gets a look at the new George, Barbara Bush plays to her same old crowd. By Alicia Montgomery http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/10/barbara/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
The abortion dilemma: George W. Bush has reinvented himself as a true conservative. But will pandering to the right on abortion make him unelectable in November? By Bruce Shapiro http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/08/abortion/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
With Bush stealing some of the media spotlight McCain has been trying to work his magic through financial contributions and political endorsements. Many outlets and our own Anthony York caught legislators who previously endorsed Bush wavering.
McCain's California caravan: Several California elected officials prepare to endorse the Arizona senator. By Anthony York http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/10/california/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
Steve Forbes jumped out of the presidential race Thursday: according to early estimates some $66 million lighter. Alicia Montgomery's title sums it up best, 'money can't buy you love.'
Checkout time: Maybe somebody should have told Steve Forbes $60 million ago that money can't buy you love. By Alicia Montgomery http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/10/forbes/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
And we've got Terrence Samuels on what it feels like to be mistaken for Alan Keyes.
Keyes like me: It's tough when everybody mistakes you for a presidential contender, that is, until you start getting used to it. By Terence Samuel http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/10/keyes/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
This week we also have a special feature on the stagecraft of presidential elections. William Speed Weed, who used to be a Clinton advance man, illuminates the world of setting up the money shot for the local news, packing audiences and making your candidate look good.
Show me the money shot: Which candidates give good face -- and which ones don't. By William Speed Weed http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/09/advance_side/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
I set up President Clinton: Confessions of an advance man. By William Speed Weed http://www.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/02/09/advance/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=650
The politics2000 staff would like to hear what you think about the site, our reporting and your thoughts on this political season. Please send them to max@salon.com and make sure to tell us whether you want them to remain private or will allow us to publish them.