US election at-a-glance: 26 Feb

DAY IN A NUTSHELL

The Democratic candidates take part in a televised debate at Cleveland State University, as a snow blizzard rages outside. They spar in a sharp but not aggressive discussion over health care, the Iraq war and trade. Hillary Clinton's bid to press Barack Obama to reject an endorsement from a controversial figure is side-stepped by the Illinois senator, drawing laughter from the crowd.

KEY QUOTES

"I don't mind airing our differences but I really minded when Senator Obama's campaign sends you literature in the mail that is false, misleading and has been discredited. That is not the way to run a campaign to pick the Democratic nominee for president," Hillary Clinton, during Ohio debate.

"I have no shame, or no problem, with people looking at Barack Obama in his native clothing - in the clothing of his country."
Clinton supporter Stephanie Tubbs Jones, on MSNBC, commenting on the photo of Barack Obama wearing traditional African dress

"I take Senator Clinton at her word that she knew nothing about the photo," Barack Obama, during Ohio debate.

The difference between a presidential candidate and a fool in love is only a matter of Secret Service protection Richard Cohen Washington Post At-a-glance: 25 Feb

"Can [Mr Obama] truly be the candidate of MoveOn.org and red-state politicians alike? Have those at different ends of the Democratic political spectrum attributed to him positions - on issues ranging from Iraq to health care to the economy - that are compatible with their own views, but not with the other's?"
Dan Balz, Washington Post

"Politics can be ugly, not to mention sad. Broken dreams are strewn across the American landscape. Fred Thompson resigned from Law & Order. Chris Dodd moved his family from Connecticut to Iowa just for the caucuses. Mitt Romney blew through a fortune. John Edwards campaigned through personal pain. The difference between a presidential candidate and a fool in love is only a matter of Secret Service protection."
Richard Cohen, Washington Post

"Any decent person who looks at the McCain record sees that while he has certainly faltered at times, he has also battled concentrated power more doggedly than any other legislator."
David Brooks, New York Times

NUMBER NEWS

RealClearPolitics (RCP) provides a useful rolling average of opinion polls, which can shed some light on the candidates' overall polling performance.

As of 26 February, RCP's average of national surveys of Democratic voters gave Barack Obama a six-point lead over Hillary Clinton, 48%-42%.

RCP's average of Texas polls also gave Mr Obama a (narrow) lead, with 47.8% to Mrs Clinton's 46.3%.

The picture in Ohio is more gratifying for Mrs Clinton, however: there she leads in the polls by an average of eight points, 49.6% to Mr Obama's 41.6%.

DAILY PICTURE

Come snow or high water: Hillary Clinton supporters brave the weather to express their backing for the New York senator ahead of the Ohio debate