March 15, 2004
Sharpton Endorses Kerry But Stays in Race
Minister and civil rights activist Al Sharpton withdrew from campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination Monday, though he pledged to remain on ballots and to continue to collect delegates. He met with presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry and has endorsed the Massachusetts senator. .

March 10, 2004
Kerry Easily Wins Four More Southern Primaries
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., handily won four more primaries Tuesday in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

March 3, 2004
Edwards Drops Out, Pledges Support of Kerry
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., dominated Super Tuesday's primaries, prompting Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., to drop out of the race.

Margaret Warner looks back at the Edwards campaign with Mark Johnson of the Charlotte Observer and Mitch Frank of Time magazine.

March 2, 2004
Kerry Dominates Super Tuesday; Dean Wins Vermont
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts dominated Super Tuesday's primary elections, winning nine out of ten states and knocking his main rival, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, out of the race.

Kerry is now widely believed to have a clear path to the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Kerry won large victories in all of the major states holding contests, including New York and California, the states with the largest number of Democratic delegates.

March 2, 2004
Edwards Set to Drop Out Following Super Tuesday Losses
After failing to win a single state on Super Tuesday, Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., decided to end his race for the Democratic nomination, the Associated Press and other news organizations reported.

"He's stepping aside," said a Democratic official who spoke on condition of anonymity. A second official said Edwards would drop out of the race on Wednesday from Raleigh, N.C.

March 1, 2004
Candidates Campaign Before Super Tuesday
The remaining Democratic presidential candidates fanned out across the country Monday, one day before the ten-state "Super Tuesday" primary.

February 27, 2004
Edwards Seeks to Highlight Differences
The remaining Democratic presidential candidates met for a debate in Los Angeles Thursday night before entering the final days of cross-country campaigning ahead of Tuesday's ten-state super primary.

NewsHour Discussion: Just how different are the two leading Democratic candidates? Margaret Warner poses the question to senior advisers from Kerry and Edwards' campaigns.

February 26, 2004
Edwards Looks for Super Tuesday Boost
Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina continued his run for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday, concentrating on states that will hold elections on the March 2 "super primary."

February 25, 2004
Kerry Sweeps Three Western Primaries
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts easily won primary elections in Hawaii, Idaho and Utah on Tuesday, further solidifying his front-runner status in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Kerry won with more than 50 percent of the vote in all three states.

February 24, 2004
Bush, Kerry Trade Barbs as Democratic Race Continues
President Bush turned his attention to the 2004 presidential race Monday, presenting key points of his campaign message and criticizing the Democratic front-runner, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. The president's speech followed days of back and forth between the Bush and Kerry campaigns over the careers of both men.

February 20, 2004
Kerry and Edwards Spar Over Trade, Prepare to Debate
Democratic presidential front-runner Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and his main rival, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, have recently traded criticism on trade issues, while both have been sharply critical of President Bush. NewsHour analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the Kerry and Edwards campaigns as well as President Bush's early campaign appearances.

February 19, 2004
Kerry Wins Backing of AFL-CIO Labor Union Group
The AFL-CIO federation of labor unions endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry Thursday, urging some 13 million workers nationwide to support the Massachusetts lawmaker.

"The time has come to unite behind one man, one leader, one candidate," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said in an appearance with Kerry at a rally in Washington, D.C. "John Kerry has stood up and fought for American workers when it counted for 20 years," Sweeney said, adding that the senator has a 91 percent lifetime voting record rating from the AFL-CIO.

February 18, 2004
Dean Ends Campaign for Presidency
One day after a disappointing showing in the Wisconsin primary, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean announced that he is abandoning his campaign for the presidency. Gwen Ifill discusses the candidate's dramatic rise and fall with Matea Gold of the Los Angeles Times, Dan Balz of the Washington Post and Karen Tumulty of Time magazine.

Update: Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean ended his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination Wednesday.

February 17, 2004
Kerry Edges Surprisingly Strong Edwards in Wisconsin
Sen. John Kerry scored another victory in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, narrowly defeating Sen. John Edwards in Wisconsin. The North Carolina senator rode a late surge in support to a strong second place finish Tuesday night, warning Kerry that "objects in your mirror may be closer than they appear". Former Gov. Howard Dean trailed a distant third.

February 16, 2004
Kerry Wins Nevada and D.C., Leads Polls in Wisconsin
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry won the hearts of Democratic voters in Washington, D.C. and Nevada on Saturday. He also has a commanding lead in public opinion polls in Wisconsin, which will hold its Democratic primary on Tuesday.

February 13, 2004
Clark Endorses Kerry; Others Vow to Compete
Former candidate Gen. Wesley Clark endorsed Sen. John Kerry's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Friday, calling the Massachusetts lawmaker "the kind of leader Americans need."

February 10, 2004
Kerry Sweeps Primaries in Virginia, Tennessee
Building on a weekend sweep of caucuses in three states, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry cruised to two commanding double-digit victories in Tuesday's southern Democratic primaries in Virginia and Tennessee.

The victories by a New England senator were major blows to Sen. John Edwards and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, both of whom had hoped to revive their campaigns in the southern primaries.

February 9, 2004
Southern States Appear Headed for Kerry
Political journalists from Virginia and Tennessee report on the apparent surge in support for Kerry and what Edwards and Clark can do to try and reinvigorate their campaigns.

February 8, 2004
Wrapping Up the Weekend
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., scored three double-digit victories over the weekend to solidify his spot as the Democratic presidential front-runner. Kwame Holman reports a roundup of the latest campaign news.

February 8, 2004
Sen. John Kerry Sweeps Weekend Caucuses
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry scored his third double-digit victory of the weekend Sunday, winning the Maine caucuses and taking another step in his effort to garner the Democratic presidential nomination. The weekend added further momentum to the junior senator's campaign, awarding him the bulk of the delegates from both Michigan and Washington.

February 7, 2004
Kerry Wins Michigan, Washington Caucuses
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry continued to build on his campaign momentum, scoring two impressive double-digit victories in Saturday's Michigan and Washington Democratic caucuses.

February 6, 2004
Michigan Tests Internet Voting in Caucuses
Voters in Michigan participate in the largest and most ambitious Internet voting experiment to date. Of the tens of thousands who will vote in the Democratic caucuses on Saturday, roughly one-third will cast their ballots over the Internet.

February 6, 2004
Kerry Scores Gephardt Support; Rivals Trade Barbs
Former presidential contender Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., endorsed Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry on Friday in a move that is expected to help the Democratic front-runner rally labor support. Meanwhile, Edwards and retired Gen. Wesley Clark exchanged charges as they stumped ahead of the Feb. 10 primaries in Virginia and Tennessee.

February 5, 2004
Kerry Ahead Big in Michigan; Dean Bets on Wisconsin
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, returning to the campaign trail after a day off, largely ignored his Democratic rivals and continued to target President George Bush ahead of a series of primary contests. As Kerry's campaign moves from contest to contest, Dean announced his campaign would focus on the Wisconsin primary on Feb. 17.

February 4, 2004
Edwards Works to Build Momentum
Following a double-digit victory in South Carolina, Sen. John Edwards discussed the issues at the heart of his campaign and his strategy for building momentum.

February 4, 2004
Sen. Kerry Wins Five States, Places Second in S. Carolina
Democratic presidential front-runner Sen. John Kerry scored five victories in Tuesday's seven-state primary contest, winning solidly in Missouri, Delaware, Arizona, North Dakota and New Mexico but coming in second place to Sen. John Edwards in South Carolina and third in a tight race in Oklahoma.

February 4, 2004
Clark Bests Edwards in Oklahoma Nailbiter
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark barely pushed to the top of the extremely tight Oklahoma primary Tuesday, securing his first electoral victory and bolstering his drive for the Democratic presidential nomination.

February 3, 2004
Edwards Passes Critical Test in S. Carolina, Loses Narrowly In Oklahoma
Sen. John Edwards scored a decisive victory Tuesday in his native South Carolina -- a state the candidate had said he must win to remain competitive -- and mounted an unexpectedly strong campaign in Oklahoma.

February 3, 2004
Lieberman Quits Race After Tuesday Defeats
Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut thanked his fellow candidates and bowed out of the presidential race Tuesday night after poor performances in all of the seven state primaries and caucuses.

February 2, 2004
Candidates Have Different Goals for S.C. Primary
South Carolina is not the richest prize of the Feb. 3 primaries, but it is the first contest in the South and the first to involve large numbers of African American voters, a critical Democratic constituency in November.

January 30, 2004
"Show-Me" State Tests Candidate Organizations
Seven states will hold primary elections on Feb. 3, allocating 269 delegate votes to the candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. A candidate must win at least 2,159 delegate votes to become the party's nominee. Missouri is the biggest prize of Feb. 3 primary states, with 74 delegate votes up for grabs.

January 30, 2004
Candidates Seek to Challenge Kerry in Feb. 3 Primaries
For North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and retired Gen. Wesley Clark -- the three candidates who trailed Sen. John Kerry and Howard Dean in the New Hampshire primary results -- Tuesday's contests in seven states offer an opportunity to emerge as one of the candidates that could challenge front-runner Kerry.

January 30, 2004
Candidates Square Off in Palmetto State Debate
Excerpts from Thursday's debate in South Carolina where the Democratic presidential candidates targeted the Bush administration for its decision to go to war in Iraq, job loss and the condition of health care in the country.

January 29, 2004
Candidates Hit the Trail for Coast-to-Coast Campaigning
Seven states will hold primaries on Feb. 3., collectively representing 269 "pledged" delegate votes. This is the first time so many states have scheduled primaries or caucuses so soon after New Hampshire.

The Democratic presidential candidates made campaign appearances in various Feb. 3 states on Thursday, attempting to gain support.

January 29, 2004
Dean Shuffles Staff; Kerry Wins Endorsement
Even as Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., picked up the backing of a senior congressman in South Carolina Thursday, former Gov. Howard Dean, who dismissed his campaign manager Wednesday, outlined a new strategy to focus on delegate-rich states.

January 28, 2004
Kerry, Edwards Hit Trail After New Hampshire
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., speaks to supporters following his victory in the New Hampshire primary, and Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., begins campaigning in his native state of South Carolina.

January 28, 2004
Dean Looks Toward Super Primaries
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, fresh from a second-place finish in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, discusses the upcoming string of primary elections nationwide.

January 27, 2004
Kerry Wins New Hampshire Primary
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry firmly established himself as the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, scoring a decisive, double-digit victory over former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in the New Hampshire primary.

January 26, 2004
Candidates Woo Undecided New Hampshire Voters
The Democratic candidates for president are practicing retail politics at a frenetic pace ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, seeking an edge in what has become a volatile race.

Gwen Ifill discusses the latest poll numbers and the mood of New Hampshire voters.

January 23, 2004
Candidates Seek an Edge in New Hampshire
NewsHour analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the performance of the candidates in Thursday's debate, the final days of campaigning before the New Hampshire primary, and other upcoming primary elections nationwide.

Excerpts from Thursday's Democratic debate and Friday's campaign appearances.

January 23, 2004
Democrats Hold Last Debate Before New Hampshire Vote
Democratic presidential hopefuls met Thursday night for their final debate before the New Hampshire primary, criticizing President Bush's domestic and foreign policy moves while promoting their own plans for the country's core issues.

January 22, 2004
Campaigns Adjust Messages for N.H. Voters
In a report from New Hampshire, Gwen Ifill discusses the latest strategies of the Democratic presidential candidates as they attempt to woo voters ahead of Tuesday's primary.

Also, Sens. John Edwards, D-N.C., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., talk to New Hampshire voters.

January 21, 2004
Candidates Take Campaign Messages to N.H. Voters
John Kerry, Wesley Clark and Howard Dean speak directly to New Hampshire voters on Wednesday.

January 21, 2004
Democratic Candidates Blast President Bush After Speech
The Democratic candidates for president, busy stumping for votes ahead of next week's New Hampshire primary, criticized President Bush's Tuesday State of the Union speech, attacking the president's record as well as his new proposals.

January 20, 2004
Democratic Contenders Descend on N.H.
Following Monday's Iowa caucuses, the seven remaining Democratic candidates began intense campaigning in New Hampshire ahead of the state's Jan. 27 presidential primary.

A report from New Hampshire in the final days before the presidential primary.

January 20, 2004
Gephardt Bows out of Campaign, Retires From Politics
Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., said Tuesday he will drop out of the Democratic presidential race and retire from political life at the end of his current congressional term. Gephardt's decision comes the day after he finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses.

January 19, 2004
Kerry Wins Iowa Caucus; Edwards Finishes Second
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry won the Iowa Democratic caucuses Monday, garnering the support of 38 percent of those attending the party meetings throughout the state. His total edged out Sen. John Edwards, who also enjoyed a late groundswell of support that propelled the North Carolinian to second.

January 16, 2004
Iowa Race a 'Virtual Tie'; Many Voters Still Undecided
The race for the Democratic presidential nomination in Iowa could be a very close four-way contest according to recent polls that show four candidates bunched at the head of the pack.

January 16, 2004
Candidates Woo Iowans
Howard Dean, John Edwards, Richard Gephardt and John Kerry try to win over Iowa voters in the last days of the campaign.

January 15, 2004
Braun Drops Out of Race, Endorses Dean
Carol Moseley Braun ended her candidacy for president Thursday and endorsed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Braun announced her decision at a joint appearance with Dean in Carroll, Iowa, Thursday afternoon.

January 15, 2004
Clark Defends Stance on War
In New Hampshire General Wesley Clark defended his position on the Iraq war and called Republican charges that he had flip-flopped on the issue old-"style politics."

January 14, 2004
Gephardt, Kerry Talk to Iowa Voters
In separate campaign appearances in Iowa, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., criticized President Bush's policies and touted plans to improve the country's economy, national security, foreign policy and healthcare.

January 14, 2004
Dean Wins Non-binding D.C. Primary
Voters in Washington, D.C., handed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean a victory in the city's non-binding, "advisory" primary election Tuesday. Dean won with 43 percent of the vote while the Rev. Al Sharpton came in second with 34 percent.

January 13, 2004
Kucinich on the Stump in Iowa
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, spoke to voters in Indianola, Iowa, about the war in Iraq, the economy, health care, education and other campaign issues.

January 12, 2004
Minority Issues Debated in Iowa Forum
The "Black and Brown Forum" in Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday was the last joint appearance for the Democratic presidential candidates before the Iowa caucuses convene.

January 9, 2004
Dean Endorsed by Harkin, Criticized for Caucus Remarks
Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin endorsed Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean Friday as Dean answered questions about disparaging remarks he made about the Iowa caucuses in 2000.

January 9, 2004
Dean Criticizes 'No Child Left Behind' Bill
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean answered questions on international development and education reform in the United States at a town hall meeting in Rochester, N.H.

January 8, 2004
Clark, Gephardt on the Campaign Trail
Wesley Clark talks about defense issues in Concord, N.H., while Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., discusses agriculture policy with farmers in Jefferson, Iowa.

January 7, 2004
Democrats Assail Influence Peddling
In campaign appearances in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John Edwards, D-N.C., criticize the "revolving door" careers of government officials-turned-lobbyists.

January 6, 2004
Bradley Endorses Dean; Clark Touts Tax Plan
Gov. Howard Dean won the endorsement of 2000 presidential candidate Bill Bradley Tuesday, while former Gen. Wesley Clark expanded on an economic plan aimed at eliminating the income tax for many middle class Americans.

New Hampshire Primary
Kerry Leaves New Hampshire With Decisive Victory
Sen. John Kerry won the New Hampshire primary with 39 percent of the vote, beating his closest rival, former Gov. Howard Dean by more than 10 percentage points.

Iowa Caucuses
Kerry Wins Iowa, Edwards a Strong Second
Fueled by a tireless campaign and 11th-hour surge in support, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry won the first major test on the road to the Democratic presidential nomination Monday.

December 31, 2003
Clark on the Stump in the Granite State
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark recently talked to New Hampshire voters about education, choosing a running mate, the situation in Iraq, and the war on terror.

December 24, 2003
Kerry Blasts Bush on Foreign Policy
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., told voters in Salem, N.H. that he is the best candidate to battle President George W. Bush on foreign policy. "That's a fight I want to have," Kerry said.

December 22, 2003
Lieberman Touts Tax Plan for Middle Class
At a recent campaign stop, presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said he would keep middle-class tax cuts in place while raising taxes on those who make more than $200,000 per year.

December 11, 2003
Campaign Snapshot: Sen. Edwards in N.M.
Freshman Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., recently explained to voters in Santa Fe, NM, why he is ready for a job at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

December 10, 2003
Candidates Take Aim at Al Gore, Howard Dean
The nine Democratic presidential candidates debated in Durham, N.H., last night, but it was the endorsement of Howard Dean by former Vice President Al Gore earlier in the day that stole the stage.

December 8, 2003
Campaign Snapshot: Gephardt Stumps in Iowa
Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., speaks to voters in Waukee, Iowa, in the latest snapshot from the Democratic presidential campaign trial.

December 4, 2003
Campaign Snapshot: Dean on the Trail
The NewsHour begins a series of snapshots of the 2004 presidential candidates making their case to the voters with excerpts from a recent Howard Dean appearance in Ottumwa, Iowa.

The Primary System
'Frontloaded' Calendar Changes Primary Process
The presidential primary process has become a second national political campaign, with reporters and pundits descending on places like Dixville Notch, NH and Ames, Iowa. But the process of selecting a party's candidate has evolved radically from the days when party insiders largely controlled who would receive the nomination.

Voting Technology
New Voting Methods Embraced, Debated
Technology upgrades may be the answer to problems encountered during the 2000 presidential election, but the move toward electronic voting machines has raised new concerns among researchers, elected officials and activists. Questions about the reliability of some voting machines and the political connections of some top manufacturers has led to a national debate over the conversion to new voting systems.

November 25, 2003
Kerry and Dean Square off in the Granite State
Gwen Ifill traveled to New Hampshire to preview the competition between Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in the first presidential primary.

November 20, 2003
Battle in the Hawkeye State
Margaret Warner begins a series of reports on the Democratic front-runners in the early contests with a look at the duel between Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt in Iowa.

November 5, 2003
Dean Apologizes for Flag Remark
Dean apologized for a statement he made that the Democratic Party must court white Southerners who display the Confederate flag, saying, "I regret the pain that I may have caused either to African Americans or Southern white voters."

October 30, 2003
A General's View of the Campaign
Democratic presidential candidate and retired four-star Gen. Wesley Clark speaks with Margaret Warner about leadership and foreign policy with a focus on the postwar reconstruction in Iraq.

October 27, 2003
Candidates Fight It Out in Motor City
The nine Democrats in contention for their party's 2004 presidential nomination met at a debate in Detroit last night sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and Fox News Channel.

October 10, 2003
Debating the President's War Strategy
One year after the House of Representatives voted to authorize President Bush to wage war against Iraq, the nine Democrats who seek to replace him took aim at the president's war strategy during a debate in Phoenix last night.

October 7, 2003
Graham Bows Out
The field of Democrats vying to replace President Bush shrank by one last night, when Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) announced he would withdraw his candidacy. Margaret Warner discusses this decision and its impact on the election with Adam Nagourney, the chief political reporter for The New York Times.

September 17, 2003
The General Takes the Field
Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark announced his candidacy today in the race for president. Gwen Ifill discusses his late entry in an already crowded field of Democratic candidates with Katherine Seelye of The New York Times.

September 10, 2003
Debate Focuses on African-American Voters
The Democratic presidential candidates fielded questions of particular interest to African-American voters at last night’s debate.

September 5, 2003
Assessing the First Major Debate
Ray Suarez co-moderated last night’s Democratic presidential candidate debate. The candidates fielded questions on the United States’ role in Iraq, American unemployment numbers and President Bush’s tax cuts.