SNEAK PEEK: Weekend Update

With Texas and Ohio primaries ten days away, the candidates are keeping busy

ByABC News
February 22, 2008, 6:20 PM

February 22, 2008— -- John McCain said that he is putting behind him the New York Times story on his ties to a Washington lobbyist. The Republican frontrunner is moving on by taking some time off the campaign trail this weekend and speaking to the Republican Governors Association.

His rival Mike Huckabee loves to crack jokes on the campaign trail, but how will he do with a live studio audience and a national television audience? Huckabee is scheduled to make a cameo appearance on this weekend's Saturday Night Live, the first new show since the writer's strike shut down production after the November 3rd episode, reports ABC News' Kevin Chupka.

Perhaps a cameo by his BFF Chuck Norris is also in store? The show should be chock full of political elements after a long layoff - the show's producers reportedly have been auditioning new actors to play Barack Obama.

With ten days remaining before the big primaries in Ohio and Texas, who has the most events this weekend? That would be Bill Clinton who hits the campaign trail in Texas and Ohio stumping for his wife.

With the first of two debates under their belts, Obama sets his sights this weekend on Ohio and its 141 delegates and Hillary Clinton travels to Ohio, New Orleans, Boston and Rhode Island.

Clinton lost the Louisiana primary to Obama 57-36 percent on Feb. 9 but she heads back to New Orleans on Saturday for the annual "State of the Black Union," a conference focusing on education, health, housing and other policy issues affecting African-Americans.

Clinton is the only presidential candidate attending and the event could be an interesting, unique opportunity for her to reach out to African-American voters. But it could also be a tough crowd – Clinton risks receiving a chilly reception after the fervor over race that erupted in the lead up to the South Carolina primary last month.

Obama has been winning African-American voters by huge margins and was able to dip into Clinton's support among white voters in recent primaries.

The conference is held annually during Black History Month and is hosted by Tavis Smiley who has not shied away from criticizing Obama for skipping the event, calling it a missed opportunity and a missed calculation. Smiley told the Washington Post that he has taken some heat for that criticism but said it's his job as a journalist to ask the tough questions, not tell people to vote for Obama.

Also keep an eye on…

Ralph Nader sits down with Tim Russert on Meet the Press on Sunday morning.

Saturday February 23, 2008

On the campaign trail. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- Delivers remarks to the Republican Governors' Association, Washington DC

MIKE HUCKABEE

-- Appears on Saturday Night Live

RON PAUL

-- 11:15 am ET: Attends rally with voters, Killeen, TX

As for the Democrats. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- Attends healthcare roundtable discussion, Columbus, OH

-- 5:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Akron, OH

-- 8:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Cleveland, OH

No fireworks at the Dem debate but, did one candidate come up on top? LINK

Clinton Cancels Rally Due to Officer Death
Sen. Clinton tells crowd in Ft. Worth, Texas that she won't be holding a rally. LINK

'The Note' Rewinds the Week's Best Moments
ABC News' Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK

Obama Gets His Boogie On
The Illinois senator dances and sings along to "Boogie Back to Texas" in Austin. LINK

Death Rocks Clinton Motorcade
A police officer in candidate's Texas motorcade dies in a motorcycle crash. LINK

Clinton 'Heartsick' Over Officer's Death
Clinton offers condolences to family of motorcade officer killed in accident. LINK

Ted Kennedy Sings en Espanol!
The Massachusetts senator belts out a song while stumping for Obama in Texas. LINK

Turkey Sends Troops Into Iraq
Turkey launches a ground incursion in pursuit of Kurdish rebels. LINK

Inside North Korea's Nuclear Facility
Bob Woodruff takes an unprecedented tour of the country's main nuclear site. LINK

Who Won the Texas Showdown?
George Stephanopoulos assesses the Democratic debate in Austin. LINK

This Week All Week Webcast LINK

Clinton: 'I Intend to Win'
The New York senator says she is motivated by people's everyday struggles. LINK

Showdown in Austin
The Texas debate sparks some unexpected moments for the Democratic candidates. LINK

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