SNEAK PEEK: Which Hillary Clinton?

February 25, 2008— -- When Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama face off Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio, the question on everybody's mind is: Which Hillary Clinton will show up?

Will it be the "I am honored to be here with Barack Obama" Hillary? Or the "shame-on-you" Hillary?

Will it be the "whatever-happens, we're-going-to-be-fine" Hillary?

Or the we're-all-going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket-if-Obama-is-elected Hillary?

Will it be the Hillary who speaks of "when I'm president"? Or the Hillary who speaks of "if I'm president"?

To borrow Adam Nagourney's line of analysis, will it be more Mark Penn? Or more Mandy Grunwald?

Tuesday's Democratic debate gets underway at 9:00 pm ET on the campus of Cleveland State University. The 90-minute debate, which will be moderated by Brian Williams and Tim Russert, will be broadcast on MSNBC. It is the final debate before the potentially decisive March 4th primaries in Ohio and Texas.

Clinton on photo: 'Why is anybody concerned about this?'

During a Monday interview with ABC's Dallas affiliate, Clinton did not flatly deny the DrudgeReport's charge that her campaign forwarded a photo of Obama in traditional African dress. She then turned the tables on her Democratic rival and accused him of using the controversy surrounding the alleged leaking of the photo to distract the public's attention.

"I know nothing about it," Clinton told ABC affiliate WFAA. "This is in the public domain. But let's just stop and ask yourself: 'Why are you -- why is anybody concerned about this?'"

Clinton said that she found questions about whether her campaign leaked the photo to be "really laughable."

"This is one more attempt by my opponent's campaign to change the subject," said Clinton, "From his health-care plan that won't cover everybody, from an economic plan that won't produce jobs, and from a record that is pretty thin when it comes to national security and standing up for our country around the world."

Back in October, The New York Times identified Tracy Sefl as the Clinton campaign's conduit to the DrudgeReport.

Asked by ABC News on Monday if she gave the photo to the DrudgeReport, Sefl, who is vice president at the Glover Park Group, said, "no."

She could not, however, speak for all Clinton campaign associates.

Asked if she has contacted the DrudgeReport to seek a correction to its claim that the Clinton campaign is the source of the photo, she said, "No comment."

'I Lose. I Lose.'

Per the AP's Liz Sidoti, John McCain said Monday that in order to win the White House he must convince the country that U.S. policy in Iraq is succeeding.

If he can't, he says, "then I lose. I lose."

He later backpedaled.

"Iraq will play a role in their judgment of my ability to handle national security," said McCain. "If I may, I'd like to retract 'I'll lose.'"

One saving grace for McCain: No cameras were present when the Arizona senator made his comments on the back of the bus, per ABC's Bret Hovell.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

On the Republican Front…

JOHN MCCAIN

--11:30 pm EST: Attends a Campaign Rally in Cincinnati, OH.

-- 12:15 pm EST: Hosts Media Availability in Cincinnati, OH.

--2:45 pm EST: Attends Town Hall Meeting in West Chester, OH.

MIKE HUCKABEE

--1:00 pm EST: Attends Rally in Columbus, OH.

-- 4:30 pm EST: Attends Rally in Mason, OH.

RON PAUL

-- No events scheduled.

As for the Democrats…

HILLARY CLINTON

--1:00 pm EST: Host Town Hall Meeting in Lorain, OH.

--9:00 pm EST: Participates in MSNBC, WKYC Ohio and NBC Debate at Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH.

BILL CLINTON

--12:45 pm EST: Attends Early Vote Event at Mountain View Community College, Dallas, TX.

--6:30 pm EST: Attends Early Vote Event at Marine Park in Fort Worth, TX.

--TBD: Fundraising Events, Closed Press, New York City, NY.

BARACK OBAMA

-- 9:00 pm EST: Participates in MSNBC, WKYC Ohio and NBC Debate at Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH.

Around the Beltway…

ENERGY AND COMMERCE

-- 9:30 am EST: Health Subcommittee Hearing on "Covering Uninsured Kids: Reversing Progress Already Made." Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire; Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland; Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue; Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, 2123, Rayburn Senate Building.

DNC CHAIRMAN HOWARD DEAN

--6:00 pm EST: Attends Georgetown University's Black History Month Student Forum, Washington, DC.

And the White House…

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 9:45 am EST: Speaks to the Sullivan Foundation at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC.

--1:45 pm EST: Meets with former cabinet secretaries and senior government officials on free trade agreements, Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

--2:45 pm EST: Speaks about the Picturing America Initiative. East Room.

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY

--9:00 am EST: Speaks at an uncasing of the colors ceremony at Fort Hood, TX.

--10:05 am EST: Speaks at a rally for troops at Fort Hood, TX.