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Edwards' Ad Prompts Spat With Rival
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Tennessee has joined the growing number of states, including California, New York and New Jersey, that will hold its presidential primary on Feb. 5.
  Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL addresses the crowd at the First AME Church in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, April 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Stefano Paltera) (Stefano Paltera - AP) 
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Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen signed a bill on Monday that moves up the date. The primary had been scheduled for Feb. 12.
Some 12 states have moved their primaries to Feb. 5 and at least seven others are trying to switch their contests. The primary process begins Jan. 14 with caucuses in Iowa.
About 485,850 people voted in Tennessee's presidential primary in 2004, and about 2.5 million voted in the general election.
The Tennessee state Senate unanimously changed the date; the state House passed the measure on a vote of 91-2.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Ten Republican presidential candidates made the cut for the GOP debate in South Carolina on May 15.
John Cox didn't.
The Chicago investment adviser will not be invited because his poll results didn't meet the criteria set by the party and Fox News Channel. The state GOP and the media outlet had required candidates to garner at least a 1 percent showing in a state and a national poll.
"We've tried to be as inclusive as we can," said GOP chairman Katon Dawson.
He said he would have preferred a higher polling threshold of 3 percent, which would have cut four or five from the list of those being asked to appear.
Cox is not slated to take part in the first Republican debate Thursday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
Dawson said invitations to the debate are to be sent Thursday to: Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Sam Brownback of Kansas; Reps. Duncan Hunter of California, Ron Paul of Texas and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, former Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Jim Gilmore of Virginia and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
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Associated Press Writer Jim Kuhnhenn in Washington contributed to this report.
