Is Romney Moving on Up?

Clinton Goes to Bat for Pre-K

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) outlined her vision yesterday for pre-kindergarten education, saying that she'd like to enroll the 80 percent of 4-year-olds who aren't already in preschool programs.

In a speech in Miami Beach, Clinton said she would "establish universal pre-kindergarten education through a federal-state partnership, based on state flexibility, that ensures every 4-year-old child in America has access to a high-quality pre-kindergarten program."

According to her plan, states would be required to make preschool programs available to all 4-year-olds and to provide free access to children from poor families or families with limited English skills. Currently, about 3 million 4-year-olds are not enrolled in pre-K.

The federal government would help offset the cost of these programs, with an initial $5 billion investment growing to $10 billion over five years. The programs would be required to meet high standards. For instance, teachers would need to have a college degree and specialized training in early-childhood development.

-- Zachary A. Goldfarb

Democrats Take Edge on Cash

Democratic House and Senate campaign committees have opened a wide lead over their Republican counterparts in cash on hand in the early stages of the 2008 congressional campaigns.

At the end of April, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had $9.4 million on hand, with $5.2 million in debt. The National Republican Congressional Committee had $1.6 million and $7.3 million in debt. That means House Democrats had a $9.9 million advantage.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had $12.1 million on hand, with $5.5 million in debt. The National Republican Senatorial Committee had $3.4 million with no debt, a $3.2 million advantage for Democrats.

-- Zachary A. Goldfarb

An Earlier 2008 Primary for Florida

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed legislation yesterday to move up his state's 2008 presidential primary to Jan. 29, despite threats from Democratic and Republican leaders that they may decline to sanction the results and may punish candidates who campaign there.

The Sunshine State's primary will now be held after votes in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada and a week before a mega-primary taking shape on Feb. 5.

The Florida legislation also did away with ATM-style touch-screen voting machines, used in 15 counties, in favor of optical-scan ballots, which leave a paper trail that can be recounted in close elections.