Clark gets the jump in early vote

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DIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H. — Wesley Clark won the initial votes cast in the Democratic presidential primary today in two of New Hampshire's smallest hamlets — Dixville Notch and Hart's Location — where residents cast and count their votes just after midnight on Election Day.

There are no registered Democrats in Dixville Notch, population 33, and just five in Hart's Location, which has 39 residents. But state law allows independents to register with a party at the polling place and vote in its primary.

Clark won Dixville Notch with 8 votes. John Kerry had 3, John Edwards 2 and Howard Dean and Joe Lieberman 1 each. Clark received 6 votes in Hart's Location. Kerry had 5, Dean 3 and Edwards 2.

The latest New Hampshire tracking polls going into today's primary show Kerry in first, Dean in second and a battle for third place between Clark and Edwards, with Lieberman close to Clark and Edwards in some polls and far behind in others.

Bush: Lawyers, Democrats blocked malpractice effort

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — President Bush blamed trial lawyers and Senate Democrats yesterday for blocking his proposal to limit medical-malpractice awards to rein in rising health-care costs, kicking off a week that will take him to three states key to his re-election chances.

"The health-care system looks like a giant lottery," Bush told a crowd of medical workers at the Baptist Health Medical Center. "That's what it looks like these days with these lawsuits and somehow the trial lawyers always hold the winning ticket."

That might be a jab at Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards of North Carolina, a senator and a trial lawyer.

The issue pits doctors, hospitals and insurers — strong supporters of the administration — against trial lawyers, who generally support Democrats.

Also...

The National Weather Service says a foot of snow could fall in southern New Hampshire today. A high of 22 degrees Fahrenheit and low of 8 is forecast for Concord. ... Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush announced yesterday he is endorsing Wesley Clark's candidacy for president. Rush, a one-time member of the militant Black Panthers, has represented the South Side of Chicago since 1992.

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