OBAMA, CLINTON LEAD McCAIN IN NEW YORK

Senators Clinton and Obama would each defeat Senator McCain by seven points in a hypothetical general election match-up in New York, a poll released yesterday by Siena College found. Mrs. Clinton led the Arizona senator, 49% to 42%, while Mr. Obama led him, 47% to 40%, among likely Empire State voters, according to the poll. Both Democratic hopefuls have consistently led Mr. McCain in the Siena poll during the last year, but this month’s results showed a wider lead for Mr. Obama and a smaller edge for Mrs. Clinton than the survey conducted in January. Backed by Mayor Giuliani, Mr. McCain has pledged to compete in traditionally Democratic states, such as New York, which Republican nominees have all but ignored in previous presidential elections.

DEAN QUIET ON MICHIGAN, FLORIDA QUESTION

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, appears in no hurry to resolve an escalating dispute about whether delegates from Michigan and Florida should be seated at the party’s nominating convention this summer. Dr. Dean responded yesterday to a letter sent by the chairman of the NAACP, Julian Bond, expressing “great concern at the prospect that millions of voters in Michigan and Florida could ultimately have their votes completely discounted.”

The DNC stripped the states of their delegates after both states bucked party rules by holding early primaries, but now Senator Clinton, who won both elections, is calling for those delegates to be seated. Neither candidate campaigned actively in either state, and Senator Obama’s name was not even on the ballot in Michigan. In his response yesterday, Dr. Dean did not tip his hand, but he said the Democratic primary process was far from over. “While it seems that this election season has already been the longest in history, 18 states have yet to hold their primary elections and over 1,000 pledged delegates have yet to be selected,” he wrote. “Put another way; some 33% of voters have yet to have their voices heard. I look forward to hearing what they have to say.”

The response suggests that the chairman is hoping that the remaining primaries will determine the nominee and that the dispute about Michigan and Florida will be moot by the time the convention arrives. He has already warned that a brokered convention would be harmful to the party. Some party activists have suggested holding new primaries or caucuses in Michigan or Florida, an idea that Dr. Dean did not address in his letter.

OBAMA SLOGAN POPULAR IN ITALY, TATARSTAN

Senator Obama’s signature line has gone global. The just-departed mayor of Rome, Walter Vetroni, has adopted Mr. Obama’s slogan, “Yes We Can,” for his campaign for prime minister under Italy’s revived Democratic Party. And according to the Moscow Times, the slogan has the same meaning as the favorite catchphrase of Mintimer Shaimiev, the president of Tatarstan, a Russian republic. In Tatar, the phrase is “Bez Buldyrabyz!” The phrase “Yes We Can” is said to originate as “Si se puede” with the co-founders of the United Farm Workers, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, according to Wikipedia.

REPUBLICANS PLAN ATTACK ON OBAMA EXPERIENCE

Republicans are planning to hammer Senator Obama heavily on what they say is his lack of experience if he is the Democratic presidential nominee, according to a PowerPoint presentation delivered at a donor retreat this weekend. “His greatest weakness is inexperience. He is not ready to be commander in chief. He is not ready to be president,” reads the message given to party contributors and activists, Politico.com reported yesterday. Like Senator Clinton, the party also plans to criticize Mr. Obama for his habit of voting “present” instead of “yes” or “no” in the Illinois state Senate, according to the PowerPoint presentation. The experience argument is likely to dovetail with a principal message of Senator McCain., who often cites his national security credentials and his long career in public service.