MARK PENN'S BOAST
ROBERT NOVAK

Mark Penn, Sen. Hillary Clinton's embattled chief strategist, angered his critics by taking credit for her comeback in Tuesday's primaries. Penn said the "3 a.m." television ad that he conceived was the "tipping point." In fact, it never was shown in Ohio, where Clinton defeated Sen. Barack Obama decisively.

The ad contrasted Clinton's and Obama's experience in national security, by portraying her ability to take an emergency telephone call at 3 a.m. It was broadcast widely in Texas, where Clinton narrowly edged Obama in the popular vote.

Clinton's big win in Ohio, the main force behind her comeback, was fueled by Democratic voter opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Clinton got a boost there when it was reported that University of Chicago professor Austan Goolsbee, Obama's economics adviser, reassured Canadian officials not to take seriously his candidate's opposition to NAFTA. Democratic insiders call Ohio the "Goolsbee primary."

FLORIDA FOLLIES

Democrats were getting ready for a do-over Florida Democratic presidential primary in mid-June, when the state's Republican governor, Charlie Crist, changed signals Thursday. He indicated in separate interviews on Fox and CNN he would rather seat delegates elected in the virtually uncontested Jan. 29 Florida primary, won by Hillary Clinton.

Eyebrows of Florida Republican activists were raised last Sunday when Crist went on CNN to say he would go along with a do-over of the Jan. 29 voting, held one week early in violation of Democratic National Committee (DNC) rules. But Republicans fear a re-vote would be won by Sen. Barack Obama, who they consider a tougher opponent of Sen. John McCain than Clinton.

A footnote: Michigan also conducted a DNCprohibited primary on Jan. 15, where Clinton's was the only name on the ballot. A Michigan re-vote would be a "firehouse primary," conducted by the state party rather than the state government, and Florida also might take that course.

RIDGE FOR VP

Vice presidential support has arisen for former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, as it did eight years ago, and again caused consternation in the pro-life movement and among conservative Catholics. Speculation about Ridge, a pro-choice Catholic, for vice president in 2000 caused a furor. Catholic Bishop Donald Trautman in Ridge's hometown of Erie, Pa., barred him from speaking at Catholic events in northwestern Pennsylvania because of his position on abortion.

Ridge is a supporter and friend of McCain and, like him, is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. His value on the national ticket would be trying to dislodge Pennsylvania from the Democratic grasp.

DIALING FOR DOLLARS

Once Sen. John McCain clinched the Republican presidential nomination in Tuesday's primaries with a puny treasury, he was off to Florida to start a week-long fundraising tour.

McCain began Wednesday night at a private home in Gulf Stream, Fla. He went to Naples for luncheon Thursday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

McCain was off to the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta Thursday night, to be followed the coming week with events at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Monday, the Plaza in New York City Tuesday, the Taj Hotel in Boston Wednesday, the West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, Pa., Thursday afternoon, the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia Thursday night and the Hilton Chicago Friday.

To find out more about Robert D. Novak and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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