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To the Point

The Race for President and the Politics of Change

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One of the most unusual aspects of the 2008 presidential campaign is its changing dynamics and how they affect political dialogue. Would a race between John McCain and Barack Obama, or John McCain and Hillary Clinton, mark a return to a more civil and less cut-throat approach to campaigning? Or is all the talk about change just this year's version of an election strategy? Also, Scotland Yard reports on the cause of death of Benazir Bhutto, and sharpen those pencils  or plug in those computers. The Hollywood writers' strike could be over this weekend. Sara Terry guest hosts.

Making News

Scotland Yard Declares Bhutto Killed by Bomb not Bullet ()

Scotland Yard announced today that Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto died as the result of a suicide blast  and not from a gunshot. But Scotland Yard's investigation of the assassination isn't likely to put the matter to rest. Bhutto's party, which wants a UN investigation, has already denounced Scotland Yard's findings. Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid is the author of Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia.

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Main Topic

The Race for President and the Politics of Change ()

With Mitt Romney out and a fresh round of primaries coming up this weekend, the race for the White House has narrowed to three people: Republican John McCain and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Will a new political dialogue emerge? Voters and candidates talk about change, but what kind of change is actually likely in the campaign ahead? Are voters inspired by messages of hope tired of the slash-and-burn style of campaigning that's marked recent elections? Will cynicism give way to civility in political discourse? How will shifting political alliances affect the way candidates shape their messages to voters?

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Reporter's Notebook

The Beginning of the End of the Writers' Strike ()

It could all be over this weekend. The writers' strike that began last November will finally end if writers approve a deal that is expected to be presented to them tomorrow. The agreement could mean that Hollywood will be back to work as early as Monday. Michael Speier is executive editor of the Hollywood trade paper, Variety.

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