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No holiday for the candidates

Sure, you might be kicking up your feet this long holiday weekend, but those hoping to become the nation's next president have things to do. Kicking off the fall campaign, Republican and Democratic hopefuls troll the country in search of votes and donations. Here's what some of them were up to on Sunday:

Edwards

TIPTON, Iowa - Democrat John Edwards said his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care. "It requires that everybody be covered.

"It requires that everybody get preventive care," he told the crowd. "If you are going to be in the system, you can't choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are okay."

The former North Carolina senator said all presidential candidates talking about health care "ought to be asked one question: Does your plan cover every single American? Because if it doesn't they should be made to explain what child, what woman, what man in America is not worthy of health care."

McCain

GLADBROOK, Iowa - Republican John McCain said the United States should step up its war on drugs as part of efforts to secure the country's borders.

He said Americans are to blame for "creating the demand" for illegal drugs that come into the country and give too much power to drug cartels that terrorize border areas.

The Arizona senator also said the war on terror has diverted some efforts in the war in drugs.

At one point during the appearance, a man told McCain there was a tradition in Iowa to exchange caps. McCain handed over his navy blue Naval Academy baseball cap for the tan one proclaiming the "Central Iowa Farm Store, Marshalltown, Iowa."

Clinton

CONCORD, N.H. - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton directly challenged her rivals' claims that she is too conventional to bring needed change to Washington.

"I've learned you bring change by working in the system established by the Constitution. You can't pretend the system doesn't exist," she maintained, seeking to counter arguments by rivals Barrack Obama and John Edwards that she has been too cozy with the Washington establishment.

More forcefully than usual, the New York senator also reminded the audience that she is running to be the first female president.

"I believe that this nation can shatter the highest glass ceiling," she said.

Huckabee

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said he would make a strong Republican opponent to former Arkansas first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"Quite frankly, Americans are going to look at a contest where there's contrast. That's what I bring to the race, someone who can contrast in terms of philosophy and record, but also who's going to be able to challenge her on key fundamental issues like education and health care," Huckabee said.

He also suggested he could match Republican Fred Thompson's image as a mainstream conservative who could win votes.

Dodd

SOMERSWORTH, N.H. - Democrat Chris Dodd said the United States risks repeating the mistakes of last century's arrogance if politicians don't allow Iraqis to set their own agenda.

The Connecticut senator said it's unbelievable that U.S. leaders think edicts from Washington will make meaningful change.

"While I respect those who come up with ideas on what Iraq ought to look like, that's exactly the problem we got into back in the early 20th century when the British decided what Iraq was gonna look like," he said, referring to British forces' presence in Iraq after World War I.

[Last modified September 2, 2007, 23:25:28]