On this day in 1965 Nation of Islam members assassinate Malcolm X while he addressed a crowd in New York. Also on this day President Nixon arrives in China. On to today's top stories:

"McCain Camp Vows to 'Go to War' With NYT" (Jonathan Martin and Michael Calderone, The Politico) Whatever one thinks of this NYT story, the McCain camp has two good defense tactics to use against it: 1.) The story is thinly sourced; and 2.) the NYT has not exactly upheld an unbiased standard of journalism in recent...decades. At least with this bomb, we know that the general election has certainly begun.

"A Primer for Viewing the Democratic Presidential Debate" (Katharine Seelye, New York Times) Clinton and Obama have met faced each since, in reporter Seelye's words, "their love fest in Hollywood on Jan. 31." Of course it was a different race back then, with Clinton still thinking that Super Tuesday would hand her the nomination. So what viewers didn't get in their first one-on-one matchup we might get at tonight's debate in Austin.

"Clinton Backers Launch Ads as Obama Gets Union Support" (Brody Mullins, T.W. Farnum and Josh Emshwiller, Wall Street Journal) With her campaign coffers seriously depleted, Hillary is getting some help from a 527 group that will run ads against Barack Obama in Texas and Ohio, without actually mentioning Obama. The Illinois senator, meanwhile, is busy racking up more establishment support with a fresh set of union endorsements.

"Obama Raised $36 Million" (Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press) Obama is sitting atop a war chest that is currently 10 times what Clinton has. In January alone, Obama more than doubled Clinton's fundraising -- $36 million to $14 million. Looking at the GOP, McCain raised $12 million in January.

"McCain Presses Obama on Pledge About Public Funds" (Glenn Kessler and Jonathan Weisman, Washington Post) With all that cash, it's no wonder Obama is backing off pledges to accept public financing. But at the same time McCain won't relent in pointing this flip-flop to voters. In the end, probably neither will take public financing, considering how much more money they can get from private coffers.

"Clinton's Hispanic Bedrock Develops Cracks in Texas" (Howard Witt, Chicago Tribune) A generational dividing line has formed among Hispanics in Texas: Older voters are for Clinton while the younger ones seems to gravitate toward Obama. It could be what Obama needs to end Clinton's candidacy.

"Obama Gets Front-Runner Treatment" (Nedra Pickler, Associated Press) To the victor go the superdelegate spoils. Obama's winning streak has caused a few superdelegates to defect to his side recently, but at the same time, he is now the object of attacks from both Clinton and McCain. The next two weeks will be a test of how Obama weathers the storm.

"Michelle Obama Clarifies `proud' Remark" (Associated Press) After a couple days of silence and letting the campaign and the candidate do the explaining for her, Michelle Obama finally stepped forward to tell voters what she really meant by her "proud" remarks. Turns out, "What I was clearly talking about was that I'm proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process."

"Huckabee Says It's Not Over Until Texas Says So" (Dave Levinthal, Dallas Morning News) Speaking to a crowd in Texas, Huckabee offered his first hint of when he'll exit the race.

Get today's other election stories at RCP's Politics and Election page.