Politics | campaign trail Candidates Are Stumping Like It's November Republicans head south, Clinton west; Obama's in 3 states By Matt Cantor Posted Feb 2, 2008 4:45 PM CST Copied Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a rally in San Jose, Calif. Friday, Feb. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (Associated Press) Hopefuls from both parties are stumping today as if the election were in 3 days instead of Super Tuesday, the New York Times reports. GOP candidates are swinging through the South while Clinton heads west and Obama jumps from state to state. “This is the most consequential election in a generation,” the Illinois senator said in Boise, where he is the first candidate to campaign this year. In Nashville, John McCain told a lively crowd that he would pursue Osama bin Laden to the “gates of Hell.” Mitt Romney's camp tried to deflect concerns about his Mormonism as he attended the funeral of Mormon Church President Gordon Hinckley. With 1,681 delegates at stake for Dems and 1,023 for the GOP across more than 20 states, analysts say Super Tuesday will likely clarify both races, especially the Republicans'. Read These Next Kelly Clarkson's ex died a day after she disclosed he was ill. Two state troopers were shot in Pennsylvania Ivanka and Jared are making headlines again. JD Vance in hot water over birthday boating trip. Report an error