National

Democrats Focus on Multi-State Elections

By Kate Nelson, Liane Hansen

Published January 31, 2004 at 9:00 PM PST

This story was published more than 21 years ago.

States that are often ignored in the process of choosing a presidential candidate rise to the fore in Democrats' efforts to secure their party's nomination. NPR's Liane Hansen speaks with Mike Jacobs, editor of The Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota; Steve Kraske of The Kansas City Star in Missouri; and Kate Nelson, managing editor of The Albuquerque Tribune in New Mexico.

National

Kate Nelson

Kate Nelson, managing editor for The Albuquerque Tribune, has covered the often-arcane world of New Mexico politics as a reporter and columnist since 1989. She also serves as host of In Focus, a weekly public-affairs program on PBS affiliates in the state. Having had about enough of politicians' style of spin, she creates her own as an indoor-cycling instructor. In what modicum of spare time she has, Kate is an avid hiker, bicyclist, gardener, open-space activist, and darned good cook.

Liane Hansen

Liane Hansen has been the host of NPR's award-winning Weekend Edition Sunday for 20 years. She brings to her position an extensive background in broadcast journalism, including work as a radio producer, reporter, and on-air host at both the local and national level. The program has covered such breaking news stories as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the deaths of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Columbia shuttle tragedy. In 2004, Liane was granted an exclusive interview with former weapons inspector David Kay prior to his report on the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The show also won the James Beard award for best radio program on food for a report on SPAM.