Interest groups will be heading south this week to get ready for the first debate of the 2008 presidential season. The Democrats will gather in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Thursday night and Fishwrap will be there, bringing you live coverage of where each stands on important issues.
One group, the League of Conservation Voters, already is running TV ads in South Carolina featuring actor Robert Redford urging action on climate change.
"We need to challenge all of the presidential candidates to make solving global warming a top priority," Redford says, directing viewers to "HeatIsOn.org" to see where the 2008 hopefuls stand on the issue.
"In every generation, there are a few defining moments when we have the chance to chart a new course that will leave our children a better world. Our moment is now," he says.
The ads are sponsored by the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund. LCV also is working in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada to encourage voters in those early election states to make global warming a top issue.

-- Christina Bellantoni, Capitol Hill correspondent, The Washington Times