And on the Democratic side...

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will deliver a keynote address in Hartford Saturday at the 50th anniv ersary celebration of the United Church of Christ. Obama apparently was invited to be a speaker at the event - a five-day affair being held at the Hartford Civic Center - before jumping into the presidential race.

It's Obama's first appearance in Connecticut since he was the keynote speaker at the Democratic JJB Dinner back last year.

Connecticut's entry in the Demmocratic presidential sweepstakes, our own Chris Dodd, will be spending this weekend in Iowa and New Hampshire.