Visiting churches and schools, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hope for a big turn out in today's first ever Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC primary.

Barack Obama told a crowd in Alexandria, Virginia, "Like your son sees someone different as president after 43 of them, the 44th, hey that guy has a funny name like me. It changes our perceptions in this country but it also changes perceptions overseas."

Hillary Clinton told a group of supporters in Bowie, Maryland that "The most important question is who can be the best President on day one. Who can go into that oval office, start solving our problems, lifting our sights."

Green party candidates will also get their chance today. Washington, DC, is the only other place were green party will hold a primary this year. Former US Representative Cynthia McKinney won in green party primaries in Arkansas and Illinois but lost to the undeclared Ralph Nader in California. Massachusetts results are still out.

Republican John McCain has announced he will opt out of public financing. Seems he's finally raising enough money to go it alone, with out any matching funds. He made this decision despite campaign finance reform a central theme of his election, not only in this Presidential race, but in his Senate runs as well.

And finally, another politico won a Hollywood award… Barack Obama won a grammy for "Best Spoken Album" for his recording of his book The Audacity of Hope.