What could be more American than eating 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes?

The lead starts right now.

From Iowa to New Hampshire to the White House lawn candidates hit parades, kiss babies,

and try to make their case face-to-face with voters with one notable exception.

Then, a burst of blast, but not fireworks.

Three more mass shootings in Texas, Indiana, and Philadelphia are the latest sites of a uniquely

American tragedy.

Plus, hidden cameras in the women's locker room expose a troubling pattern of sexism and

abuse.

In this case, it was the police behind the events, see what a CNN investigation reveals,

and meet the brave women who want answers.

Welcome to a special edition of the lead.

I'm Abby Philippine for Jake Tapper.

We start with our politics lead.

Today is Independence Day in America, but it is no holiday for the many who are hoping

to become the country's next commander-in-chief.

Republicans are all out on the campaign trail in the key battleground states of Iowa, New

Hampshire, where voters pride themselves on getting to know their candidates before

casting the first ballots in the nation.

CNN is following these candidates as they celebrate the 247th anniversary of America's

Independence.

Kangla is in Boone, Iowa, Omar Hemenas, and Merrimack, New Hampshire.

...