Bill Clinton gets upset with CNN reporter  —  (CNN) - Bill Clinton became visibly upset Wednesday over comments by a prominent South Carolina Democrat that compared the former president's actions on the trail to those of infamous Republican strategist Lee Atwater.

St. Pete Times Poll: Bye-bye Rudy?  —  It's Mitt Romney vs. John McCain in the final stretch of Florida's crucial Republican primary.  —  A new St. Petersburg Times poll shows the former Massachusetts governor and Arizona senator neck and neck among Florida Republicans, while Rudy Giuliani's Florida-or-bust strategy has been a bust.

John Edwards on FISA  —  John Edwards: … Well...yes.  And that includes candidates, you know, leaving the campaign trail to do their jobs.  Which Obama and Clinton can — and should — do.  South Carolina is an hour and a half plane ride away.  —  Get thee to DC and filibuster, Senators.

John Gibson Mocks ‘Weirdo’ Heath Ledger's Death: ‘He Found Out How To Quit You’  —  Opening his radio show with funeral music yesterday, Fox News host John Gibson callously mocked the death of actor Heath Ledger, calling him a “weirdo” with a “serious drug problem.”

Romney Leads in Ill Will Among G.O.P. Candidates  —  TAMPA, Fla. — At the end of the Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire this month, when the Democrats joined the candidates on stage, Mitt Romney found himself momentarily alone as his counterparts mingled, looking around a bit stiffly for a companion.

Source at Fund-Raiser: Edwards Calls McCain ‘Crazy’ and Says Hillary Thinks There's More on Rezko  —  Before John Edwards let David Letterman mess up his hair on the Late Show last night, the former Senator was at a private fund-raiser in midtown Manhattan, also attended by Kevin Bacon …

Bush budget won't fully fund Iraq war  —  The White House confirmed Wednesday that its new budget next month will not request a full year's funding for the war in Iraq, leaving the next president and Congress to confront major cost questions soon after taking office in 2009.

Advertisers Drop Savage Over Hateful Remarks, USO Hints At Suit  —  At least four major firms have pulled advertising from Michael Savage's nationally syndicated radio show following a campaign highlighting his inflammatory rhetoric.  One other company, Geico insurance, is expected to follow suit.

‘Hamas staged some of the blackouts’  —  On at least two occasions this week, Hamas staged scenes of darkness as part of its campaign to end the political and economic sanctions against the Gaza Strip, Palestinian journalists said Wednesday.  —  In the first case, journalists who were invited …

Jim Walsh to retire  —  Republican Rep. Jim Walsh of New York is expected to announce his retirement soon, according to a GOP aide familiar with the decision, giving Democrats another pick-up opportunity following a wave of Republican retirements this cycle.

RNC chairman provides numbers, strategy to defeat top Democrats  —  Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Mike Duncan believes Republicans can beat either of the two top Democrats racing for their party's nomination.  —  For Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Duncan says it comes down to trust.

Venezuelan troops seize food  —  Venezuela's top food company has accused troops of illegally seizing more than 500 tonnes of food from its trucks as part of President Hugo Chavez's campaign to stem shortages.  —  The leftist Chavez this week created a state food distributor and loosened …