Inside US poll battle as fight turns dirty for Democrats  —  HILLARY Clinton has been branded a “monster” by one of Barack Obama's top advisers, as the gloves come off in the race to win the Democrat nomination.  —  In recent TV appearances Mrs Clinton had looked desperate and on the back foot.

Housing, Bank Troubles Deepen  —  Foreclosures Reach  —  A New Record;  —  Home Equity Falls  —  Two crucial barometers of the nation's housing market have worsened markedly in recent months, ratcheting up pressure on policy makers in Washington for action to stem the growing housing crisis …

Archivists block release of Clinton papers  —  LITTLE ROCK — Federal archivists at the Clinton Presidential Library are blocking the release of hundreds of pages of White House papers on pardons that the former president approved, including clemency for fugitive commodities trader Marc Rich.

Row over military uniforms in public  —  Plans to urge soldiers, sailors and airmen to wear their uniforms in public were in disarray last night after RAF personnel were ordered to dress in civilian clothes while off-duty because of persistent threats and abuse.

Desperation and the Puerto Rico primary  —  It's a sign of the strange times we live that this question is being asked at all:  —  Will Puerto Rico decide everything?  —  Strange because of a number of things:  —  a.  Puerto Rico has only 8 superdelegates and 55 delegates.  —  b.

Party Donations Show G.O.P. Edge  —  WASHINGTON — For all the success that Democratic presidential candidates have had in raising money — taking in a combined total of over $500 million in the current race — the Republicans are beating them in one crucial area of fund-raising: the money being raised by the parties themselves.

On the Red Phone  —  Here's an idea for an Obama ad: a montage of Clinton's Sybillish personalities that have surfaced during the campaign with a solemn voiceover at the end saying, “Does anyone want this nut answering the phone?”  —  How is it that she became the one who's perceived …

Ron Paul Moves on From Presidential Campaign  —  ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: “Elections are short-term efforts,” Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, told supporters in a Web video tonight.  “Revolutions are long-term projects.”  —  Paul indicated that the 2008 presidential campaign portion of his revolution is over.

Playing by Clinton Rules  —  Barack Obama had a theory.  It was that the voters are tired of the partisan paralysis of the past 20 years.  The theory was that if Obama could inspire a grass-roots movement with a new kind of leadership, he could ride it to the White House and end gridlock in Washington.

The Great Non Sequitur  —  WASHINGTON — She threw the kitchen sink at him.  Accused Barack Obama of plagiarism.  Mocked his eloquence.  Questioned his truthfulness about NAFTA.  —  Wasn't enough.  Hillary Clinton still faced extinction in Ohio and Texas.  So what do you do when you have thrown the kitchen sink?

House Members receive letters, photo of NY recruiting station sent before bombing  —  A number of House members were mailed a letter and photo of a Times Square recruiting station in Manhattan before it was bombed on Thursday morning, according to House insiders and law-enforcement officials.

Special report: Tracing the Left's escalating war on military recruiters  —  Ideas have consequences.  Inaction has consequences.  For the past several years, I've chronicled the Left's escalating war on military recruiters-and the apathetic, weak-kneed response to it.

Poll: Michigan's Walberg may have reelection struggle  —  WASHINGTON — A new survey shows that a first-term Republican congressman from southern Michigan may have a reelection fight on his hands.  —  A survey of 7th Congressional District voters conducted by Detroit News/WXYZ-Action News …

Officials Lean Toward Keeping Next Iraq Assessment Secret  —  A new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq is scheduled to be completed this month, according to U.S. intelligence officials.  But leaders of the intelligence community have not decided whether to make its key judgments public …