GOP sees Rev. Wright as pathway to victory  —  For months, Republican party officials have watched with increasing trepidation as Barack Obama has shattered fundraising records, packed arena after arena with shrieking fans and pulled in significant Republican and independent votes.

McCain Missteps on Iraq; Democrats Pounce  —  JERUSALEM — Senator John McCain's trip overseas was supposed to highlight his foreign policy acumen, and his supporters hoped that it would showcase him in a series of statesmanlike meetings with world leaders throughout the Middle East and Europe …

Questions About Obama  —  For the first time in two months, Democrats who had concluded that Barack Obama had sewn up the nomination, Democrats who support Barack Obama, Democrats who had concluded, as I had, that the mathematics work against Hillary Clinton, are filling my inbox and voice mail …

Bearing Arms ... Against Bears  —  JUSTICE KENNEDY THINKS D.C. RESIDENTS NEED PROTECTION—FROM GRIZZLIES.  —  With all due respect to those who complain that the justices on the Supreme Court are too secretive, and for those who wish, perhaps, that David Souter was more like David …

Volcker: Fed's ‘Extreme’ Intervention ‘Raises Some Real Questions’  —  Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker said the Fed's decision to lend money to Bear Stearns Cos. to keep it from collapsing is unprecedented and “raises some real questions” about whether that's the appropriate role for the Fed.

John Murtha Endorses Hillary Clinton  —  LANCASTER, Pa. — Rep. John P. Murtha has announced his endorsement of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, bringing his clout as a 17-term member of the House and a prominent anti-war Democrat to bear with more than a month until the primary here in his home state.

Estimates of Iraq War Cost Were Not Close to Ballpark  —  WASHINGTON — At the outset of the Iraq war, the Bush administration predicted that it would cost $50 billion to $60 billion to oust Saddam Hussein, restore order and install a new government.  —  Five years in, the Pentagon tags …

PATERSON GAL'S TAPE SHOCKER  —  OLYMPICS BABE BARES RECORDING & JOB ‘HE GOT ME’  —  An attractive Olympic gold-medalist says she had a close personal relationship with Gov. Paterson earlier this year - during which time she recorded a series of secret telephone conversations with him.

Sharpton supporting Barack - silently  —  The Rev. Al Sharpton is backing Barack Obama, but he's made the strategic decision to keep his support quiet.  —  That's the message Sharpton delivered to his flock last Saturday as he boasted of talking to Obama “two or three times a week” …

Paul slighted by the ‘neoconservative’ GOP  —  Ron Paul says the legions of newcomers his presidential campaign brought to the Republican Party are getting the cold shoulder from John McCain and from the party.  —  The Texas congressman says neither he nor his supporters have heard …

Obama's lead over Clinton narrows: Reuters poll  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama's big national lead over Hillary Clinton has all but evaporated in the U.S. presidential race, and both Democrats trail Republican John McCain, according a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Calls Mount for Olympic Ceremony Boycott  —  PARIS (AP) - Moves to punish China over its handling of violence in Tibet gained momentum Tuesday, with a novel suggestion for a mini-boycott of the Beijing Olympics by VIPs at the opening ceremony.  —  Such a protest by world leaders …