If McCain vs. Obama, 28% of Clinton Backers Go for McCain  —  If McCain vs. Clinton, 19% of Obama backers go for McCain  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination.

Iraqi Crackdown on Shiite Forces Sets Off Fighting  —  BAGHDAD — Heavy fighting broke out Tuesday in two of Iraq's largest cities, as Iraqi ground forces and helicopters mounted a huge operation to break the grip of the Shiite militias controlling Basra, and Iraqi forces clashed with militias in Baghdad.

Hell Has Officially Frozen Over  —  It caught my eye as a flash on Brit Hume a few moments ago, but here is a photo from Hillary Clinton's visit today to the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  In this picture, she is seen talking to none other than Richard Mellon Scaife …

The Maverick and the Media  —  Amagansett, N.Y.  —  IT is certainly no secret that Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is a darling of the news media.  Reporters routinely attach “maverick,” “straight talker” and “patriot” to him like Homeric epithets.

Southern Dem warns party to avert disaster  —  Democrats are increasingly nervous about their party's protracted nomination fight, and some prominent figures are publicly warning that the party needs to act fast to avoid disaster.  —  Chief among these voices is Phil Bredesen …

McCain Asks When Hillary Clinton Will Apologize to Gen. Petraeus - Video  —  Here is Sen. John McCain on March 24, 2008 asking when Sen. Hillary Clinton will apologize to Gen. David Petraeus for her remarks last year ridiculing the idea that “The Surge” strategy in Iraq was working.

Exclusive: Clinton Vows to Push On  —  Hillary Clinton is under a lot of pressure these days, but in a Tuesday interview she seemed cheery, confident and unapologetic as she talked about her determination to fight on in the Presidential race.  Speaking by phone from Pennsylvania …

Jarheads  —  In light of Tuzla-gate (catchy, no?), reporters are going over past statements by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, (and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois) to see if others don't stand more rigorous examination.  —  One that may get renewed scrutiny is a story she told “Women in Military Service” …

Chavez: Anyone but McCain  —  Hugo Chavez has made sure Americans understand his preferences for the upcoming presidential election.  He says he could work with the US — but only if we do not elect John McCain as President: … Thank goodness Chavez shared his thoughts with us on McCain.

IT'S NOT ABOUT POINTS.  —  James Fallows is a bit agog that the Clinton team would disseminate articles from The American Spectator — the same Spectator that spent the 90s conducting a fact-free witch hunt against the Clintons — to harm Obama.  In contrast, I'm much more surprised to see Clinton make a frontal attack on Wright.

Heroes Of Our Day.  Of Our Time, Really  —  Today is National Medal of Honor Day.  In a letter to his local newspaper, Medal of Honor holder Michael Thornton reminds us of the qualities of such men: … Every one of these men is amazing, and we spend too little time thinking about their stories …

Why The Obama/Clinton Rules Led Us To This Rough Campaign  —  When the Media and the Left blogs deplore the negativity of the Democratic presidential campaign, especially from the Clinton campaign, they ignore that they are a major reason why it has happened.  Why?