Gallup Daily: Obama Back Into Lead in Democratic Race  —  McCain enjoys advantage in general election trial heat  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Today's Gallup Poll Daily tracking update finds Barack Obama with an eight percentage point advantage over Hillary Clinton (50% to 42%) …

The President Americans Have Been Waiting For  —  As Hillary and Obama continue their ever more negative fight to challenge Senator John McCain for the presidency, McCain launched the first TV ad of the fall campaign.  —  The ad highlights McCain's experience, character and optimistic vision for our future:

Obama: Primary ‘A Good Movie That Lasted About A Half An Hour Too Long’  —  ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Calling it a lengthy primary season, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., offered a Pittsburgh, Pa. crowd an analogy on the Democratic primary race, saying it is like “a good movie that lasted about a half an hour too long.”

Freed Alabama Ex-Governor Sees Politics in His Case  —  MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Former Governor Don Siegelman of Alabama, released from prison today on bond in a bribery case, said he was as convinced as ever that politics played a leading role in his prosecution.

Treasury Dept. Plan Would Give Fed Wide New Power  —  WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department will propose on Monday that Congress give the Federal Reserve broad new authority to oversee financial market stability, in effect allowing it to send SWAT teams into any corner of the industry …

All the news that's Fitna  —  Geert Wilders' film is a hit - over 1.5 million views in English, over 2.5 million in Dutch last time I checked - but it's nevertheless been yanked by LiveLeak, with the following statement: … Indeed.  The Internet will keep Fitna alive in odd corners hither and yon …

GOP ACHILLES HEEL  —  HOW REPUBLICANS LOST WEST  —  CHEERED as Republicans may be by the Clinton-Obama wars, the fact is that long-term trends still favor the Democrats this fall.  To see the problem, consider the interior West - the eight states between the Midwest and the Pacific Coast …

NAA Reveals Biggest Ad Revenue Plunge in More Than 50 Years  —  NEW YORK The newspaper industry has experienced the worst drop in advertising revenue in more than 50 years.  —  According to new data released by the Newspaper Association of America, total print advertising revenue …

Bush aide resigns  —  White House cites improper use of grant money  —  WASHINGTON - An aide to President Bush has resigned because of his alleged misuse of grant money from the U.S. Agency for International Development when he worked for a Cuban democracy organization.

Analysis: Iraqis' Basra fight not going well  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Iraqi military push into the southern city of Basra is not going as well as American officials had hoped, despite President Bush's high praise for the operation, several U.S. officials said Friday.

Wash. Post claimed McCain “most aggressive” of the three major candidates in “identifying ways to reduce spending,” ignoring cost of Iraq policy  —  A March 28 Washington Post article, headlined “As Candidates Warm to Bush Tax Cuts, Economists Warn of Long-Term Effects,” claimed that “[o] …

DUKE LOWERS THE BAR AGAIN  —  Many of you probably know that 38 members of the 2006 Duke lacrosse team have filed a civil suit against Duke University, its president Richard Brodhead (yes, he's still Duke's president), the city of Durham, and others associated with the outrageous behavior directed …

Don't Listen to Senator Leahy  —  Senator Clinton:  —  Just read where Senator Patrick Leahy is calling on you to drop out of the Presidential race.  —  Believe me.  —  I know something about this.  —  Here's my advice:  —  Don't listen to people when they tell you not to run anymore.

Like McCain Needs A Bicycle  —  It occurred to me while reading this Linda Douglass interview with McCain strategist Mark McKinnon how much McCain's fortunes are tied to momentum.  I know this metaphor's pretty cliched, but his campaign really is like riding a bicycle: It's fine as long …

Vice President Casey?  —  Three more quick thoughts about Casey:  —  1.)  Is it just me, or are there crazier vice presidential picks than Bob Casey?  He may not be a star in the Senate, as Eve points out.  But he's popular with the people Obama is weakest among, and who …