memeorandum: Clinton rules out leaving race early (Associated Press)

1:10 PM ET, March 29, 2008

Top Items:

Endorsement of Obama Points Up Clinton's Obstacles — The surprise endorsement of Senator Barack Obama by a popular senator in a battleground state on Friday underlined the ferment in the Democratic nominating race and the serious obstacles facing Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as she tries to rescue her candidacy.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, The New Republic, American Street, The Caucus, Washington Post, Booman Tribune, The Sleuth, Political Radar, marbury and Prairie Weather

Michael James / Political Punch:

Howard Dean 2004: The Medals Matter — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., launches a biography tour next week, which looks to tell the American people about his days as a POW in Vietnam, at least based on his new TV ad (watch HERE) introduced today in New Mexico. — In response, Democratic National …

Discussion: Wake up America, Outside The Beltway, Hot Air, QandO, Jules Crittenden, Tammy Bruce, Political Radar and The American Mind

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
McCain seeks his share of the spotlight

Discussion: New York Times, Los Angeles Times and BLOGS FOR JOHN McCAIN

Associated Press:
Clinton rules out leaving race early

Discussion: Taylor Marsh and MyDD

James Carville / Washington Post:

Disloyalty That Merits An Insult — Last Friday the New York Times asked me to comment on New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president. For 15 years, Richardson served with no small measure of distinction as the representative of New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District.

Discussion: Buck Naked Politics

John Heilemann / New York Magazine:

Who'll Stop the Pain? — Gore and Edwards may have the most party clout. But there's only one person Hillary will finally listen to. Her name isn't Bill. — In the days after John Edwards's withdrawal from the Democratic race, the political world expected his endorsement of Barack Obama would be forthcoming tout de suite.

Discussion: Swampland and The Current

Jonathan Alter / Newsweek:

Hillary's Consolation Prize? — Some Dems float the New York Statehouse as an option. — Some Democrats terrified that their bloody primary campaign will doom them in November are floating a consolation prize for Hillary Clinton: governor of New York. — The travails of New York …

Discussion: Spin Cycle, No More Mister Nice Blog, Hot Air and Don Surber

Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice:

Some Democrats Want New York Governorship As Hillary Clinton “Consolation Prize” — Newsweek's Jonathan Alter reports that some Democrats seek to dangle the New York state governorship in front of Senator Hillary Clinton as a consolation prize in the hopes that she won't battle front-runner Barack Obama all the way to the convention:

Discussion: Hot Air and Democracy in America

Dennis Overbye / New York Times:

Asking a Judge to Save the World, and Maybe a Whole Lot More — More fighting in Iraq. Somalia in chaos. People in this country can't afford their mortgages and in some places now they can't even afford rice. — None of this nor the rest of the grimness on the front page today will matter a bit …

Discussion: The Sundries Shack, Lawyers, Guns and Money and Althouse

James Poniewozik / Time:

Fox on the Run — On super Tuesday, Bush's former brain, Karl Rove, debuted on Fox News Channel as a political analyst. Genteel, wry and armed with terabytes of political minutiae, he won critical raves. ("One of the best things in television news right now," said the New York Times …

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Crooks and Liars and WTF Is It Now?!?

Victor Davis Hanson / The Corner:

The Chickens of Identity Politics Come Home to Roost? — Watching the parade of apologists for Rev. Wright's hatred—"garlic noses"; “KKK of A;” “God Damn America;” “Condamnesia;” the U.S. deserved 9/11; America is no different from al-Qaeda; we caused the AIDs virus; Israel is a “dirty word” …

Discussion: American Power and Fausta's blog

Lisa Lerer / The Politico:

McCain guru linked to subprime crisis — The general co-chairman of John McCain's presidential campaign, former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), led the charge in 1999 to repeal a Depression-era banking regulation law that Democrat Barack Obama claimed on Thursday contributed significantly to today's economic turmoil.

Discussion: Matthew Yglesias, The Carpetbagger Report, Angry Bear and Macsmind

Juan Cole / Informed Comment:

Police Mutiny, Refuse to attack Sadrists; Clashes continue in Basra; Sadrists open New fronts throughout Shiite South — Police Mutiny, Refuse to attack Sadrists; — Clashes continue in Basra; — Sadrists open New fronts throughout Shiite South — Mahdi Army Militiamen, courtesy Al-Zaman of Baghdad.

Discussion: missing links and Angry Bear

Barbara Starr / CNN:
Analysis: Iraqis' Basra fight not going well

Discussion: Redstate, The Newshoggers, ParaPundit, PoliBlog (TM) and Vodkapundit

Nikki Finke / Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily:

‘21’ Holds Winning Hand At Box Office; ‘Superhero’ Is Superflop; ‘Stop-Loss’ DOA — SATURDAY AM: Friday's domestic gross showed that Hollywood can't boost the slumping box office this spring break even though 30% of students are out of school. No. 1 is Sony Pictures's based-on-a-true-story 21 …

Discussion: The Jawa Report, Little Green Footballs and Forum: News/Activism

Wall Street Journal:

At the Barricades In the Gender Wars — Clinton's women supporters fear her bid has unleashed a sexist backlash — Valerie Benjamin, a human-resources manager for a consulting firm here, was driving to work recently in her red minivan with a Hillary bumper sticker when a man pulled up alongside and rolled down his window.

Discussion: Gawker