Jane Fonda endorses Barack Obama; there goes his crossover vote  —  Jane Fonda, the actress and ardent anti-Vietnam War advocate who visited North Vietnam during those hostilities, has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president.  —  There were no formal ceremonies for the endorsement.

U.S. Cites Gaps in Planning of Iraqi Assault on Basra  —  BAGHDAD — Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker first learned of the Iraqi plan on Friday, March 21: Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki would be heading to Basra with Iraqi troops to bring order to the city.  —  But the Iraqi operation was not what the United States expected.

Obama Has Testy Exchange In Philadelphia  —  From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:  —  WALLINGFORD, PA. — Barack Obama's six-day bus tour has been chock-full of local stops through out the state, where he has had personal interactions with voters.  However, during a stop at the Italian Market in Philadelphia …

Obama's Dimestore ‘Mein Kampf’  —  If characters from “The Hills” were to emote about race, I imagine it would sound like B. Hussein Obama's autobiography, “Dreams From My Father.”  —  Has anybody read this book?  Inasmuch as the book reveals Obama to be a flabbergasting lunatic …

McCain Spoofs Clinton in New Ad  —  Laura Meckler reports from Jacksonville, Fla., on the presidential race.  —  The McCain campaign plans to begin airing a new ad on national cable TV starting Thursday, aides said tonight.  The spot, which attacks Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the economy …

DNC convention stance surprises campaigns  —  The Democratic National Committee said Tuesday that Florida and Michigan members will be seated on the three standing committees — including the critical Credentials Committee—at the party's 2008 national convention, a position that could affect the selection of the Democratic nominee.

Absolut-ly Insulting  —  If any of y'all drink Absolut vodka, you might want to consider finding a better brand.  Or at the very least, one that doesn't dabble in foreign policy:

ROB CHRISTENSEN, Staff Writer  —  RALEIGH - The campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are treating North Carolina as though the presidency depends on it.  —  In recent days, the campaigns began assembling ground operations that instantaneously dwarfed the efforts of candidates for governor …

For McCain, son's duty in Iraq is not a talking point  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) regularly talks about his military experience on the presidential campaign trail, but he draws the line when asked about his sons' service in the armed forces.  —  Jimmy McCain, 19, who returned from Iraq in mid-February …

GOP Rep. Darrell Issa under fire from everywhere after 9/11 comments  —  WASHINGTON - The California congressman who called the Sept. 11 attacks “simply” a plane crash ran for cover Wednesday under a barrage of ridicule from fellow Republicans, first responders and victims' families.

Beer executive could be next first lady  —  WASHINGTON - On a spring day at a speedway in the South, John McCain posed with his wife, Cindy, and racing star Dale Earnhardt Jr., highlighting the couple's political and business interests in a single snapshot.  —  McCain served as honorary starter …

Joe Lieberman Attacks Barack Obama On Fox News (Video)  —  There's nothing quite like seeing it live:  —  LIEBERMAN: Well, I think that - let me say generally that Sen. Obama doesn't come to this debate with a lot of credibility.  Basically on the question of Iraq, John McCain has had the guts …

McCain and the Model  —  Elizabeth Holmes reports on the presidential race.  —  So many stories, so little time.  —  Sen. John McCain spoke Wednesday morning at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., the third day of his weeklong tour.  True to form, Washington Wire is here to provide inquiring minds …

In Terms of Geography, Obama Appeals to Academics and Clinton Appeals to Jacksonians  —  In reviewing the maps of the Democratic primary results, in Dave Leip's electoral atlas, I was struck by the narrow geographic base of Barack Obama's candidacy.  In state after state …

McCain the ‘Punk’ Goes Back to School  —  Once ‘McNasty’, Presumed Republican Nominee Praises Teacher's Influence  —  John McCain is a punk.  At least that's what the editors of his high school yearbook thought.  —  “It was a fateful three years ago that the “Punk” first crossed the threshold …