FIRST THOUGHTS: TWO DIFFERENT MAPS  —  From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro  —  *** Two different maps: On TODAY and Morning Joe, NBC's Tim Russert took at a stab at November's electoral map.  And this morning, we do the same, to show how different Clinton's and Obama's paths to 270 are.

Obama breaks $40 million for March  —  Yet another success of lowered expectations, and well-concealed numbers, as Obama announces his fundraising numbers for March.  —  The campaign says he raised more than $40 million from more than 442,000, more than 218,000 of whom were giving for the first time.

Barr bid could hurt McCain  —  Can a conservative former congressman who helped impeach President Clinton, is a board member of the National Rifle Association and has done contract work with the ACLU dent Sen. John McCain's presidential bid?  —  That's exactly what Mr. McCain would face if Bob Barr …

GOP 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.

Obama is Smokin'  —  Last August, I ran into Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, outside the Senate chamber in the Capitol.  —  This was before the Obama surge, before he had omnipresent Secret Service agents, back when you might see him strolling solo.  —  We chatted for a second …

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 …

Student Sues ‘Anti-Christian’ Teacher Over Remarks in Class  —  A student and his family have filed a federal lawsuit demanding that a popular European history teacher at California's Capistrano Valley High School be fired for what they say were anti-Christian remarks he made in the classroom.

When Did The Pledged Delegate Count Become The Holy Grail?  How The Obama Camp and NBC Made It So  —  It is one of the most interesting phenomenas of this campaign and the Obama camp deserves great credit for this spin achievement - the turning of the pledged delegate count into the Holy Grail of this campaign.

McCain Is AWOL On New GI Bill  —  In November 2007, Sens. Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel penned an op-ed in the New York Times advocating a reformed G.I. Bill that would provide Iraq war veterans with greater educational opportunities.  —  The idea, which was first introduced in January 2007, was at once ambitious and benign.

Carter hints at Obama backing  —  The Nigerian paper This Day reports that the former president all but came out for Obama, speaking to reporters in that country: … He was in Abuja, the paper reports, for the Carter Center awards for guinea worm eradication.

Yoo Two  —  Yesterday another of the long-withheld torture memoranda was released.  In early 2003, beginning after the Ashcroft Justice Department dispensed advice to the Central Intelligence Agency authorizing the introduction of torture techniques, Rumsfeld's lawyer, William J.

Murtha: Clinton Cannot Win Nomination Without Popular Vote  —  Hillary Clinton simply cannot be the Democratic nominee if she doesn't win the popular vote, Pennsylvania congressman and Clinton-backer John Murtha said Wednesday.  —  “Clinton has to win Pennsylvania,” he argued in an interview.

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.

Ted Turner: Global warming could lead to cannibalism  —  Billionaire environmentalist says world has too many people  —  Failure to address global warming will have us all dead or eating each other by mid-century.  —  So says Ted Turner, the restaurateur, environmentalist …

Bush Wins NATO Backing on Europe Missile Shield  —  BUCHAREST, Romania — NATO leaders agreed Thursday to endorse the United States missile defense plans for Europe and provide more troops for Afghanistan, as American officials tried to put a brave face on the alliance's refusal …

Tax returns coming  —  Clinton aide Howard Wolfson suggested that Hillary's tax returns will be out today or tomorrow:  —  “She said late last week that they would be out within a week and so you can count on that,” he said.  —  Wolfson also said Clinton's fundraising totals would be out when the filings are due, around April 20.

Muslims Leaving Islam in Droves  —  Pope Benedict's choice to publicly baptize the most prominent Muslim in Italy, Egyptian-born Magdi Allam, highlights a quiet worldwide exodus from Islam.  In recent years, millions have moved on.  With this high-profile action, Pope Benedict demonstratively blesses …