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.

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.

BARACK'S A LOST CAUSE: HILL  —  VAIN BID TO WIN RICHARDSON'S SUPPORT  —  WASHINGTON - While lobbying for his endorsement, Hillary Rodham Clinton flatly told New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that Barack Obama could not win the presidency if he got the Democratic nomination.  —  “He cannot win, Bill.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Fast Start for Soft Money Groups in 2008 Election  —  527s Adapt to New Rules, 501(c)(4)s On the Upswing  —  Soft money groups in the 2008 election are off to a strong start.  Federally-focused 527 political organizations raised money in 2007 at a faster clip than in the comparable off year before the 2004 election.

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.