McCain erases Obama lead  —  WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain has erased Sen. Barack Obama's 10-point advantage in a head-to-head matchup, leaving him essentially tied with both Democratic candidates in an Associated Press-Ipsos national poll released Thursday.

Randi Rhodes Quits Air America Rather Than Apologize For Hillary Clinton “F*cking Whore” Remark; “There's Relief And Joy” At The Station  —  Update: The Huffington Post has learned that Randi Rhodes quit Air America after being asked by the network to apologize for her inflammatory remarks against Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro.

Petraeus Meets His Match  —  Senator Joseph Lieberman has become something of an agent provocateur in the semiannual Petraeus-Crocker hearings staged by the U.S. Senate.  This semester he chose to open his remarks by chastising unnamed colleagues for having a “hear no progress …

Obama: I'm not ‘getting fresh or anything’  —  (CNN) - Barack Obama appeared to have a bit of an awkward moment on the campaign trail in South Bend, Indiana.  —  From the pool report:  —  “[Obama] posed for report pictures with the staff when he apparently felt his phone start to vibrate …

29% Favor National Health Insurance Overseen by Federal Government  —  Twenty-nine percent (29%) of American adults favor a national health insurance program overseen by the Federal Government.  A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 39% oppose such a government-led initiative while 31% are not sure.

McCain on ‘View’: No Opening Ceremonies  —  Senator John McCain said today that he would not attend the opening ceremonies at the Olympics, barring significant changes in China's behavior, if he were president.  —  During an appearance on ABC's “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg asked …

David Brock, Dems plan $40M hit on McCain  —  Wealthy Democrats are preparing a four-month, $40 million media campaign centered on attacks on Senator John McCain.  And it will be led by David Brock, the former investigative reporter who first gained fame in the 1990s as a right-wing, anti-Clinton journalist.

Obama Talks All Things LGBT with The Advocate  —  In an exclusive Chicago sit-down with The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, Democratic front-runner Barack Obama discusses “don't ask, don't tell,” Rev. Wright, and what he would do for LGBT Americans if he becomes president.

McCain Gets the Boot From Project Vote Smart  —  Project Vote Smart, the nonpartisan voter-education nonprofit, confirms today that it has kicked John McCain off its board.  Mother Jones reported on Monday that PVS was prepared to make the move due to McCain's nine-month refusal to fill out its Political Courage Test.

The Blogger Mom, In Your Face  —  Lots of businesses get hate mail, but few owners react the way Heather Armstrong does.  She prints out nasty emails, puts them in her driveway and drives over them with her car.  “That's the attitude I have,” she says, “and it's made my life a thousand percent better.”

EXCLUSIVE: Powell Praises Obama, Fears Afghanistan Growing ‘More Difficult’ Than Iraq  —  General Says Next President Will Face Long Struggle, Troop Strain in Two-Front Battle  —  Retired Gen. Colin Powell insists he hasn't yet decided who he'll back in the 2008 presidential election.

Maliki Disagrees With Petraeus's ‘Pause,’ Says ‘U.S. Troops Should Be Pulled Out’  —  Gen. David Petraeus, top U.S. commander in Iraq, told Congress this week that he is recommending to President Bush that the United States “pause” the draw down of troops in Iraq this July for at least 45 days …

Obama: Elie Weisel is a piker  —  Someone at the Barack Obama campaign had better start watching the hyperbole meter when Obama gets off script.  When a questioner at a Levittown event asked Obama about his church's fascination with Louis Farrakhan, Obama offered a very strange defense.

Judge Dismisses Core of Dan Rather Suit  —  Breaking: The judge in Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS has issued a motion to dismiss most of the case.  CBS News confirms.  —  Developing...  > More: TVNewser has learned most of issues of the lawsuit have been dismissed.