Clinton losing traction over Obama in Pennsylvania, Indiana  —  Her formerly double-digit lead is now just a five-point margin in Pennsylvania, survey finds.  The reduced margin makes a win for her there less significant.  She trails Obama among Hoosiers.  —  WASHINGTON — With three …

What Obama Really Got Wrong  —  Timothy Noah, surveying the literature on the white working class and its voting behavior in the wake of Obama's San Francisco fiasco, tiptoes close to an important point about the roots of culture-war politics but doesn't quite get there.

Pope Should Start “Spiritual Renewal” with Bisexual God  —  On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI asked the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray that his first visit to the United States as pontiff this week would “be a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans.”

Bill Clinton: Older voters too savvy to fall for Obama  —  QUAKERTOWN, Pa. — Older voters gravitate to Hillary Clinton because they're too wise to be fooled by Barack Obama's rhetoric, former president Bill Clinton told Pennsylvania voters today.  —  Clinton's comments …

Senate Democrats Can't Count, And They Think You Smell Funny  —  Thanks to the amazing skill Barack Obama has shown this week of how easily he can stick his foot in his mouth while trying to speak off the cuff, the country continues to focus on who is or is not bitter, and whether guns …

Return of the pin  —  As a reader noticed, Obama was sporting the much-debated flag pin for his speech to veterans today.  —  UPDATE: The pin was given to Obama by a disabled vet at the event.

Accommodations  —  McDonald's fails to accommodate employee unable to wash hands  —  In Canada, human rights legislation provides that employers have a duty to accommodate disabled workers unless such accommodation would cause “undue hardship” on the employer.

Fox anchor son asked “hitting the sauce” question  —  GOP p.r. guy/proud Villanova grad Jonathan Grella has a great catch from Hardball at his alma mater: the kid who asked the smart aleck question I referenced below about Hillary “hitting the sauce” is the son of Fox anchor Steve Doocy.

Remarks By John McCain On The Economy  —  ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver the following remarks as prepared for delivery at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, today at 9:45 a.m. EDT:  —  Thank you.  I appreciate the hospitality of the Allegheny Business Conference …

Montana Pol: Clinton Endorsement Preceded Obama ‘Cling’ Flap  —  Just when did Montana politico Bill Kennedy decide to endorse Hillary Clinton?  —  The Clinton campaign has suggested the Yellowstone County commissioner picked Clinton only after he heard Barack Obama's now famous “bitter” comments.

Cling V. Bitter, Elitist V. Snob  —  I agree with Rich entirely.  I don't mind him saying that small town blue collar workers are bitter over lost jobs.  I think that's objectively true in some cases and perfectly defensible as a general statement.  The offending word here is “cling.”

Abolish All ‘Taxes’  —  THE word “tax” was never pretty.  But it has lately become the ugliest word in the English language, right up there with its evil twin, “death.”  Even in time of war, ostensibly patriotic politicians blithely pledge to slay any tax that rears its ghastly head.

McCain Proposes Special Summer Tax Break for Exxon  —  That is what the headlines on Senator McCain's proposal to remove the gas tax for the summer driving season should have read, since that would be the predicted effect of his plan.  —  According to the oil industry …

GOV IS PLAIN CHEAP  —  270G COUPLE DONATES JUST $150 - IN OLD CLOTHES  —  ALBANY - Gov. Paterson and his wife last year gave a shockingly low $150 to charity, despite a combined income of nearly $270,000, the couple's income-tax filings show.  —  The $150 went to the Salvation Army in the form of used clothing, a Paterson aide said.