New Daily News poll shows Obama closing in on Clinton  —  But pollsters say ‘bitter’ comment could still change the race  —  WITH THE Pennsylvania primary six days away, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has moved within striking distance of rival U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, according to a new Daily News/Franklin & Marshall Poll.

The Official Village Voice Election-Season Guide to the Right-Wing Blogosphere  —  Sick of political blogs?  Too bad!  The 2008 campaign is unavoidable; if you know what superdelegates are, or who said “God damn America,” you're already a victim.  Thanks to the curse of modern technology …

Iraqi Unit Flees Post, Despite American's Plea  —  BAGHDAD — A company of Iraqi soldiers abandoned their positions on Tuesday night in Sadr City, defying American soldiers who implored them to hold the line against Shiite militias.  —  The retreat left a crucial stretch of road …

President's Global Warming Surrender: “It will be very bad”  —  We're hearing some very bad things about the President's likely unconditional surrender on global warming today.  One senior source suggested that the last line of sound defense had been breached and that “It will be very bad.”

Obama's claim of independence questioned  —  WASHINGTON — The screen fills with grainy footage of sprawling 1970s gas lines.  —  “Nothing's changed,” Sen. Barack Obama says into the camera, “except now Exxon's making $40 billion a year, and we're paying $3.50 for gas. ...

Which is it?  Obamarama . . .  A Pinocchio problem?  To fib . . . or is it a faulty memory?  —  •  • To wit: Dem presidential contender Barack Obama's handlers may be telling the press Obama has NO “recollection” of a 2004 party at influence peddler Tony Rezko's Wilmette house …

Barack Obama: Democrats deserve a nominee for change  —  On Tuesday, Pennsylvanians will have the unusual luxury of voting in a Democratic presidential primary that promises to be truly relevant.  Like two opposing armies marching to a new Gettysburg, the forces of Barack Obama …

Lieberman willing to star at Republican convention  —  Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the Democratic Party's 2000 vice presidential nominee, is leaving open the possibility of giving a keynote address on behalf of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) at the Republican National Convention in September.

Snobs here, snobs there, snobs everywhere  —  We've all had fun with the Snob-ama story the past week (ARUGULA!).  The thing is, my friends (as a certain McSnob likes to say), the GOP has a snob problem, too.  When Obama derided small-town Pennsylvanians who oppose immigration enforcement …

Bush revises climate strategy  —  Aim is to shape debate while avoiding heavy costs to industry, economy  —  WASHINGTON - Revising his stance on global warming, President Bush will propose a new target for stopping the growth of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

Paying the Fiddler Over Celebration of Jefferson's Birth  —  It is just before midnight at the Jefferson Memorial, and as the celebrants dance in honor of the founding father's birthday, wind whips across the Tidal Basin and spotlights gleam off the towering bronze statue in the echoing sanctum of the monument.