Stephanopoulos defends debate performance: ‘We asked tough but appropriate questions’  —  Despite criticism, ABC's George Stephanopoulos defended his performance in last night's Democratic debate, which he co-moderated with Charles Gibson.  —  “We asked tough but appropriate questions,” Stephanopoulos told me by phone this afternoon.

No Whining About the Media  —  Three quick points on the Democratic debate last night:  —  First, Democrats, and especially Obama supporters, are going to jump all over ABC for the choice of topics: too many gaffe questions, not enough policy questions.  —  I understand the complaints, but I thought the questions were excellent.

For senior, abortion a medium for art, political discourse  —  Art major Aliza Shvarts '08 wants to make a statement.  —  Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself …

Newsmax/Zogby Poll: Deadlocked in Pennsylvania!  —  UTICA, New York—With just five days left before Democratic primary voters go to polls to decide who they want to be their presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are locked in a battle that is too close to call …

Democrats Pushing Obama, Clinton Toward Populism, Protectionism  —  Protectionist and populist sentiments run strong among Democrats in three states holding presidential primaries, showing why the campaigns of candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are moving in those directions.

Democratic Operative Takes on McCain's Age  —  Despite a recent promise from Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean not to make Sen. John McCain's age — he turns 72 in August — an issue in the presidential campaign, a senior Democratic operative has started a new website designed to draw attention to just that fact.

Another Notable Debate Freak-Out [Dan Collins; UPDATED, with verified Jeff G sighting]  —  At the HuffPo, Jeffrey Feldman entitles his bad acid diary entry, “Et Tu, ABC?”  —  This casts Obama as Julius Caesar, and ABC as Brutus, which is psychologically interesting in and of itself …

Congress May Seek Criminal Probe of Altered Earmark  —  The Senate moved yesterday toward asking the Justice Department for a criminal investigation of a $10 million legislative earmark whose provisions were mysteriously altered after Congress gave final approval to a huge 2005 highway funding bill.