How Obama Fell to Earth  —  Back in Iowa, Barack Obama promised to be something new — an unconventional leader who would confront unpleasant truths, embrace novel policies and unify the country.  If he had knocked Hillary Clinton out in New Hampshire and entered general-election mode early …

Clinton's Goal: Win Big in Pennsylvania, Sow Doubts Over Obama  —  PHILADELPHIA — With Sen. Hillary Clinton widely expected to win Pennsylvania's Democratic primary on Tuesday, most of the focus is on the margin.  Anything less than a double-digit victory could solidify the perception …

Barack Obama makes a one-fingered gesture while speaking of Hillary Clinton  —  This is one of those political moments that really needs few words.  —  We'll no doubt hear much more about this incident in coming days.  —  Right now, we'll just leave this video for Ticket readers to view and judge for themselves.

Newsmax/Zogby Poll: Clinton Edges Ahead in Pennsylvania  —  UTICA, New York - New York Democrat Hillary Clinton had a good day in the Newsmax/Zogby daily tracking poll ahead of Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, following a strong debate performance in Philadelphia Wednesday night …

Dean: I need a decision ‘now’  —  (CNN)— An increasingly firm Howard Dean told CNN again Thursday that he needs superdelegates to say who they're for - and “I need them to say who they're for starting now.”  —  “We cannot give up two or three months of active campaigning and healing time …

Joe Scarborough Walks Off MSNBC's “Race To The White House” After Exchange With Rachel Maddow  —  “Joe didn't walk off.  He chose not to participate in the final couple of minutes of the discussion because he felt the conversation didn't fit his role as a political analyst.”  —  Previously:

HMMMM  —  Remember that woman from the debate last night who the moderators showed videotape of asking whether Barack Obama “believes in the flag”?  Her name is Nash McCabe.  —  I remember thinking it was sort of odd to have a couple one-off uses of ordinary voter questions when it didn't really seem like it was part of the format.

Pentagon institute calls Iraq war ‘a major debacle’ with outcome ‘in doubt’  —  WASHINGTON — The war in Iraq has become “a major debacle” and the outcome “is in doubt” despite improvements in security from the buildup in U.S. forces, according to a highly critical study published Thursday …

Heilemann: Robert Reich to Endorse Obama  —  Secretary of Labor Robert Reich with Hillary Clinton at an education event in Washington, 1994.Photo: Corbis  —  If the Democratic presidential race were a poker game, by now you'd have to suspect that Barack Obama's campaign is dealing from the bottom …

POLL: Iraq as a Must-Win Now Rejected by 2-1  —  Record Number of Americans Say Winning in Iraq Is Not Necessary for Defeating Terrorism  —  A record number of Americans say winning the war in Iraq is not necessary for the broader U.S. campaign against terrorism to succeed …

Radical NGO Founder Riad Hamad Found Dead, Probably Murdered  —  Police: Man found in the lake was a teacher … Hamad ran the Palestine Children's Welfare Fund (PCWF), a radical Gaza-based “charity” that helped children by teaching them to hate Jews.  He sued a number of people and entities …