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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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:

Clinton: Obama's 'walk away" mentality  —  PHILADELPHIA —The fallout over Wednesday's debate in Philadelphia continued this morning as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton suggested to a local TV newscast that Sen. Barack Obama's complaints about his questioning at the event displayed a “walk away” mentality “when the going gets tough.”

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 …

Clinging to a Stereotype  —  Will Barack Obama's now famous “bitter” quote turn out to have been a big deal politically?  Frankly, I have no idea.  —  But here's a different question: was Mr. Obama right?  —  Mr. Obama's comments combined assertions about economics, sociology and voting behavior.

GOP Doom  —  Here's Ben Schneider's lead from yesterday's Congress Daily: … You know things are bad when your political party won't even pretend it's possible that they'll pick up seats months ahead of an election.  Back in January 2007, the congressional Republicans reached the conclusion …