Obama's Gloves Are Off — And May Need to Stay Off  —  Unable once again to score a knockout, Sen. Barack Obama is likely to make his new negative tone even more negative — with a sharp eye on trying to end the Democratic presidential nomination fight after the May 6 primaries in Indiana and North Carolina.

RNC CALLS WRIGHT AD ‘NOT APPROPRIATE’  —  From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann  —  Update to NC Gop anti-Obama ad that references the Rev. Jeremiah Wright...  Per the RNC, the national leadership of the Republican Party has been in contact this morning with the North Carolina GOP, urging them to refrain from running the “Extreme” ad.

In Oklahoma: Henry backs Obama  —  Gov. Brad Henry, who said earlier he would not endorse a Democratic presidential candidate until this summer's national convention, announced this morning he is supporting Barack Obama.  —  The endorsement means Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois …

The Next McGovern?  —  Obama may still get the nomination, but his loss tonight deals a harsh blow to his electibility arguments.  —  Hillary Clinton won a decisive ten-round decision over Barack Obama in Pennsylvania's Democratic primary, but she didn't score a knockout.  The struggle continues.

Terrorist Fundraisers for Obama  —  Two years ago, Hatem El-Hady was the chairman of the Toledo, Ohio-based Islamic charity, Kindhearts, which was closed by the US government in February 2006 for terrorist fundraising and all its assets frozen.  Today, El-Hady has redirected his fundraising efforts …

Press Briefing by Dana Perino  —  MS. PERINO: Hello.  Three announcements for you, and then I'll go to questions.  Today, as you saw, with the concurrence of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary Gates has recommended, and the President has approved and will nominate …

Hagee Says Hurricane Katrina Struck New Orleans Because It Was ‘Planning A Sinful’ ‘Homosexual Rally’  —  On September 18, 2006, Pastor John Hagee — whose endorsement Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said this past Sunday he was “glad to have” — told NPR's Terry Gross that “Hurricane Katrina was …

‘Basic Instinct’ Director Paul Verhoeven: Jesus Was Son of Mary and a Roman Rapist  —  In his upcoming biography of Jesus, “Basic Instinct” director Paul Verhoeven will make the shocking claim that Christ probably was the son of Mary and a Roman soldier who raped her during the Jewish uprising in Galilee …

Inmate Count in U.S. Dwarfs Other Nations'  —  The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's population.  But it has almost a quarter of the world's prisoners.  —  Indeed, the United States leads the world in producing prisoners, a reflection of a relatively recent …

Bill: Stop selling Playboy, Penthouse on base  —  Concerned that the military is selling pornography in exchange stores in spite of a ban, one lawmaker has introduced a bill to clean up the matter.  —  “Our troops should not see their honor sullied so that the moguls behind magazines …

$100 fill-ups arrive at gas pumps  —  COALINGA, California (CNN) — Noel Bosse and Ken Davis watch as the numbers keep spinning at the gas pump — 70 bucks, 80 bucks.  Gulp, guzzle, then it stops: $101 for about 25 gallons.  —  The $100 fill-up has arrived in the United States.

BAD ADVICE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES  —  The New York Times joins the growing chorus of left-wing commentators who want to see Hillary Clinton bow out of the presidential campaign.  Parroting Keith Olbermann and other stalwarts of the infantile left, the Times, which endorsed Clinton, writes:

IS THE PRIMARY GOOD FOR THE DEMOCRATS?  —  Ross, responding to Jay Cost's argument that the primary has been good for Democrats, says: … Agreed.  I've yet to hear a plausible scenario in which Clinton wins the superdelegates.  Just about every serious path to the presidency requires Obama …