Is Obama Ready for Prime Time?  —  After being pummeled 55% to 45% in the Pennsylvania primary, Barack Obama was at a loss for explanations.  The best he could do was to compliment his supporters in an email saying, “you helped close the gap to a slimmer margin than most thought possible.”

Obama's Real Bill Ayers Problem  —  Barack Obama complains that he's been unfairly attacked for a casual political and social relationship with his neighbor, former Weatherman Bill Ayers.  Obama has a point.  In the ultraliberal Hyde Park community where the presidential candidate first earned …

Hillary's Political Purgatory  —  CLINTON HAS SPENT WEEKS IN A HORRIBLE SITUATION.  EVEN IN VICTORY, SHE ISN'T GETTING ANY CLOSER TO WINNING THE NOMINATION.  —  Sat.  —  The good news for Hillary Rodham Clinton is that she's winning a lot of battles.  The bad news is that the war is pretty much lost.

N. Koreans Taped At Syrian Reactor  —  A video taken inside a secret Syrian facility last summer convinced the Israeli government and the Bush administration that North Korea was helping to construct a reactor similar to one that produces plutonium for North Korea's nuclear arsenal …

Gap opens between Al Qaeda and allies  —  A backlash builds over the network's tactics, including suicide attacks.  Its leaders try to defuse the anger.  —  WASHINGTON — Al Qaeda increasingly faces sharp criticism from once-loyal sympathizers who openly question its ideology and tactics …

Showing the Obama-Clinton Divide in Decision Tree Infographic  —  Amanda Cox, of The New York Times, made another excellent graphic (and I wouldn't expect anything less).  We see an entire story between Obama and Clinton - positions taken, counties won, and counties lost.  Go ahead and take a look.

For Indiana Voters, Talk of Change May Fall Flat  —  KOKOMO, Ind. — With all the talk among the Democratic presidential hopefuls about change, they may wish to consider this as they wander Indiana: People here practically revolted a few years ago when their governor, Mitch Daniels …

Obama, Clinton Split Over McCain Plan For Gas-Tax Holiday  —  In a new policy split in the presidential campaign, Barack Obama opposed a federal gas-tax holiday supported by John McCain, the likely Republican nominee.  Hillary Clinton said she would be open to the tax break.

Better Roses Than Cocaine  —  For seven years, Democrats have rightfully complained that President Bush has gratuitously antagonized the world, exasperating our allies and eroding America's standing and influence.  —  But now the Democrats are doing the same thing on trade.

From '68 agitator to staunch supporter of George W Bush's Iraq war—what explains Hitchens's political journey?  I spent three days with him in Washington trying to find out  —  For most of his 40-year career, Christopher Hitchens's notoriety has been confined to highbrow journalistic, literary and political circles.

Dems hedge on healthcare  —  Congressional Democrats are backing away from healthcare reform promises made by their two presidential candidates, saying that even if their party controls the White House and Congress, sweeping change will be difficult.  —  It is still seven months before Election Day …

Iraqi oil windfall keeps growing  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — New data on Iraq oil revenues suggests that country's government will reap an even larger than expected windfall this year — as much as $70 billion — according to the special U.S. auditor for Iraq.  —  The previously undisclosed information …