memeorandum: READING FIRST COMES IN LAST. — Sadly, the massive “Reading First” … (Ezra Klein/American Prospect)

5:45 PM ET, May 1, 2008

Top Items:

Gallup Daily: Clinton 49%, Obama 45% — McCain leads Obama in general election; McCain and Clinton tied — PRINCETON, NJ — Hillary Clinton has edged ahead of Barack Obama, 49% to 45%, in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update. — The four percentage point Clinton advantage …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, NO QUARTER, TPM Election Central, The Campaign Spot and The Strata-Sphere

Nedra Pickler / Associated Press:

AP NewsBreak: Former Democratic leader switches to Obama — WASHINGTON - A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton switched his allegiance to Barack Obama on Thursday and urged fellow Democrats to end the bruising nomination fight. — “This has got to come to an end,” …

The Politico:

What Obama wishes he could say — Thrown off his game by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright uproar, Barack Obama's strongest answer to Hillary Rodham Clinton is one he won't give: Senator, do you really want to get in a contest with me over who has more unsavory personal associations?

Discussion: Cliff Schecter … and The Campaign Spot

Joseph J. Andrew / The Huffington Post:

On My Switch From Clinton to Obama — I have been inspired. — Today I am announcing my support for Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. I am changing my support from Senator Clinton to Senator Obama, and calling for my fellow Democrats across my home State of Indiana …

Discussion: TalkLeft, Taylor Marsh, Roger L. Simon and Washington Wire

Rasmussen Reports:

Indiana Democratic Primary — Indiana: Clinton 46% Obama 41% — Senator Hillary Clinton leads Senator Barack Obama by five percentage points in the Indiana Democratic Presidential Primary. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the state finds Clinton attracting 46% of the vote while Obama earns 41%.

Discussion: Hot Air, MyDD, Agence France Presse, Tennessee Guerilla Women and Buck Naked Politics

Lynn Sweet:

Obama picks up 3 more Illinois superdelegates: Daley, Currie and Stroger. — WASHINGTON—When the Democratic Party of Illinois meet next week to finish filling out the delegate slate, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will pick up three more superdelegates, according to Steve Brown …

Discussion: The Jed Report, The Page, Ben Smith's Blogs, The Reaction, No More Mister Nice Blog, Donklephant, Marc Ambinder, The Washington Independent and AMERICAblog

WRAL-TV:
Poll: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama in tight race for N.C. votes

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
A pre-emptive strike from Andrew

Discussion: Liberal Values, TownHall Blog and Macsmind

Associated Press:

‘D.C. Madam’ dead in Florida — Palfrey had been convicted of running $2 million prostitution ring — TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - The woman convicted of running a high-end Washington prostitution ring that snagged a senator killed herself Thursday, police said, weeks after she was convicted on charges she vowed not to go to prison for.

Discussion: The Reaction, Pam's House Blend, michellemalkin.com and The BRAD BLOG

myfoxtampabay.com:

DC Madam commits suicide in Tarpon Springs — TARPON SPRINGS - Police were called to the home of DC Madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey's mother on Thursday to investigate her apparent suicide. — Police have confirmed that the dead person is Palfrey who was 52.

Discussion: The Raw Story, Wonkette, Political Machine, Gawker, Althouse and Outside The Beltway

Justin Rood / ABCNEWS:
D.C. Madam Found Dead of Apparent Suicide

Discussion: Sister Toldjah, Comments from Left Field, TalkLeft, The Reaction and Booman Tribune

tampabay.com:
D.C. Madam commits suicide in Tarpon Springs

Discussion: The Swamp, The Crypt's Blogs, On Deadline and Buck Naked Politics

CNN:
‘D.C. Madam’ believed dead

Discussion: Shakesville

Xan Brooks / Guardian:

Spike Lee tells US pastor to ‘shut up’ — Director Spike Lee has waded into the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeremiah Wright, the Chicago pastor whose provocative statements have proved a thorn in the side of Democrat frontrunner Barack Obama. Lee advises the preacher to do the right thing and keep quiet.

Discussion: The Corner and Don Surber

Robert D. Novak / Washington Post:

Obama's Misplay — “That is just terrible, absolutely dreadful,” a prominent supporter of Barack Obama said Monday morning after listening to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's screed at the National Press Club. He proposed to me that the presidential candidate at long last must denounce his former pastor, unequivocally and immediately.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Crunchy Con, The New Republic, The Campaign Spot and Blue Crab Boulevard

Associated Press:

Huckabee says Obama's former pastor needs him to lose — BILLINGS, Montana: Former Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee said Wednesday Barack Obama's bid for the White House is not being derailed because he is black, but because his former pastor does not want him to show the country's race relations have progressed.

Discussion: Newshoggers.com and The New Republic

Brian Knowlton / New York Times:
Obama Defends Handling of Furor Over Ex-Pastor

Discussion: The New Republic

CNN:

Poll: Bush most unpopular in modern history — WASHINGTON (CNN) — A new poll suggests that George W. Bush is the most unpopular president in modern American history. — A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Thursday indicates that 71 percent of the American public disapprove …

Discussion: Think Progress, MoJoBlog, Wonkette, The Moderate Voice, The American Conservative, rubber hose, Democrats.com and Cliff Schecter …

Hillary Clinton / CNN:
CNN Poll: Obama losing support

Discussion: Real Clear Politics

Daniela Deane / Washington Post:

Rep. Fossella Arrested on Charges of Driving While Intoxicated — Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.) was arrested overnight in Alexandria and charged with driving while intoxicated, court records showed today. — Fossella is scheduled to appear in Alexandria General District Court on May 12 for an advisement hearing, the records said.

Discussion: The Crypt's Blogs, MyDD and The Daily Politics

Michelle Malkin:

The Michelle Obama-patented subject-changer — In a pickle with your spouse over laundry you neglected to do or trash you forgot to take out? — Looking for an easy way to wriggle out of a tough spot with your boss? — Never fear. Michelle Obama is here with her new patented subject-changer:

Discussion: JustOneMinute

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

MALPRACTICE — I really don't get what it is with the Clinton campaign sometimes. Getting Joe Andrew's super-delegate endorsement is a minor coup for the Obama campaign. It certainly gives them some help in Indiana. But he's hardly a household name. So why is it that when Howard Wolfson gets asked …

Discussion: TalkLeft

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
Wolfson: I'm Not Sure That Joe Andrew Is “Actually From Indiana”

Discussion: Spin Cycle

Libby Quaid / Associated Press:

McCain: ‘Mission accomplished’ banner not Bush's fault — CLEVELAND - Republican John McCain said President Bush should not be held responsible for the much-criticized “Mission Accomplished” banner five years ago, but he should be blamed for bungling the early months of the war.

Discussion: Think Progress

Aamer Madhani / The Swamp:
Murtha again plays age card on McCain

Discussion: The Page

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:

Obama in North Carolina: Where am I and when is this? — Mayhill Fowler starts off her Huffington Post piece yesterday by scolding the national press for its disinterest in Barack Obama's stump speeches, but may wind up regretting calling attention to them.

Discussion: The Corner, TBogg and Weekly Standard Blog

Pew Research Center:

Obama's Image Slips, His Lead Over Clinton Disappears — Public Support for Free Trade Declines — Summary of Findings — Democratic voters are not as positive about Barack Obama as they were a month ago. Somewhat smaller percentages of Democrats describe Obama in favorable terms …

Discussion: Boston Globe, TPM Election Central, PewResearch.org and The Page