memeorandum: D.C. Madam apparently commits suicide in Tarpon Springs (tampabay.com)

2:05 PM ET, May 1, 2008

Top Items:

DNC chairman under Bill Clinton: Unite behind Obama — WASHINGTON (AP) — A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to “heal the rift in our party” and unite behind the Illinois senator.

Discussion: Political Punch, The Reaction, Liberal Values, Taylor Marsh, Daily Kos, The Caucus, Trailhead, Comments from Left Field, MyDD, Washington Wire, Salon, Don Surber, Donklephant, Open Left, Hotline On Call and The Jed Report

WRAL-TV:

Poll: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama in tight race for N.C. votes — RALEIGH, N.C. — It is an exciting time for North Carolina voters. For the first time in decades, they have a say in the Democratic primary for president. — A WRAL news poll released Wednesday shows Barack Obama's double-digit lead …

Discussion: The Daily Dish, Open Left, Public Policy Polling, Spin Cycle, Donklephant, TPM Election Central, PoliticalBase.com Blog and TalkLeft

Allahpundit / Hot Air:

Rasmussen: Ten-point swing towards Hillary since Wright's presser three days ago — Dude. … He's lost five points to McCain over the past week, too, and seven points over the past month in New Hampshire. Pray tell, what do voters in this important swing state think of Obama's relationship to Wright?

Discussion: TownHall Blog, Rasmussen Reports, Weekly Standard Blog, Wake up America, TalkLeft, The Other McCain and Fox News

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:

A pre-emptive strike from Andrew — In his letter to fellow superdelegates, Joe Andrew — whose switch today is a very useful moment for Obama — pre-emptively guesses how the Clinton campaign will cast him, and accuses them of hypocrisy. … No doubt, perhaps; it doesn't seem to have happened yet.

Discussion: TownHall Blog and Macsmind

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: MyDD, Marc Ambinder, The Page, Donklephant and AMERICAblog

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

Mark Murray / MSNBC:

FIRST THOUGHTS: MCCAIN'S BUSH PROBLEM — From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro — *** McCain's Bush problem: Yes, Jeremiah Wright could be a huge liability for Obama if he becomes the nominee. Sure, questions about Clinton's honesty and trustworthiness could also hurt …

Discussion: The Swamp and Wonkette

Mark Pazniokas / Capitol Watch:

Hillary To Pick Up A Super-delegate — John Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO and a super-delegate, is expected to announce Thursday his support for Hillary Rodham Clinton. — His announcement follows a commitment to Clinton by Bill George, the president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, who also is a super-delegate.

Discussion: AMERICAblog, TalkLeft, Donklephant, MSNBC, The Washington Independent and Spin Cycle

Marc Ambinder:
Andrew Explains Decision To Switch

Discussion: Associated Press, The Opinionator, The Page and Flopping Aces

Southern Political Report:
InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Survey: North Carolina Democratic …

CNN:

Michelle Obama: Let's get back to issues — BOONVILLE, Indiana (CNN) — Michelle Obama said Wednesday that her husband's move to distance himself from his controversial former minister has been “painful,” but that she's pleased with the way he's handled the situation.

Discussion: TownHall Blog

Gail Collins / New York Times:
How Will It Play in Apex? — You have to give Bill Clinton credit.

Discussion: The New Republic and Prairie Weather

Associated Press:
Huckabee says Obama's former pastor needs him to lose

Discussion: Newshoggers.com and The New Republic

New York Times:
A Strained Wright-Obama Bond Finally Snaps

Discussion: Althouse, TownHall Blog, The Swamp, Commentary, protein wisdom, The Moderate Voice and The Page

Patrick Healy / New York Times:
While Clinton Focuses, Obama Is Distracted

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, MSNBC and Connecting.the.Dots

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 and Political Machine

tampabay.com:

D.C. Madam apparently commits suicide in Tarpon Springs — Deborah Jean Palfrey, better known as the “D.C. Madam,” apparently has committed suicide at her mother's Tarpon Springs home. — Tarpon Springs detectives said a body was found in a small storage shed on the west side of the mobile home.

Discussion: The Crypt's Blogs and On Deadline

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: Agence France Presse and MyDD

Chris Good / The Hill:

Veterans to Unfurl Replica ‘Mission Accomplished’ Banner at White House — Along with Iraq war veterans and concerned citizens, Iraq Campaign 2008 says it will unfurl a 50-foot replica “Mission Accomplished” banner at the White House tomorrow, marking the five-year anniversary of President Bush's now-infamous speech.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, Democratic National Committee, Scott Rosenberg's Wordyard, Blue Girl, Red State and Political Machine

Greg Mitchell / Editor and Publisher:
‘Mission Accomplished’: How the Media Covered the Bush Pronouncement …

Discussion: Think Progress, Sadly, No! and Booman Tribune

Mimi Hall / USA Today:

U.S. has Mandela on terrorist list — WASHINGTON — Nobel Peace Prize winner and international symbol of freedom Nelson Mandela is flagged on U.S. terrorist watch lists and needs special permission to visit the USA. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls the situation “embarrassing,” and some members of Congress vow to fix it.

Discussion: The Huffington Post and The Swamp

Newsweek:

Just Between Us — Telecoms and the Bush administration talked about how to keep their surveillance program under wraps. — The Bush administration is refusing to disclose internal e-mails, letters and notes showing contacts with major telecommunications companies over how to persuade Congress …

Discussion: Think Progress, Blue Girl, Red State and Daily Kos

Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:

Let's Accept Michelle's Invitation — Michelle Obama, not surprisingly, wants to turn the page on Jeremiah Wright and focus on the issues: … I completely agree, so let's talk about Barack and education reform. — An excellent launching point is this April 2, 2008 Slate piece by Alexander Russo …

Discussion: NO QUARTER