memeorandum: Obama says don't judge him by ex-pastor's comments (Caren Bohan/Tales from the Trail)

Dems 2008: Elizabeth Wurtzel on Barack Obama's other friends, the “Weathercouple” — Author Elizabeth Wurtzel has a piece in the Wall Street Journal on Barack Obama's relationship with the “Weathercouple” of William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. The eyebrow-raiser is this:

CNN:

Former DNC chairs: Hillary would beat McCain today — Obama wouldn't — (CNN) - Seven former Democratic National Committee chairs who support Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, and the family of one who is deceased, released a letter Friday arguing that she is the candidate best-equipped to beat John McCain in November.

Discussion: Bang the Drum and Taylor Marsh

Elizabeth Wurtzel / Wall Street Journal:

Obama's Other Radical Friends — When I was 15, I read an article in Rolling Stone about the Weather Underground and became fascinated with Bernardine Dohrn. As a leader of the militant arm of Students for a Democratic Society, she was renowned for her beauty and daring, for her revolutionary rhetoric …

Discussion: JustOneMinute, Scared Monkeys, Flopping Aces, The Other McCain and Taylor Marsh

Gallup:
Gallup Daily: McCain Moves to 6-Point Lead Over Obama

Discussion: The New Editor, The Moderate Voice, MyDD, Hot Air, race42008.com and MSNBC

Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:

MCCAIN: IRAQ WAR WAS FOR OIL? — From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy — At the conclusion of a town hall held this morning outside in Denver, McCain decided to toss in a plug for his upcoming energy policy rollout. But in the midst of decrying the dangers of Americans reliance on foreign oil …

Discussion: Think Progress, Pam's House Blend, Scripting News, MyDD, Jack and Jill Politics and Wonk Room

Libby Quaid / Associated Press:

McCain clarifies remark about oil, Iraq war — PHOENIX - Republican John McCain was forced to clarify his comments Friday suggesting the Iraq war involved U.S. reliance on foreign oil. He said he was talking about the first Gulf War and not the current conflict.

Discussion: MyDD, AMERICAblog, Daily Kos, Donklephant, Yahoo! News and Reuters

Ronald Brownstein / MSNBC:
McCain must explain his Iraq vigil

Discussion: Newshoggers.com, Matthew Yglesias, The Carpetbagger Report, Think Progress and The Huffington Post

Dotcomabc / Political Punch:

Official Transcript: Kantor Never Impugned Hoosiers — Forgoing for a moment the dirty trick of the doctored clip from “The War Room,” which falsely had Mickey Kantor using a racial slur, the filmmaker behind the documentary has posted the clip on his Web site to clarify that other point of confusion …

Discussion: Corrente, Crooks and Liars, Ben Smith's Blogs, The Democratic Daily and Balloon Juice

Peggy Noonan / Wall Street Journal:

Loyal to the Bitterness — I am out of step. There is something that is upsetting others whom I care about and whose thoughts are often not unlike my own. And it's not hitting me the same way. — I am referring to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I disagree with and disapprove of the things he says.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog and Wonkette

Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:

On Sunday TV, One Hot Rivalry Fuels Another — WASHINGTON — It will be a generational battle royal, the younger upstart against the more seasoned warrior who resents the challenge. — Senator Barack Obama vs. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton? — Yes, there is that.

Time:

How Much Did Rumsfeld Know? — Ricardo Sanchez, the commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq in 2003-2004, has written a new memoir, Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story, an account of his life and his service in Iraq. Sanchez was a three-star general — and the military's senior Hispanic officer …

Discussion: Firedoglake, BuzzFlash.org and Nukes & Spooks

Jeannine Aversa / Associated Press:

Employers cut fewer jobs in April, jobless rate falls … WASHINGTON (AP) - Employers cut far fewer jobs in April than in recent months and the unemployment rate dropped to 5 percent, a better-than-expected showing that nonetheless reveals strains in the nation's labor market.

Discussion: A Chequer-Board of Nights …

Caren Bohan / Tales from the Trail:

Obama says don't judge him by ex-pastor's comments — CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Barack Obama sought to distance himself further Friday from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, telling a North Carolina rally that comments by his former pastor that have been described as “crazy” should not be used to judge his candidacy.

Discussion: The Page and Sister Toldjah

Andrew Cockburn / CounterPunch:

Secret Bush “Finding” Widens War on Iran — Six weeks ago, President Bush signed a secret finding authorizing a covert offensive against the Iranian regime that, according to those familiar with its contents, “unprecedented in its scope.” — Bush's secret directive covers actions across …

Discussion: MoJoBlog

Frank Eaton / BlueNC:

Well, here's something interesting... I'm no lawyer, but here's what I can find from the State Board of Elections Statute regarding sample ballots: … And here's a piece of paid literature being distributed at early polling places around Winston-Salem by paid people for a brand new PAC called …

Discussion: MyDD, Taylor Marsh and TalkLeft

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:

Hillary Airs Another Indiana Ad Hitting Obama On Gas Tax — I've just obtained a copy of another ad hitting Obama on the gas tax that Hillary just started airing in Indiana. — The last-minute ad, which went up late on the Friday before election day, says Hillary's gas tax holiday would …

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs

Washington Wire:
Clinton to Introduce Gas-Tax Holiday Bill

Discussion: The Page