Ron Paul's forces quietly plot GOP convention revolt against McCain  —  Virtually all the nation's political attention in recent weeks has focused on the compelling state-by-state presidential nomination struggle between two Democrats and the potential for party-splitting strife over there.

Poll Predicts 36-Point Clinton Landslide in W. Virginia  —  Voters Say Clinton's Persistence Will Not Hurt the Democratic Party  —  Although Barack Obama is the likely Democratic nominee, West Virginia Democratic voters are marching to a different drummer, as Hillary Clinton leads …

President Apostate?  —  BARACK OBAMA has emerged as a classic example of charismatic leadership — a figure upon whom others project their own hopes and desires.  The resulting emotional intensity adds greatly to the more conventional strengths of the well-organized Obama campaign …

How to end a presidential campaign  —  There are 50 ways to leave your lover, 13 ways of looking at a blackbird, and at least six ways to drop out of a presidential race.  With Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign running on empty with little hope of victory, the New York senator's allies …

For Obama, Advice Straight Up  —  Valerie Jarrett Is Essential Member of Inner Set  —  In one of the small, rural towns where Barack Obama was campaigning this year, he asked an aide for a slice of pecan pie to go with his usual dinner of salmon, broccoli and brown rice.

OVER NOT OUT … When the polls closed in Indiana and North Carolina last Tuesday evening, a lot of Barack Obama supporters braced themselves for bad news.  Their candidate had just gone through a harrowing month, divided neatly in two by his thumping in the Pennsylvania primary.

Drive in Basra by Iraqi Army Makes Gains  —  BASRA, Iraq — Three hundred miles south of Baghdad, the oil-saturated city of Basra has been transformed by its own surge, now seven weeks old.  —  In a rare success, forces loyal to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki have largely quieted the city …

Democrats Face Rescue Backlash  —  Some Voters Oppose Having to Bail Out Homeowners at Risk  —  Democrats may be risking a backlash at the polls in November by pushing hard to use taxpayer money to rescue homeowners who can no longer afford their mortgages in the face of stiff resistance from President Bush and many other Republicans.

World CO2 levels reach record high  —  The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a record high, according to new figures that renew fears that climate change could begin to slide out of control.  —  Scientists at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii say that CO2 levels …

Voter ID Battle Shifts to Proof of Citizenship  —  The battle over voting rights will expand this week as lawmakers in Missouri are expected to support a proposed constitutional amendment to enable election officials to require proof of citizenship from anyone registering to vote.

NBC's Primary Source for Election '08  —  NEW YORK — In a borrowed office at 30 Rock, Chuck Todd is on his cellphone, telling a Barack Obama strategist that his boss will probably fall just short of winning Indiana that night.  —  “Are you really going to ask for a recount over one delegate?”