Democrats say let the contest continue  —  On the eve of the West Virginia primary, most Democrats nationally say Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton should continue the campaign, but more now say that it's time for Clinton to quit.  —  In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, 55% of Democrats …

Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause  —  Danielle Ross was alone in an empty room at the Obama campaign headquarters in Kokomo, Ind., a cellphone in one hand, a voter call list in the other.  She was stretched out on the carpeted floor wearing laceless sky-blue Converses, stories from the trail on her mind.

Johnson Switches Sides Again, Endorses Obama  —  Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, a Democratic convention delegate pledged to support Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, said yesterday that he thinks Sen. Barack Obama has “in a real sense” won the Democratic nomination and that he now plans …

Carville: Obama likely to win nomination  —  (CNN) — James Carville has been one of Hillary Clinton's most energetic defenders, but on Monday he all but declared Barack Obama will become the Democratic nominee for president.  —  Speaking to students at Furman University in Greenville …

McCain in the Mud  —  In 2000, I boarded John McCain's campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express, and, in a metaphorical sense, never got off.  Here, truly, was something new under the political sun — a politician who bristled with integrity and seemed to have nothing to hide.

GOP's New Slogan Already Being Used To Market Anti-Depressant  —  In today's New York Times' Caucus blog, Carl Hulse reports that House Republicans have got themselves a brand-new slogan: … What the GOP doesn't seem to realize, because they are idiots, is that “the change you deserve” …

Post-IN/NC, Democrats Still OK With Continuing Campaign  —  Majority of Democrats favor Obama selecting Clinton as running mate  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A new USA Today/Gallup poll shows that 55% of Democrats say both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama should continue campaigning …

Charges dropped against ‘20th’ hijacker  —  U.S. officials have said Saudi was subjected to harsh treatment  —  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The Pentagon has dropped charges against a Saudi at Guantanamo who was alleged to have been the so-called “20th hijacker” in the Sept. 11 attacks, his U.S. military defense lawyer said Monday.

A Spoiler, by Way of the Dairy Case  —  In his career in public service, Bob Barr has performed many important roles.  —  As a Republican candidate for the House in 1994, he rose to national attention when reports alleged that he had licked whipped cream off the breasts of two women at a charity event.

A Liberal Wit Builds Bridges to the G.O.P.  —  WASHINGTON — Representative Barney Frank, the rumpled, cantankerous chairman of the Financial Services Committee, plopped down on a leather bench off the House floor last week.  After two months of trying to win Republican support for his bill …

Cigarette Bill Treats Menthol With Leniency  —  Some public health experts are questioning why menthol, the most widely used cigarette flavoring and the most popular cigarette choice of African-American smokers, is receiving special protection as Congress tries to regulate tobacco for the first time.