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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Republican Slogan Borrowed From Antidepressant  —  Democrats heard something familiar today in that new theme emerging from House Republicans: “The Change You Deserve.”  —  Turns out that slogan is also used to market an antidepressant, which Democrats quickly lampooned as reflecting the Republican mood at the moment.

The Neural Buddhists  —  In 1996, Tom Wolfe wrote a brilliant essay called “Sorry, but Your Soul Just Died,” in which he captured the militant materialism of some modern scientists.  —  To these self-confident researchers, the idea that the spirit might exist apart from the body is just ridiculous.

Obama Rules  —  EDITOR'S NOTE: This column is available exclusively through King Features Syndicate.  For permission to reprint or excerpt this copyrighted material, please contact: kfsreprint@hearstsc.com, or phone 800-708-7311, ext 246).  —  If Barack Obama gets his way …

Help Wanted: Lefty College Seeks Right-Wing Prof  —  CU-Boulder Bid to Endow A ‘Conservative’ Chair Leaves Both Sides Uneasy  —  BOULDER, Colo. — How liberal is the University of Colorado at Boulder?  —  The campus hot-dog stand sells tofu wieners.  A recent pro-marijuana rally drew …

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.

Belief in God ‘childish,’ Jews not chosen people: Einstein letter  —  Albert Einstein described belief in God as “childish superstition” and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to be sold in London this week, an auctioneer said Tuesday.  —  The father of relativity …