Edwards To Endorse Obama  —  ABC News' Kate Snow, Raelyn Johnson, Sunlen Miller, and Rick Klein Report: Former Sen. John Edwards is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama's presidential candidacy Wednesday evening, in a dramatic attempt by the Obama campaign to answer concerns regarding Obama's appeal …

Obama Apologizes to WXYZ Reporter  —  UPDATE: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has apologized to WXYZ reporter Peggy Agar for calling her “sweetie” during a campaign stop Wednesday in Sterling Heights.  —  Obama apologized in a voicemail he left on Agar's cell phone at 3:16 p.m:

Sean Penn warns Barack Obama at Cannes Film Festival opening  —  The Cannes Film Festival got off to a lively start with Sean Penn, president of this year's jury, sounding off about US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama and the opening movie almost being upstaged by a bunch of performing pandas.

EMILY's List Hits Back At NARAL  —  For the Obama endorsement.  Here's a statement by EMILY's List president Ellen Malcolm: … Pro-lifers are going to have a lot of fun with this one...

Mrs. McCain's Refusal  —  “IT WON'T DO.”  That was our bottom line in 1984 when Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York, Democratic vice presidential candidate, balked at releasing her husband's income tax returns.  Ms. Ferraro ultimately relented.  It was our bottom line four years ago …

McCain's wife sells Sudan-related investments  —  WASHINGTON - Cindy McCain, whose husband has been a critic of the violence in Sudan, sold off more than $2 million in mutual funds whose holdings include companies that do business in the African nation.  —  The sale on Wednesday came …

The McCain Doctrines  —  Whatever their disagreements on policy, United States senators, even in today's hyperpolitical climate, are reluctant to impugn one another's motives or integrity.  —  That's doubly true among those who experienced combat in the Vietnam War, a group …

GOPERS STOMPING MAD OVER PROSPECTS  —  From NBC's Mike Viqueira  —  Lots of very glum faces among House GOP members this morning as they emerged from their weekly closed-door session.  The political situation is not good, and they aren't even trying to deny it.

WaPo's Broder taking buyout; becomes contract writer in '09  —  Veteran Washington Post political columnist David Broder is going to take a buyout from the paper.  As of Jan 1, 2009, he will become a contract employee of the Post.  —  Here's a note sent to Broder's column clients this morning, obtained by Politico.

Obama and the Cross  —  I have been telling Brody File readers for months that if Barack Obama becomes the Democratic nominee he will make a pitch to win over independent/moderate Evangelicals.  Well, we now have evidence.  —  The Obama campaign has consistently believed that their candidate can compete for the “religious vote”.

Countdown Special Comment to President Bush: “Shut the hell up.”  —  In an astoundingly ignorant interview with The Politico's Mike Allen Tuesday, President Bush insinuated that electing a Democrat in November would lead to another attack on America, and revealed that he made the ultimate sacrifice …

Tomorrow It Is  —  The marriage decision in California is imminent.  As I've said before, in some ways I'd prefer this to wait.  But the process has been going on a long time.  We had an initiative in 2000, domestic partnership since, a premature breakthrough in San Francisco …

Credit where it's due  —  THERE is a certain familiarity to the concomitant series of actions and reactions when disaster strikes in the world.  The US stands ready, willing and able to offer assistance.  It is often the first country to send in millions of dollars, navy strike groups loaded …