Democrats and Our Enemies  —  How did the Democratic Party get here?  How did the party of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy drift so far from the foreign policy and national security principles and policies that were at the core of its identity and its purpose?

Linda Douglass Joins The Obama Campaign  —  Linda Douglass, an award-winning television and print journalist who currently serves as a contributing editor to National Journal, will join Barack Obama's presidential campaign as a senior strategist and as a senior campaign spokesperson on the roadshow, a newly created position.

Money shocker!  Hillary Clinton's campaign debt soars  —  (*UPDATE: Due to a mathematical error, Hillary Clinton's loans to herself were added twice in the calculation of this item.  Her total debts are about $21 million, not $31 million.  A corrected item covering the first five paragraphs of this one has been published here.)

David Gergen and CNN pundits challenge Hillary Clinton to denounce the racist vote [UPDATED 2]  —  [ Editorial Note: Now we have the important part of the transcript. ]  —  This is one of those historic TV moments that people will be talking about for a long time.  And let me tell you, I lost it as it was happening.

McCain adviser: Sometimes it's ‘accurate’ to describe a woman as a ‘bitch.’  —  During yesterday's Democratic primary coverage, CNN senior analyst Jeff Toobin criticized a New York Times column that published a joke about Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) being a “white bitch.”

Obama's Evolving Take on Meeting With Iran  —  Democratic Contender Under Fire From McCain on Foreign Policy  —  Barack Obama's original answer seemed crystal clear: last July, asked whether he would meet with the “leaders” of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea “without precondition …

Michael Savage plays Dead Kennedys song “in some respect for” Sen. Kennedy  —  Following the announcement that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, nationally syndicated radio host Michael Savage opened his May 20 show by interspersing audio of Kennedy singing …

McCain adviser's work as lobbyist comes to light  —  This story is part of USA TODAY's series, “The Price of Power,” which tracks the political and business relationships between public officials and donors.  —  WASHINGTON — John McCain's top foreign policy adviser lobbied the Arizona senator's staff …

OBAMA'S MOMENT.  —  Matt wonders whether Obama is a new Jimmy Carter or a new Ronald Reagan.  I think that's actually the wrong comparison to fear: The question is whether he's a new first term Bill Clinton.  Like Clinton, Obama has fairly little Washington experience, and is running as a charismatic …

Israel and Syria Say They Are Holding Peace Talks in Turkey  —  JERUSALEM — Israel and Syria have begun indirect peace talks, mediated by Turkey, aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace accord, the three governments announced in a coordinated statement Wednesday.

McCain incentivizing supporters to comment on blogs  —  John McCain's campaign is using their campaign website to encourage supporters to post supportive comments on political blogs, including the most well-known liberal site in the blogosphere.  And to make things easier …

Clintonista Warns: McCain Isn't Bush III  —  Sidney Blumenthal, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and strategist for Hillary Clinton's Democratic presidential campaign, went “off message” (his words) today with a warning to his party: Don't run against GOP nominee John McCain …

Reuters/Zogby Poll: Obama Opens Double-digit Lead Over McCain in National Test  —  Third-party candidates Nader and Barr show signs of strength in key demographic groups  —  UTICA, New York - Democrat Barack Obama has sprinted out to a 10-point lead over Republican John McCain in a four …