Clinton, you invoked a political nightmare  —  Olbermann: Referencing RFK's assassination as a reason for staying in the race is unforgiveable  —  SPECIAL COMMENT  —  Asked if her continuing fight for the nomination against Senator Obama hurts the Democratic party, Sen. Hillary Clinton replied, “I don't.

GOP strategists mull McCain ‘blowout’  —  It sounds crazy at first.  Amid dire reports about the toxic political environment for Republican candidates and the challenges facing John McCain, many top GOP strategists believe he can defeat Barack Obama — and by a margin exceeding President Bush's Electoral College victory in 2004.

A new NEWSWEEK Poll underscores Obama's racial challenge.  —  Even as he closes in on the Democratic nomination for the presidency, Sen. Barack Obama is facing lingering problems winning the support of white voters—including some in his own party.  In a new NEWSWEEK Poll of registered voters …

Sen. McCain's Agents of Intolerance  —  It took a long time for him to do it, but Senator John McCain has finally rejected the endorsements of two evangelical ministers — one whose bizarre and hate-filled sermons deeply offended both Catholics and Jews and the other who has used his pulpit to attack Muslims.

In the Driver's Seat  —  Condoleezza Rice and the jettisoning of the Bush Doctrine.  —  Shortly before 10 A.M. on October 9, 2006, George W. Bush read a statement from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House.  He fixed his face to look resolute.  The previous day …

270 Illegal Immigrants Sent to Prison in Federal Push  —  WATERLOO, Iowa — In temporary courtrooms at a fairgrounds here, 270 illegal immigrants were sentenced this week to five months in prison for working at a meatpacking plant with false documents.  —  The prosecutions, which ended Friday …

Obama would take California in November, Times/KTLA poll finds  —  Clinton would also defeat McCain in the fall, but by a smaller margin.  The survey comes less than four months after Obama's loss in the state primary.  —  Less than four months after losing the California primary …

Virginia trio draws veep notice  —  Virginia's sudden rise to prominence as a leading “purple” state — a prime candidate for Democrats to pick up in November — has made its top politicians a hot commodity this year.  No fewer than three current or former statewide elected officials …

US residents in military brigs?  Govt says it's war  —  WASHINGTON - If his cell were at Guantanamo Bay, the prisoner would be just one of hundreds of suspected terrorists detained offshore, where the U.S. says the Constitution does not apply.  —  But Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri is a U.S. resident …

McCain/Bush Fundraiser Moved To Smaller Quarters Due To Poor Ticket Sales/Fears Of Protest  —  A Tuesday fundraiser headlined by President Bush for U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is being moved out of the Phoenix Convention Center.  —  Sources familiar with the situation …

Obama stirs up South Florida crowds  —  Presidential contender Barack Obama promised Florida voters he wouldn't be a stranger anymore if he clinches the Democratic nomination.  —  AIM  —  breinhard@MiamiHerald.com  —  Barack Obama whipped up some Cuban-American leaders in Miami …

McCain gets frequent checkups after melanoma scare  —  McCain gets frequent skin cancer checks because of dangerous melanoma history  —  (FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz.) John McCain, seeking to become the oldest elected first-term president, gets an in-depth skin cancer check every few months …