Top Items:
ABCNEWS:
Clinton Will Drop Out of Presidential Race — Barack Obama Captures Nomination After Intense Democratic Fight — It's over. — Sen. Hillary Clinton will drop out of the presidential race on Friday, ending her historic bid for the White House and ceding the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama, ABC News has learned.
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Adam Nagourney / The Caucus:
Clinton to Suspend Campaign, Endorse Obama — Updated | 10 p.m. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will endorse Senator Barack Obama on Saturday, bringing a close to her campaign for the White House, aides said. Her decision came after Democrats urged her Wednesday to leave the race and allow the party to coalesce around Mr. Obama.
Jonathan Freedland / Guardian:
Carter tells Obama: don't pick Clinton — Barack Obama should not pick Hillary Clinton as his vice-presidential nominee, former president Jimmy Carter has told the Guardian. — “I think it would be the worst mistake that could be made,” said Carter. “That would just accumulate the negative aspects of both candidates.”
Hilary Rosen / The Huffington Post:
I Am Not a Bargaining Chip, I Am a Democrat — Senator Clinton's speech last night was a justifiably proud recitation of her accomplishments over the course of this campaign, but it did not end right. She didn't do what she should have done. As hard and as painful as it might have been …
Greg Wallace / Political Radar:
Rangel: Clinton should get on with it — ABC News' Kate Snow Reports: One of Hillary Clinton's most loyal backers on Capitol Hill is voicing frustration about the position she has put her supporters in. — In an interview with ABC News, Rep. Charles Rangel said he thinks it is time for Clinton …
Discussion:
The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
Dan Balz / The Trail:
Clinton's Vice Presidential Campaign — Hillary Clinton is “absolutely ready” to discuss the vice presidency with Barack Obama and has authorized supporters to encourage Obama to pick her if he feels that will help unify the party and help Democrats win the White House, according to Robert Johnson …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, AMERICAblog, Liberal Values, TPM Election Central, Political Punch, Hot Air and The Jed Report
Chicago Tribune:
Rezko convicted of corruption — A federal jury today convicted developer Antoin “Tony” Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. — Rezko's guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad repercussions for Blagojevich …
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Jeralyn / TalkLeft:
Rezko Guilty Verdict: The Relevance — Bump and Update: My long thoughts on the relevance of Rezko's conviction are below: — Earlier: Guilty on 16 of 24 counts. — Here's the blank verdict form (pdf)listing the counts. — The Rezko verdict will be announced in five minutes.
HillBuzz:
What's on the Michelle Obama Rant Tape? — NOTE: Here's what's known so far. We will update this thread as new information comes in. As we have repeated several times, we have never seen the Michelle Obama Rant Tape ourselves — we started researching this about 4 weeks ago …
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Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
TPMTV: MCCAIN LEAVES FOX SPEECHLESS — If you were awful enough to delight in John McCain's prebuttal speech trainwreck last night, feast your eyes on the Fox News commentators trying to decide if it was just bad or downright terrible ... (Speaking personally, this episode is one you simply do not want to miss.)
Matt Lewis / TownHall Blog:
McCain's Blogger Call Gets Slightly Heated ... I just finished up a conference call with Sen. John McCain, which became heated at times. — When Quin Hillyer of The Examiner noted the perception that some conservatives believe McCain has been disrespectful to them in the past …
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Obama Campaign Will Use Six Consulting ‘Teams’ — Less than 24 hours after securing the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama is putting in place six teams of campaign consultants that will handle advertising, polling and direct-mail efforts for the general election campaign.
Discussion:
Oliver Willis
David Alexander / Tales from the Trail:
Hamas unendorses Obama after speech to pro-Israel lobby — WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may have taken care of his Hamas problem onWednesday with a speech to the AIPAC pro-Israel lobby. — The Illinois senator was ridiculed, criticized and generally harassed …
Discussion:
The Caucus, Hot Air, Liberal Values, Gateway Pundit, Marc Ambinder, Political Punch and Capitol Briefing
Martin Kady II / The Crypt's Blogs:
Not that anyone's watching, but the Senate has shut down — Overshadowed by the hype of Barack Obama's victory lap on the Senate floor today is a simmering dispute between Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell over President Bush's remaining judicial nominees.
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire:
Obama Likes McCain Idea for Town Hall Meetings — According to NBC News, Sen. John McCain proposed a series of ten joint town hall meetings with Sen. Barack Obama beginning June 12 in New York City. — Said McCain: “I suggest the town hall meeting format, because I think it's the best way …
Discussion:
MSNBC, Ben Smith's Blogs, TPM Election Central, Outside The Beltway, D-Day and Taylor Marsh
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Chris Strohm / National Journal Online:
House Chairman Open To Republican Compromise On FISA — The House Intelligence Committee's top Democrat disclosed late Tuesday that he is ready to accept a Republican-brokered deal to rewrite the nation's electronic surveillance laws, signaling that a long-running congressional impasse ... Wed.
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David Dayen / Washington Monthly:GOOD JOB, NOW GET TO WORK.... I congratulate Barack Obama on his primary win.
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