Ohio Guv Won't Run with Obama  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis and John Santucci Report: Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) was Shermanesque on Tuesday in saying that he would “absolutely not” be Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., running mate even if asked to join the Democratic ticket.

Obama's Answer on the Johnson Conundrum  —  ABC News' Sunlen Miller today asked Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, how he could “rail against Countrywide Financial Corp as an example of insiders and today's economy while your VP search is headed by someone who got questionable loans from Countrywide?”

President Bush regrets his legacy as man who wanted war  —  Tom Baldwin and Gerard Baker in Ljubljana  —  President Bush has admitted to The Times that his gun-slinging rhetoric made the world believe that he was a “guy really anxious for war” in Iraq.  He said that his aim now was to leave …

Ron Paul plans his own convention  —  TRIBUNE-REVIEW  —  Maverick GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul has booked an arena in Minneapolis for a “mini-convention” that could steal some of John McCain's thunder just days before he accepts the Republican nomination.

Changes to Fox News Afternoons  —  TVNewser has learned beginning Monday Live Desk with Martha MacCallum will be expanded to two hours, airing from 1-3pmET.  MacCallum will also be getting a co-anchor and a new set.  Trace Gallagher joins as co-anchor, while continuing to fill in for Shepard Smith on Studio B and Fox Report.

Gallup Daily: Obama's Lead Stabilizing  —  Leads McCain 48% to 41% in latest presidential trial heat  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama has a 48% to 41% lead in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking presidential election trial heat, based on June 7-9 polling.

Activists Preparing Against Use of ‘Brown Note’ at Dem Convention  —  Political activists planning protest rallies at the upcoming Democratic Convention in Denver have their stomachs in knots over a rumor about a crowd control weapon - known as the “crap cannon” - that might be unleashed against them.

Actress has a crush on Obama  —  Every presidential candidate can use a sexy blonde movie star to liven up his or her campaign, appear at big money events and rally the entertainment community.  Sen. Barack Obama's go-to Hollywood hottie is Scarlett Johansson, a starlet who trades frequent e-mails …

Webb's rebel roots: An affinity for Confederacy  —  Barack Obama's vice presidential vetting team will undoubtedly run across some quirky and potentially troublesome issues as it goes about the business of scouring the backgrounds of possible running mates.  But it's unlikely they'll find …

Barack gets dressing down for dorkiness  —  Barack Obama ditched the campaign trail for the bike trail last weekend, offering onlookers a rare peek into the Democratic nominee's casual-wear closet.  —  It wasn't a pretty picture: ill-fitting jeans, a tucked-in golf shirt …

Top Lieberman Campaign Official: We Begged Obama For Help In 2006 — And He Came Through  —  Now that Joe Lieberman has emerged as John McCain's lead attack dog against Barack Obama — even going so far as to suggest that Obama's judgment could pose a danger to our safety …

Clinton Asks Pledged Delegates To Support Obama (Updated)  —  Multiple Democratic sources say that Sen. Hillary Clinton, in a series of private conversations and conference calls, continues to urge her pledged delegates to vote for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention.

OBAMA MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS  —  From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones  —  CHICAGO — Obama will hold a private meeting this afternoon with religious leaders. … A spokesperson said the meeting of some 30 people will include leaders from several denominations including Evangelical, Catholic and Protestant members of the faith community.

Gay Unions Shed Light on Gender in Marriage  —  For insights into healthy marriages, social scientists are looking in an unexpected place.  —  A growing body of evidence shows that same-sex couples have a great deal to teach everyone else about marriage and relationships.