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Mike Allen / The Politico:
Dems pound McCain for new Iraq quote — The Obama campaign and Democratic leaders accused Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) of being confused and heartless after he told NBC's “Today” show Wednesday that it's “not too important” when U.S. troops return from Iraq. — Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) …
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Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Kerry: McCain confused, ‘unbelievably out of touch’ — John Kerry, who's served in the past as Obama's heavy-hitter on national security, expressed incredulity at McCain's remark this morning that the timing of troops return is “not too important.” — “It is unbelievably out of touch …
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Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
EX POST MCCAINO — The McCain campaign is hitting back hard against Democratic criticism of his “not that important” quote this morning on Today. But as often is the case with McCain, the explanations of what he said are even sillier than the original statement.
Marc Ambinder:
It's Not Important? Context Is Always Important — Democrats and allies are jumping on John McCain for telling NBC's Matt Lauer that “it's not important” when troops return from Iraq. Period. There's no because. There's almost never a because when one side seizes on the comments of another.
Discussion:
The Opinionator, The Daily Dish, John McCain 2008, Wake up America, Hot Air, MyDD and Think Progress
Kelly Moeller / Political Punch:
Playing the Age Card? …
Playing the Age Card? …
Discussion:
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Michael Goldfarb / John McCain 2008:
Who's Confused Now? — Among the accusations he leveled this morning …
Who's Confused Now? — Among the accusations he leveled this morning …
Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
Obama Gains Among Women After Clinton Exit — Now running as strongly vs. McCain among women as Clinton did — PRINCETON, NJ — Since Hillary Clinton decided to concede the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama last week, Obama has established a lead over Republican John McCain in general-election polling.
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Mark Murray / MSNBC:
NBC/WSJ Poll: Post-primary bump for Obama — Challenges for both Obama, McCain indicate very competitive race ahead — WASHINGTON - Days after becoming his party's presumptive nominee and receiving an endorsement from his chief rival, Hillary Clinton, Democrat Barack Obama has opened …
Discussion:
TPM Election Central
Robert J. Samuelson / Newsweek:
Vote for McBama — When it comes to America's obvious domestic …
Vote for McBama — When it comes to America's obvious domestic …
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Outside The Beltway
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Johnson resigns — Obama and his campaign staunchly defended Jim Johnson against the charge that his ties to troubled mortgage lender Countrywide disqualified him from sitting on Obama's vice presidential search committee, but Johnson just pulled the plug: He resigned as chairman of the steering committee just now.
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Scott Glover / Los Angeles Times:
9th Circuit's chief judge posted sexually explicit materials on his website — Alex Kozinski, who is presiding over an obscenity trial in L.A., admits he posted sexually explicit photos and videos. He says he didn't think the public could see the site, which is now blocked.
TPM Election Central:
Is Bobby Jindal — Who May Be On McCain's Veep Shortlist — An Exorcist? — Bobby Jindal, the 36-year old governor of Louisiana, is being taken seriously by the national press as a candidate on the shortlist to be John McCain's Vice President. No one doubts that he's a political prodigy …
Ezra Klein / American Prospect:
MORE FURMAN FUROR. — What I can't figure out about the furor of Barack Obama's decision to name Jason Furman his economic policy director is where have these people been? This is like getting pissed at Project Runway because it's a show about clothes. — Austen Goolsbee …
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David Sarno / Web Scout:
The Obama campaign deleted my blog post! — A couple of days ago, as part of my experimenting with how political rumors get started online, I created a blog in the community section of barackobama.com, the official campaign web site, and added a post. As background, there have been several dust-ups lately …
The Hill:
New Gang of 14 won't back McCain — At least 14 Republican members of Congress have refused to endorse or publicly support Sen. John McCain for president, and more than a dozen others declined to answer whether they back the Arizona senator. — Many of the recalcitrant GOP members declined …
Discussion:
The Political Carnival
Jared Allen / The Hill:
Hispanic Dems warn Obama he risks losing Latinos — Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) must commit to helping illegal immigrants achieve citizenship or else risk losing the vital Latino vote in the general election, Hispanic Democratic lawmakers are warning. — If he does not promise …
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Mark Leibovich / New York Times:
Those Loyal to the Clintons Take Note of Who Was Not — WASHINGTON — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was gracious in her full-throated endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. But that does not mean all is forgiven by others in the Clinton universe. — For proof, look no further than Doug Band …
Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech — VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A couple of years ago, a Canadian magazine published an article arguing that the rise of Islam threatened Western values. The article's tone was mocking and biting, but it said nothing that conservative magazines …