Poll Finds Voters Split on Candidates' Iraq-Pullout Positions  —  A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds the country split down the middle between those backing Sen. Barack Obama's 16-month timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and those agreeing with Sen. John McCain's position that events …

Ventura: I'm not running for Senate  —  (CNN) — Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura has decided not to run for U.S. Senate in that state, he told CNN's “Larry King Live” Monday night.  —  Ventura, a former professional wrestler, had said last week he was weighing whether to run.

Want Obama in a Punch Line?  First, Find a Joke  —  What's so funny about Barack Obama?  Apparently not very much, at least not yet.  —  On Monday, The New Yorker magazine tried dipping its toe into broad satire involving Senator Obama with a cover image depicting the presumptive Democratic …

Suicide Bombers Kill 35 Iraqi Recruits  —  BAGHDAD — Two suicide bombers posing as army recruits struck an Iraqi base just east of Baquba on Tuesday morning, killing at least 35 Iraqi recruits and wounding 63, according to the Iraqi police and medical officials in Diyala Province.

McCain Will Call for a Surge of Troops to Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON — Senator McCain will announce plans today for an Iraq-style “surge” of troops in Afghanistan.  —  An adviser to the campaign told The New York Sun that, in a speech to be delivered in Albuquerque, N.M. …

Tillman Investigation Hampered by ‘Near Universal Lack of Recall’  —  Report Sought Answers on Who Knew About Friendly Fire Incident  —  White House officials interviewed as part of an investigation into the misleading information given to the public and the Tillman family in the weeks …

President Bush Discusses Outer Continental Shelf Exploration  —  Fact Sheet: Allowing Offshore Exploration to Help Address Rising Fuel Costs  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon.  Across the country, Americans are concerned about the high price of gasoline.  Every one of our citizens who drives to work …

JAMIE GORELICK'S TIES TO FANNIE MAE AND WHAT SHE'S DOING NOW— In reading this article about Crony Capitalism at Fannie Mae (tip to Instapundit), I noticed that Jamie Gorelick was one of the Fannie executives who benefited from inflated bonuses based on Enron-style accounting.

Obama: Seize responsibility  —  Democrat unapologetic about message to blacks  —  When it comes to African-American audiences, some have called Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid a “dual-track” candidacy, one that seeks to prove he is in tune with the needs of the black community while also not alienating whites.

Heedless Rush to Oil Shale  —  To hear Bush touting Western oil shale as the answer to $4 per gallon gasoline, as he did again yesterday in the Rose Garden, you would think it was 1908 . . . or 1920 . . . or 1945 . . . or 1974.  Every couple of decades over the past century …

Fournier to Rove: “Keep Up the Fight”  —  Buried in the 50-page report on Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch released today by the House Oversight Committee, is a priceless quote from none other than the new head of the AP's Washington Bureau, Ron Fournier.  —  Straight from page 21 of the report:

Hill Democrats miffed at Obama  —  After a brief bout of Obamamania, some Capitol Hill Democrats have begun to complain privately that Barack Obama's presidential campaign is insular, uncooperative and inattentive to their hopes for a broad Democratic victory in November.