Barack Obama's $52-million June  —  Sen. Barack Obama's campaign raised $52 million in June, his campaign manager said this morning - not quite a record for the high-flying campaign, but close to it.  The campaign had raised $55 million in February, during the Democratic primaries.

Media stars will accompany Obama overseas  —  WASHINGTON: Senator John McCain's trip to Iraq last spring was a low-key affair: With his ordinary retinue of reporters following him abroad, the NBC News anchor Brian Williams reported on his arrival in Baghdad from New York …

Hunter: This conservative activist is backing Obama  —  I'm a lifelong Republican - a supply-side conservative.  I worked in the Reagan White House.  I was the chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for five years.  In 1994, I helped write the Republican Contract with America.

US plans to station first diplomats in Iran since 1979  —  Washington move signals thaw in relations  —  The US plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran for the first time in 30 years as part of a remarkable turnaround in policy by President George Bush.

Take Your Paws off the Presidency!  —  DOES THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAVE A SECRET SUCCESSION ORDER THAT BYPASSES CONGRESS?  —  Suppose the worst happens, and the next terrorist attack hits Washington hard, taking out the president and the vice president.  What happens next?

In Iraq, Mixed Feelings About Obama and His Troop Proposal  —  BAGHDAD — A tough Iraqi general, a former special operations officer with a baritone voice and a barrel chest, melted into smiles when asked about Senator Barack Obama.  —  “Everyone in Iraq likes him,” said the general, Nassir al-Hiti.

Insurance industry forming activist army  —  Ahead of the approaching health care reform storm, the insurance industry is building an ark: a nationwide education campaign aimed at raising an activist army at least 100,000 strong.  —  The unprecedented effort by America's Health Insurance Plans …

Barack Obama tells Glamour: “Debate me, not Michelle”  —  On Wednesday Senator Barack Obama talked to Glamour's editor-in-chief Cindi Leive and answered questions from our readers about his policies and about women's issues.  (Thanks to the many of you who submitted those queries!)

Romney not getting his $45m back  —  Says he won't seek gifts to repay campaign loans  —  Some analysts said Senator John McCain, shown with Mitt Romney in Denver in March, might undermine his reform message if he picks Romney, someone who bankrolled so much of his own campaign in the primary.

Few House GOP donate to McCain  —  Few House Republicans have contributed to Sen. John McCain since he clinched the Republican nomination at the end of February.  —  McCain, Arizona's senior senator, has had a far warmer reception in the upper chamber.  At least 22 Senate colleagues …

McCain's humor often backfires  —  Ever hear that joke about waterboarding?  How about the one about killing Iranians?  And why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?  —  If you aren't familiar with those witty japes, then you've missed out on John McCain's lighter side.

McCain On Afghanistan  —  Yesterday, Josh Marshall wrote: … He's right.  A bit of documentation:  —  December 2006: … July 6, 2008: … December 2007 (in Foreign Affairs): … February 2008: … July 9, 2008: … “Just one week ago”: … Until yesterday, McCain has only advocated sending NATO troops.