Georgia Fight Spreads, Moscow Issues Ultimatum  —  GORI, Georgia — Russia issued an ultimatum to Georgian forces on Monday to surrender completely in and around the western pro-Russian separatist enclave of Abkhazia, in a sign that fighting could escalate on a second front in the west of Georgia.

Wolfson: Edwards' Cover-up Cost Clinton the Nomination  —  Aides Say She Would Have Won Iowa if Edwards Affair was Exposed  —  Sen. Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic presidential nominee if John Edwards had been caught in his lie about an extramarital affair and forced out of the race last year …

7 worrisome signs for Obama  —  A few weeks back, Time magazine was musing that John McCain was in danger of sliding from “a long shot” to a “no-shot.”  Around the same time, a hard-nosed former Hillary Clinton insider declared the race “effectively over” thanks to the McCain campaign's ineptitude …

Behind a Meeting That Exposed Edwards's Affair  —  It was the encounter that would unceremoniously hoist former Senator John Edwards's extramarital affair into full public view: a visit last month with the woman and her baby in a hotel room in Beverly Hills, Calif., where Mr. Edwards …

‘No way’ turns into ‘no quit’ for Lezak, men's relay team … BEIJING — Halfway through what might have been the greatest comeback swim in Olympic history, Jason Lezak peered through his goggles at the lane to his right and briefly abandoned hope.  —  “The thought really entered my mind for a split second,” Lezak said.

Angelina Jolie's Endorsement  —  It may seem as if most entertainment industry figures are aligning with Barack Obama and just a few with John McCain, but there are still a handful of famous names who are still on the fence.  And both campaigns are well aware of one star who stands out among the undecideds: Angelina Jolie.

Obama's VP choice imminent via website, e-mail, text message  —  Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, is on vacation in Hawaii tonight.  We believe.  But, thanks to loyal Ticket reader Mark, just minutes ago we learned that the freshman senator's presidential campaign …

Pro-Obama group has $10M for election  —  A Democratic-leaning California group is planning to spend some $10 million before November's election.  —  PowerPAC.org, which aided Obama in the Democratic Primary, is launching a voter registration drive in the African-American south …

Isaac Hayes, RIP  —  Four reasons to miss Isaac Hayes, who died today:  —  1. Memphis.  If you like the gritty Memphis soul sound of the '60s, you like Isaac Hayes.  Before he was a star himself, Hayes wrote and produced a series of songs for other artists on the Stax roster, including some of Sam and Dave's best-known hits.

Can It Happen Here?  —  The draft Democratic Party platform that was sent out last week puts health care reform front and center.  “If one thing came through in the platform hearings,” says the document, “it was that Democrats are united around a commitment to provide every American access to affordable, comprehensive health care.”