Poll: Bachmann breaks through, Huntsman hurting, Romney rolling  —  Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney enjoys a comfortable lead in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation race for the Republican presidential nomination while Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann shows signs of breaking through …

Man With Suspicious Device Detained at Pentagon  —  A man carrying a suspicious package was detained in Arlington National Cemetery this morning after police searched his backpack and found the materials as well as pro-al Qaeda literature, officials told ABC News.

Key Seniors Association Pivots on Benefit Cut  —  WASHINGTON—AARP, the powerful lobbying group for older Americans, is dropping its longstanding opposition to cutting Social Security benefits, a move that could rock Washington's debate over how to revamp the nation's entitlement programs.

Libya and the War Powers Act  —  It would be hugely costly — for this country's credibility, for the future of NATO and for the people of Libya — if Congress were to force President Obama to abandon military operations over Libya.  However, Mr. Obama cannot evade his responsibility …

Senate kills off ethanol tax credits in possible break with tax pledge  —  The Senate voted 73-27 Thursday to kill a major tax break that benefits the ethanol industry, handing a political win to a bipartisan group of lawmakers that call the incentive needless and expensive.

Fear & Loathing In Minneapolis: Progressives Vent Frustration With Obama At Netroots Nation  —  ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports:  —  The frustrations and the fears that progressives feel about President Obama were on full display Thursday as thousands of them flocked to Minneapolis for the sixth annual Netroots Nation conference.

My Job Offer for Anthony Weiner  —  Mr. Weiner:  —  After having learned of your sudden and compelled resignation from your Congressional post, I would like to make you an offer of employment at Flynt Management Group, LLC in our Internet group.  As a Congressman, you are known for your intensity and perseverance.

The union-owned Democrats  —  “Shovel-ready was not as shovel-ready as we expected,” observed President Obama this week, enjoying a nice chuckle about the unhappy fate of his near-$1 trillion stimulus.  To be sure, Obama has also been promoting a less amusing remedy for anemic growth and high unemployment: exports.

Exclusive: Obama Weighs In on Rep. Weiner  —  President Barack Obama had words of encouragement for disgraced former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, who resigned yesterday in the wake of a sexting scandal.  —  “I think it was just important for him to be able to focus on his family.

Call Off the Global Drug War  —  IN an extraordinary new initiative announced earlier this month, the Global Commission on Drug Policy has made some courageous and profoundly important recommendations in a report on how to bring more effective control over the illicit drug trade.

Republicans Urge Cuomo to Alter Same-Sex Marriage Bill  —  ALBANY — Several Republican senators in New York are urging Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to consider changing his proposed same-sex marriage bill to better protect religious institutions, addressing a concern that has emerged …

Edwards Sought Millions From ‘Bunny’ Mellon  —  Just weeks before federal prosecutors charged John Edwards in a six-count felony indictment, ABC News has been told, the two-time Democratic presidential candidate requested millions of dollars from Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, the banking heiress …

Wall Street Braces for New Layoffs as Profits Wane  —  Wall Street plans to get smaller this summer.  Faced with weak markets and uncertainty over regulations, many of the biggest firms are preparing for deep cuts in jobs and other costs.  —  The cutback plans are emerging even as Wall Street firms …

2012 Voter Preferences for Obama, “Republican” Remain Close  —  Forty-four percent prefer the Republican; 39%, Obama  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Forty-four percent of registered voters say they are more likely to vote for “the Republican Party's candidate” and 39% for Barack Obama …

TRENDING: Romney tells actual unemployed people he is also unemployed  —  (CNN) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has more in common with the average voter than it may seem, or so he said during a campaign stop in Tampa, Florida Thursday.  —  After listening to a group …

Southern Baptists urge path to citizenship for illegal immigrants  —  The Southern Baptist Convention has passed a resolution advocating a path to legal status for illegal immigrants.  —  The resolution was passed on Wednesday at the annual meeting of the nation's largest protestant denomination in Phoenix.

White House's Daley seeks balance in outreach meeting with manufacturers  —  It was supposed to be the White House's latest make-nice session with corporate America — a visit by Chief of Staff William M. Daley to a meeting with hundreds of manufacturing executives in town to press lawmakers for looser regulations.

Weinergate: The Search for Meaning!  —  There's no deeper issues.  No broader anything it gets to.  This is a congressman with serious impulse control who's sending muscle shot and maybe penis shot pictures to women on the internet.  —  It's just part and parcel of the ridiculousness of politics and public life in America.

Who Is James Johnson?  —  Most political scandals involve people who are not really enmeshed in the Washington establishment — people like Representative Anthony Weiner or Representative William Jefferson.  Most scandals involve spectacularly bad behavior — like posting pictures …

For Weiner's Successor, Perhaps, Lame-Duck Status  —  So, who wants to be a lame-duck freshman?  —  That was the reaction from political insiders on Thursday when asked what would become of Representative Anthony D. Weiner's Congressional district, which covers Brooklyn and Queens.