DNC Regrets Offending Ann Romney, No More Horse Videos  —  It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now the Democratic National Committee is offering an apology of sorts to Ann Romney.  —  At issue is a DNC video featuring footage of Ann Romney's dancing show horse.

Poll: Romney tied with Obama in Virginia  —  A new survey shows Mitt Romney tied with President Barack Obama in the battleground state of Virginia, exciting news for a Republican challenger who has consistently trailed in recent polling of the state.  —  The survey, released Thursday …

Michelle Bachmann refuses to back down on claims about Huma Abedin  —  (CBS News) WASHINGTON - Former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and four other conservative members of Congress are charging that people with ties to Muslim extremists have infiltrated the federal government.

Obama unleashes Medicare attack on Romney  —  *** Here comes Medicare: The past few weeks on the presidential campaign trail have featured aggressive attacks and counterattacks.  On outsourcing by Bain Capital.  On Mitt Romney's post-1999 association with that firm, as well has his tax returns.

Suicide Bomber Is Blamed in Attack on Israeli Tourist Bus in Bulgaria  —  BURGAS, Bulgaria — The attack on a tour bus carrying Israeli vacationers outside the airport here was carried out by a suicide bomber using fake American identification, officials said on Thursday.

Zimmerman Apology: Trayvon Martin Shooter Tells Parents He's Sorry During ‘Hannity’ Interview … FOLLOW:  —  Video, Sean Hannity, Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman Apology, George Zimmerman Fox News, Zimmerman Apology, Zimmerman Fox News, Zimmerman Hannity, Zimmerman Trayvon Martin, Black Voices News

Mr. Smooth: Deval Patrick eyes road fixes for Michelle Obama  —  Deval Patrick's office personally asked town officials to dispatch road crews this week to fill potholes near his Berkshires mansion to pave the way for a smooth ride for first lady Michelle Obama when she hits the Bay State …

Kelly Ayotte's $120K legal headache  —  A bizarre but little-known lawsuit has caused headaches for freshman Sen. Kelly Ayotte and cost her at least $120,000 in legal fees just as her political stock rises and she's being mentioned as a potential running mate for Mitt Romney.

What voters are really choosing in November  —  The presidential campaign has gotten so heated over the attacks and counterattacks from the Obama and Romney campaigns that it's easy to forget that larger issues are at stake in November.  That's unfortunate because, beneath the froth …

Glenn Greenwald to move to The Guardian  —  Glenn Greenwald, the political columnist who joined Salon.com in 2007, is moving to The Guardian.  —  Greenwald, a former constitutional and civil rights lawyer based in Rio de Janeiro, will move his blog en masse to the Guardian's website on August 20 …

Morgan Freeman gives $1 million to Obama super PAC  —  Actor Morgan Freeman is the newest seven-figure donor to the Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action, POLITICO has confirmed.  —  In a statement, Freeman lauded both the president's record and Priorities USA for its role in the 2012 campaign.

Kennedy family acting like crime clan after Kerry's alleged drugged-driving crash: cops  —  They're playing by mob rules.  —  The Kennedy clan's ramped-up reaction to Kerry Kennedy's alleged drugged-driving smashup has upstate authorities likening the brood to a bunch of wiseguys, sources said yesterday.

Elizabeth Warren backs President on business success  —  Elizabeth Warren yesterday came to the defense her former boss President Obama's controversial statement that businesses' owners can't take credit for their success, repeating her own campaign line that, “nobody got rich on their own.”

Unemployment Insurance Not On Congressional Radar … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Unemployment, Unemployment, Unemployment Extension, Unemployment, Barack Obama , Barack Obama , Unemployment, Unemployment, Politics News  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama took a question on the campaign trail Monday …

Scalia: Criticism of Supreme Court's health care ruling ‘offends me’  —  (CNN) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia downplayed reports of personal and ideological rifts stemming from the recent landmark health care reform ruling, telling CNN in an exclusive interview “it offends me” …

Waxman has a race on his hands  —  Henry Waxman hasn't faced a tough campaign since Lyndon B. Johnson was president and the Beatles topped the Billboard charts.  —  This year, the powerful Los Angeles congressman believes, could be different.  —  Running in a drastically redrawn district …

Wanna Be Veep?  Okay, but This Is Going to Hurt  —  For months, Mitt Romney's most trusted dirt-diggers have been scouring the secret histories of several Republicans—including punchy Chris Christie, sexy Marco Rubio, snoozy Rob Portman—as they jockey to be his running mate.

Controversial Ariz. Sheriff's Tactics Go On Trial … A trial begins Thursday in Phoenix accusing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, seen in this May 3, 2010, file photo, of violating the civil rights of Latino citizens and legal U.S. residents.  —  The self-proclaimed “Toughest Sheriff in America” …

Don't Like Blacks?  You'll Love Voter ID  —  Despite the rhetoric of GOP officials, it's more than clear that voter ID laws are designed to depress turnout among traditionally Democratic groups.  Attorney General Eric Holder has even gone so far as to attack the laws as glorified “poll taxes” …