Clinton, Obama debate tonight in PA - 8 pm ET

The closing week of the Democratic primary race in Pennsylvania is awash in fresh accusations of elitism and condescension. After sparring over those topics from afar, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama will come together Wednesday evening at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for their first debate in nearly two months, which will be televised nationally on ABC at 8 pm.

Fight leaves Dems questioning prospects

The battle between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama over whether Mr. Obama belittled voters in small towns appears to have hardened the views of both candidates’ supporters and stirred anxiety among many Democrats about the party’s prospects in the fall...

Rep. Murtha, 75, calls McCain, 71, 'too old'

"I've served with seven presidents," Murtha told a union audience. "When they come in, they all make mistakes. They all get older."

"This one guy running is about as old as me," he said, drawing laughter and applause. "Let me tell you something, it's no old man's job."

Reid: Dem nomination going to be over very soon

Does Harry Reid think the protracted nomination fight between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will harm the party?

Reid didn't miss a beat - "It makes me bitter," he deadpanned.

... In all seriousness, Reid said he believed the Democratic nomination "is all going to be over very soon"...

The Dem June solution

The idea, discussed here several weeks ago, is for all superdelegates to make their presidential preferences known shortly after the final primaries, on June 3.

Two former Democratic presidential nominees are now joining that call. Both George McGovern, the party's 1972 standard-bearer, and Mike Dukakis, its 1988 ticket-topper, tell me they think superdelegates should declare their allegiances soon after the primary season ends.

Lieberman willing to star at Republican convention

Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic Party’s 2000 vice presidential nominee, is leaving open the possibility of giving a keynote address on behalf of Sen. John McCain at the Republican National Convention in September.

Republicans close to the McCain campaign say Lieberman’s appearance at the convention, possibly before a national primetime audience, could help make the case that the presumptive GOP nominee has a record of crossing the aisle. That could appeal to much-needed independent voters.

Carter embraces Hamas official at West Bank meeting

Carter request to enter Gaza turned down

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter met an ex-minister in Hamas's government on Tuesday, defying Israeli leaders who shunned the Nobel Peace Prize laureate over his contacts with the Islamist movement.

Carter said he had sought to visit the Gaza Strip, which Hamas seized in June after routing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction. He said the request was turned down, but he did not point the finger at Israel.

Alan Keyes leaves GOP, looks at Constitution Party

Former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes announced Tuesday night that he has left the GOP and is considering joining the Constitution Party.

Keyes, who also ran as a Republican to challenge Barack Obama's U.S. Senate bid in Illinois in 2004, says he is talking with leaders and rank-and-file members of the Constitution Party.

Barack Obama... today's headlines with excerpts

USA flag pin returns
to Obama's lapel

Amazing what a protracted primary struggle amid bitter small towns will do to previously stated political positions.

The flag pin is back on the lapel of Barack Obama. No, really. Look closely at his left lapel in this photo from MSNBC on Tuesday:

Pittsburgh paper endorses Obama

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for President, noting that Obama was more the candidate for the future.

"Like two opposing armies marching to a new Gettysburg, the forces of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton come to this latest battlefield symbolizing two views of America -- one of the past, one of the future. Pennsylvania Democrats need to rise to the historic moment," the endorsement said.

Gallup poll shows Obama with largest national lead of year

Obama 51, Clinton 40

Obama leads by 15 points in North Carolina

Obama 51, Clinton 36

Obama fight leaves electability questions

... advisers to Mr. Obama concede, his job has been made that much more complicated by his remarks about bitterness among small-town voters. Though it remains unclear what effect the episode will have in the long run, it has suddenly prompted a series of questions — and worry — from Democrats about whether Mr. Obama could weather a Republican onslaught in the fall, should he win the presidential nomination. ..

Yet another PA poll shows no ill effects for Obama

...here's yet another Pennsylvania survey (.pdf), taken yesterday and the day before, finding "no ill effects" for Obama from his San Francisco comments.

The poll, of 1095 voters, has Obama up 3; as the pollsters note, it's the same statistical tie they've had in their last two rounds...

Obama tied to lobbyists, but boasts of not taking money

Barack Obama often boasts he is "the only candidate who isn't taking a dime from Washington lobbyists," yet his fundraising team includes 38 members of law firms that were paid $138 million last year to lobby the federal government, records show.

Those lawyers, including 10 former federal lobbyists, have pledged to raise at least $3.5 million for the Illinois senator's presidential race. Employees of their firms have given Obama's campaign $2.26 million, a USA TODAY analysis of campaign finance data shows.

Bruce Springsteen endorses Obama

Rock star Bruce Springsteen endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for president Wednesday, saying "he speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years."

In a letter addressed to friends and fans posted his Web site, Springsteen said he believes Obama is the best candidate to undo "the terrible damage done over the past eight years."