Clinton holds a big lead in West Virginia.

(CNN) – Even as she faces pressure from some to call her White House bid quits, Hillary Clinton holds a commanding lead in West Virginia, according to a new poll released Friday.

Clinton has a 43-point advantage over Obama, 66 percent to 23 percent, according to a new survey from the American Research Group.

The poll was conducted entirely after Tuesday's primary results, and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The poll suggests Clinton’s white, working class base seems to be holding firm for her — at least in West Virginia, where that demographic makes up a substantial portion of the Democratic electorate.

West Virginia, one of the six contests left in the Democratic presidential race, votes next Tuesday.

CNN=Politics Daily is The Best Political Podcast from the Best Political Team.

(CNN) — CNN's Candy Crowley reports Barack Obama is close to overtaking Hillary Clinton in the superdelegate gap, in Friday's edition of the CNN=Politics Daily Podcast.

CNN's Mary Snow reports John McCain and Barack Obama are trading jabs in what could be a preview of the upcoming general election match-up.

And, a wedding in Crawford. CNN's Elaine Quijano has the details of Jenna Bush's private wedding Saturday at the Bush ranch in Texas.

Finally, CNN's Jennifer Mikell sums up the week's most memorable moments from the campaign trail.

Click here to subscribe to CNN=Politics Daily.

(CNN) — Barack Obama picked up another three more superdelegates Friday afternoon.

Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono, South Carolina Democratic Party Vice Chair Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, and New Mexico add on delegate Laurie Weahkee all announced they are backing the Illinois senator.

CNN has also confirmed five new superdelegates for Clinton, though they all endorsed the New York senator before the primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. The latest announcements for Obama narrow Clinton's lead in superdelegates to four. At the year's start, she led by more than 100 superdelegates.

(Updates with New Mexico superdelegate)

(CNN)— Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman echoed presumptive nominee John McCain's increasing criticism of Barack Obama’s willingness to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday, the Democrat turned independent said he didn’t question Obama’s commitment when it comes to the Middle East, but said the Illinois senator's failure to set pre-conditions on the meeting shows inexperience, and “not only gives prestige [to Ahmedinajad], but threatens our allies in the region.”

“One of John’s strengths is that our allies and friends will trust him and our enemies will fear him," said Lieberman, who has backed the Arizona senator's presidential bid. "McCain knows when to be tough and when to be soft.”

Lieberman said the Democratic race wasn't over yet — but he said it was pretty clear to him that Obama will be the nominee, adding “it will be a tough [general election] campaign.”

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

For all those like Mitt Romney who said, when talking about Barack Obama, "The presidency of the United States is not an internship," consider this.

The young guy with not nearly as much political experience is on the verge of toppling one of the most powerful political names of the last 50 years, Hillary Clinton. For all her claims of having more experience, the relative newcomer proved to have a lot more moxie.

She said "experience." He said "change."

To read more and contribute to the Cafferty File discussion click here

Blitzer: McCain's camp said Obama was making a dig at the Republican's age; Obama denies the charge.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Whenever I interview a major newsmaker, I always marvel at the pickup of the interview by other news organizations and the reaction from interested parties. The latest case in point is my interview this week with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

During the interview, I asked Obama to react to a suggestion from Republican presidential candidate John McCain that the Democrat was the preferred candidate of the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Obama replied that that assertion was “offensive” and “a smear.” He then added: “And so for him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination.”

It didn’t take very long for the McCain campaign to respond. “First,” McCain’s senior adviser Mark Salter wrote in a memo, “let us be clear about the nature of Senator Obama’s attack today. He used the words ‘losing his bearings’ intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain’s age as an issue. This is typical of the Obama style of campaigning.”

Read the rest of this entry »

John Edwards said the math isn't working in Clinton's favor.

(CNN) – John Edwards still isn’t backing a candidate in this year’s Democratic primary race – but it looks like he might be ready to pick a winner.

The former presidential candidate told interviewers on NBC and MSNBC that Barack Obama will probably top the Democratic ticket this fall.

Hillary Clinton has said that she can still win the nomination – but "it's very difficult to make the math work," said Edwards.

Which one of the remaining contenders is best-equipped to beat presumptive Republican nominee John McCain? Edwards tried to avoid picking between the two – then chose Obama, because he said the Illinois senator was the probable Democratic nominee.

He added that he worried the continuing campaign could take a toll on the party’s presidential chances. “I think it’s fine for Hillary to keep making the case for her,” said the former North Carolina senator. “But when that shifts to everything that is wrong with him, then we’re doing damage instead of being helpful.”

Edwards has been heavily wooed by both the Clinton and Obama campaigns since he ended his presidential run in January, but has not publicly endorsed either candidate.

Barack Obama targeted McCain Friday.

BEAVERTON, Oregon (CNN) – What just a week ago was a joint attack on Hillary Clinton and John McCain over the proposed gas tax holiday is now just an attack on McCain — in fact, nowhere in his opening words did Barack Obama utter the word "Clinton."

"McCain," on the other hand, was tossed out nine times in the prepared comments.

The Illinois senator called the presumptive Republican nominee "dead wrong" when it comes to comments he made about the economy under the Bush administration, and he even took a swipe at McCain's healthcare plan — an issue that has not traditionally been used as a means to contrast himself from the Arizona senator.

"John McCain wants to continue a George Bush approach that only takes care of the healthy and the wealthy," Obama said.

During a question-and-answer session, however, Obama was asked what he thought about the idea of picking Clinton as his running mate. The White House hopeful repeated his standard response: that he has "not won this nomination yet" and that the two Democrats are still "actively running."

"She is very smart, and so I think she would be on anyone's…short list of vice presidential candidates," Obama said. "But beyond that I don't want to offer an opinion."

Ted Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama last January.

(CNN) – Add Obama supporter Sen. Ted Kennedy to the list of joint-ticket naysayers.

In an interview airing this weekend, the Massachusetts senator told Bloomberg’s Al Hunt that despite widespread talk of a ticket featuring both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, "I don't think it's possible."

He added that “…I would hope that he would also give consideration to somebody that has — is in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people. And I think if we had real leadership — as we do with Barack Obama — in the number-two spot as well, it'd be enormously helpful.”

Kennedy also said that he had not spoken with former President Bill Clinton since endorsing Barack Obama.

(CNN) — Barack Obama picked up another superdelegate Friday, narrowing Hillary Clinton's advantage to three.

Democratic National Committee Member Ed Espinoza formally endorsed Obama, saying he has "the character to lead our great nation."

“I am endorsing Barack Obama today because throughout this process I have seen him show a judgment and character that we need in our next president," he said in a statement released by the campaign. "From day one he opposed the Iraq war and has a plan to end the war in a responsible way and bring our sons and daughters home."

Espinoza is a former supporter of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential bid.

Watch portions Sens. McCain and Lieberman's remarks Friday.

NEWARK, New Jersey (CNN) – John McCain on Friday defended his charge that the terrorist organization Hamas is rooting for Barack Obama to win the presidency — and said voters were welcome to discuss whether his age should be a factor in the fall campaign.

A Hamas official told an interviewer last month that the group approved of Obama's candidacy. Friday, McCain said the group's opinion is relevant — despite Obama's characterization of that opinion as a “smear.”

“It's very obvious to everyone that Senator Obama shares nothing of the values or goals of Hamas, which is a terrorist organization,” McCain said. “But it's also fact that a spokesperson from Hamas said that he approves of Obama's candidacy. I think that's of interest to the American people.”

McCain's campaign reacted with outrage Thursday to Obama's remark that the senator was “losing his bearings” over the course of the campaign — a phrase they said was a dig at the Arizona senator's age. But McCain himself said Friday the language didn't bother him.

“I ignore it,” McCain said. “I don’t take offense to it.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The RNC launched a new Web site Friday.

(CNN) — The Republican National Committee is stepping up its efforts against Barack Obama, launching a new Web site Friday that solicits voters to question the Illinois senator on issues "he has failed to address or refused to answer."

The site is encouraging both text and video submissions via YouTube. It also features a Web video suggesting certain questions to ask, including, "Why, as an Illinois state Senator, did he vote 'present' over 130 times instead of 'yes' or 'no' on difficult issues like abortion, crime, and guns?" and "Why did he tell donors in San Francisco that the economy has driven small town voters to 'cling' to guns and religion?"

The Clinton campaign continues to press the electablitly issue.

(CNN) – Hillary Clinton’s campaign stepped up its efforts to convince uncommitted members of Congress to back her campaign Friday, releasing a memo signed by more than a dozen congressional Democrats that argues she is “the strongest candidate to have at the top of the ticket this fall” and sending a PowerPoint presentation to legislators detailing her ability to carry swing districts.

The representatives – including Kendrick Meek and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, one of the states at the center of the party’s heated delegate dispute – say the party will unite around Barack Obama if he becomes the nominee, but point to her wins in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania as evidence she can “connect with voters we must deliver in the fall, including blue collar Democrats who can sway this election as they have in the past….

“Hillary has won rural and suburban districts which we as Democrats must carry to maintain our edge in Congress.”

And in a PowerPoint presentation e-mailed to every Democratic legislator on Capitol Hill, along with the rest of the party’s superdelegates, the Clinton campaign detailed instances that demonstrated how Clinton had beaten Obama in Republican-leaning congressional districts, and had consistently topped him among key voting blocs like seniors and Hispanics.

“In 2006, the Democrats retook Congress by picking up 31 new seats. 20 of these freshmen Democrats are in Republican-leaning districts that voted for President Bush in 2004,” says the presentation. “These freshmen need a nominee who can compete in their tough districts.”

Watch Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley report on the latest superdelegates totals.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama closed in Friday on Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead among supedelegates, the Democratic party officials who hold the balance of power in determining which one will be the party's nominee for president in November.

The Obama campaign announced the support of two new superdelegates early Friday morning — including one who had been backing Clinton. Clinton also announced a new supporter, maintaining her lead over the Illinois senator, but only by a handful of delegates. (Related: Another Clinton superdelegate jumps ship to Obama)

Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon announced his support for Obama to his local newspaper, the Oregonian. Oregon voters are currently in the middle of primary voting, which takes place through the mail.

Rep. Donald Payne, a New Jersey Democrat and an early Clinton supporter, told the Newark Star-Ledger he was switching to Obama. He is the third person to leave Clinton for Obama in the past 72 hours. Former Sen. George McGovern, D-South Dakota, announced Wednesday he had decided to switch, as did a Virginia superdelegate.

Rep. Christopher Carney of Pennsylvania said he was backing Clinton, the Clinton campaign told CNN.

Obama's huge victory over Clinton in North Carolina's Democratic primary Tuesday, coupled with a narrow loss in Indiana, put him within striking distance of the number of delegates he needs to cement the nomination.

A flood of endorsements from superdelegates could virtually end the race.

Read the rest of this entry »

(CNN)—Wolf Blitzer’s interview with Barack Obama elicited a tremendous response Thursday.

What did you think of the interview?

You can send an I-report by clicking here. Let us know what you thought.

Watch Lawrence O'Donnell's interview.

(CNN)— Lawrence O’Donnell, Emmy-Award winning producer of The West Wing and a contributor to the Huffington post, said Friday that a senior Clinton campaign official told him the New York Senator will be leaving the race by June 15 with a clear exit strategy.

O’Donnel said the senior campaign official told him they will continue on through the “final votes on June 3,” during which Clinton and Obama are expected to split the states.

After that point, O’Donnell said, the Clinton campaign “will take no more than a week to make their case to superdelegates and as you know, the superdelegates have absolutely no chance of moving over to Hillary Clinton in a week.”

Sharpton says it's time for Clinton to quit.

(CNN) – The Rev. Al Sharpton has some blunt words for Hillary Clinton: "It's over."

Speaking on NY 1 Thursday night, Sharpton said it is now impossible for the New York senator to win the White House "without the total destruction of the Democratic Party.

Sharpton also likened Clinton to an entertainer that doesn't know when to exit the stage.

"The worst thing in the world is when an entertainer doesn’t know when the show is over," he said. "The audience is gone, the lights are down, you’re getting ready to cut the mics off and you are still on the stage singing.

"It’s over, it’s all right, it’s over," he said. "Come sing another day, but this show is over, Senator Clinton."

Hillary Clinton pushed for another debate with Barack Obama.

CENTRAL POINT, Oregon (CNN) – Campaigning in her third state of the day on Thursday, Hillary Clinton again called for a debate with Barack Obama, arguing that many of the issues faced in Oregon are not the same as the rest of the country.

“The problems in Oregon are not the same as the problems in Indiana. They’re not the same as the problems in Pennsylvania,” Clinton told several hundred supporters at a nighttime rally."

“…That’s why I was pleased to accept the invitation from the Democratic Party of Oregon to debate my opponent,” Clinton continued, pointing out that they would both be in Portland on Friday and that she was ready “anytime, anywhere.”

Oregon and Kentucky both vote May 20; the Obama campaign has said it expects to be positioned to lock up the nomination following those contests. Clinton urged Oregon voters to not be too hasty in their decision, saying the campaign had just gotten started in the state.

“If you think you’ve made up your mind to support my opponent, wait a while,” said Clinton. “Keep thinking, keep listening, keep watching, keep hoping for that debate which would really make it a very clear choice that you’d be able to see as we talked about the issues that affect Oregon.”

Clinton addressed the question that many have been asking – why does she keep going in the face of Obama’s seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.

“I’m going to keep going because you keep going,” Clinton told the gathering. “When people get up everyday and face the odds that so many face in life and they keep going, of course, that’s what you do if you believe that the future can be better than the present.”

Mark Sanford poses for a picture with President Bush.

(CNN) – Mark Sanford might be considered a vice presidential prospect by some, but the South Carolina governor won’t be appearing with John McCain when the presumptive Republican nominee arrives in the Palmetto State on Friday.

Sanford, a member of the Air Force Reserves, has reserve duty on Friday, a commitment that will keep him far away from McCain’s press conference in Columbia this afternoon.

Joel Sawyer, a spokesman for the governor, said Sanford’s wife Jenny will attend the McCain press conference as well as a big-ticket fundraiser in Columbia later in the day.

Despite the vice presidential speculation surrounding Sanford nationally, several McCain insiders in the state have privately downplayed the likelihood that he will tap Sanford, a staunch fiscal conservative, as a running mate.

McCain was asked about his vice presidential search process at a campaign event in New Jersey on Friday morning.

“There is a period where you just start looking at a large number of people,” McCain responded, “and we are still at that stage.”

Obama takes a breather on board the campaign plane.

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WASHINGTON, DC AND PORTLAND, OREGON (CNN) – What's the best way to kill time on a five-hour flight? If you ask Barack Obama, he might suggest you play the game 'Taboo.'

The popular word game has recently become a staple among the traveling press corps as a way to pass time, and Thursday night's cross-country flight proved to be too much for the Illinois senator, as well—he came back for press vs. campaign staff match-up just a short while after takeoff.

In 'Taboo,' players — six on each team in this case — shouting clues at teammates in the hopes they'll quickly guess the word printed on a card.

The White House hopeful downplayed any expectations people may have had of his skills by repeating that he was going up against "wordsmiths" who have the kind of vocabularies that would, he said, give them an edge.

So it began — but not without the use of a few campaign-related clues.

Take the card with "California" printed on it, for example. To elicit that specific word as a response from his team, one reporter said it was "where Sen. Obama said his 'bitter' comments." Sen. Obama, meanwhile, stood just inches away. He laughed and told the group he came back to get away from politics.

The central rule of the game is that players are given a list of words or phrases they aren't allowed to use as clues — if someone on the opposing team notices this rule broken, he or she uses a battery powered alarm, and the opposing team gets the point.

When it was his moment to dish out the hints, a competitive Obama turned to one reporter and jokingly advised that they not "buzz" him because if they did he would limit their access on the trail.

Read the rest of this entry »