Compiled by Jonathan Helman
CNN Washington Bureau
Washington Post: Clinton Unveils Plan to Ease Housing Crisis
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton sought on Monday to pitch herself as the remedy to the nation's housing crisis, a claim that drew an aggressive pushback from Sen. Barack Obama's campaign as the two candidates continued to wrestle for the upper hand on the issue of the economy.
NY Times: Obama’s Test: Can a Liberal Be a Unifier?
At the core of Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is a promise that he can transcend the starkly red-and-blue politics of the last 15 years, end the partisan and ideological wars and build a new governing majority. To achieve the change the country wants, he says, “we need a leader who can finally move beyond the divisive politics of Washington and bring Democrats, independents and Republicans together to get things done.” But this promise leads, inevitably, to a question: Can such a majority be built and led by Mr. Obama, whose voting record was, by one ranking, the most liberal in the Senate last year?
USA Today: Worried Dems wish for 'dream team'
What are the odds Democrats will field a "dream team ticket" with Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton combining forces?
AP: McCain Says U.S. Succeeding In Iraq
Fresh off his eighth Iraq visit, Sen. John McCain declared Monday that "we are succeeding" and said he wouldn't change course — even as the U.S. death toll rose to 4,000 and the war entered its sixth year.
Washington Post: Indiana Shapes Up as a State of Parity for Democrats
Something unusual appears to be developing in the Democratic presidential race in this state: a fair fight. Wedged between Illinois, which is Sen. Barack Obama's home state, and Ohio, which Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton dominated on March 4, Indiana may be the one state remaining on the primary calendar where both candidates begin with a roughly equal chance of coming out ahead.
WSJ: Campaigns Quick to Shake Loose Cannons
Presidential candidates have gotten touchy about their prominent friends. Sen. Hillary Clinton dropped former Rep. Geraldine Ferraro from her campaign, Sen. Barack Obama backed away from Rev. Jeremiah Wright and academic Samantha Power, and Sen. John McCain rebuked Texas televangelist James Hagee — all because of divisive statements the friends made. The shifts illustrate a reality in this closely fought contest: When a misstep, or the appearance of one, sparks negative press, campaigns are quick to throw a high-profile supporter overboard rather than mount damage control.
Washington Times: Huckabee Cites Power Of 'Kingmakers'
Mike Huckabee can't definitively explain why he couldn't win the Republican presidential nomination, but he thinks the desire of Christian leaders to be "kingmakers," media coverage and Mother Nature all had something to do with it.
Chicago Tribune: Obama-Clinton Tie In New Poll: Pastor Flap Erased
Talk about going back to square one. On the national front, Democrats are virtually evenly split over the candidacies of Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the newest tracking poll shows.
Politico: 2008 Could See Turnout Tsunami
After a primary season marked by record-shattering voter turnout, election officials across the country are bracing for what might be an Election Day like no other. Many state and local election officials expect turnout in the Nov. 4 presidential election to exceed that of 2004, when voter turnout hit 61 percent — which was the highest level since 1968, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate.
