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- The most striking thing I've read today was this column by the AP's Ron Fournier. Ostensibly it describes the political risks for Obama of appearing "arrogant" and claims, in Fournier's typically harsh language, that he "oozes a sense of entitlement" and so on. Fournier's opinion is certainly one a reasonable observer could come to, but it's also incredibly one-sided (he quotes Michelle Obama praising Barack but doesn't mention that she's been criticized for how often she puts him down on the trail for example) and states as facts things that are at best very debatable. What's more, penning a column focusing entirely on evidence of Obama's arrogance on the premise that this arrogance could be politically damaging is almost certain to be a self-fulfilling prophecy if repeated enough times. Fournier is a proponent of reporters speaking authoritatively and I applaud that, but doing so should also require questioning your own views, as well as those of the people you cover and thinking critically about your role in shaping the public debate.
- Newsweek provides some much-needed fact-checking on Clinton's claims of foreign policy experience and comes away with a mixed picture. Looks like this is just another Rorschach test issue.
- Obama will give a big speech tomorrow on religion. I should also note that I didn't say last week that I though the Reverend Wright issue would blow over, but I do think Obama has handled it well and that the McCain and Clinton campaigns will stay away from it.
- Bill Kristol relies on Newsmax for a claim that Obama attended a controversial Wright speech. Surprise, surprise, it turns out not to be true.
- Obama has picked up 48 superdelegates since Feb 5th, Clinton 0.
- Obama also got ten new delegates in Iowa. The caucuses back in January only pick delegates to the country conventions which actually pick the delegates to the DNC. That's what was held Saturday. Clinton actually lost one delegate and Edwards held on to 6 (instead of the 15 he was projected to get back in January based on his results in the caucuses).
- Ron Brownstein explains why talk of a dream ticket persists.
- Go here and here for more on the Florida situation and the credentials committee than I can summarize here.
- If the Democrats weren't so busy beating each other up more people might have noticed that McCain hasn't released his tax returns either.
- Max Sawicky explains Obama's economics on Pajamas Media of all places.
- Patrick Ruffini argues that McCain is using his website to persuade undecided voters in a way other candidates don't.
- John McCain is your very very old bicycle.
--Sam Boyd
