Blog Summaries

Greg Sargent notes that two new polls show Barack Obama ahead of Hillary Clinton by double digits nationally and in North Carolina, which holds its Democratic primary May 6. Sargent also has part of an upcoming ABC News interview in which Obama said that he's "not vetting his pastor," a statement that prompts Sargent to ask whether Obama anticipated the Jeremiah Wright controversy.

Paul Kiel writes that Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) plans to challenge the constitutionality of the conspiracy, fraud, extortion and money laundering charges he faces. Kiel also notes that Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen Johnson continues to avoid making a decision on whether Clean Air Act regulations cover greenhouse gas emissions, even though the Supreme Court has required him to decide.

Greenwald attempts to hold neoconservative Fred Kagan to account for statements that Greenwald sees as just plain wrong. Greenwald notes that Kagan said that the "civil war in Iraq is over" on Monday, mere hours before heavy fighting broke out in Basra between Iraqi government forces and the Mahdi Army.

Yglesias, an Obama supporter, says that one disappointment with his campaign is its failure to distinguish himself in work-family issues, an area where the United States could improve, according to a Harvard study. He also notes the Think Progress post accusing McCain of plagiarism, and then its subsequent correction.

Ambinder notes the latest punditry from three prominent political observers: Karl Rove, who argues that Obama can allow the seating of Florida and Michigan delegates to help him lock up the nomination; Joe Klein, who sees a path for Al Gore to become the Democrats' nominee; and Matt Bai, who ruminates over the conditions needed for a candidate's bad moment to become dangerous. Ambers also looks at Gallup polling data and finds that the Clinton supporters most likely to defect to McCain if Obama wins the nomination are conservative Democrats and independents.

Chris Cillizza cautions readers to be careful putting too much stock in a Gallup poll showing that 28 percent of Clinton backers and 19 percent of Obama supporters would vote for McCain if their candidate loses the Democratic nomination fight. Cillizza notes that the polling director himself said Democratic voters may merely be voicing early frustrations and could back the party nominee in November.

Klein breaks down speeches on the housing crisis by Clinton, Obama and McCain, and concludes that both Clinton and Obama both have a grasp of what's needed. While Clinton sells herself as a manager, and Obama as an inspirational leader, McCain sounds like a pro wrestler, Klein argues.

Jennifer Rubin suggests that Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton are in a contest to see who can do more damage to their spouse. Rubin claims that Cindy McCain doesn't do anything to embarrass hers. Rubin also gets the sense that Democrats are "wimps" after listening to Barack Obama liken the primary fight to the Bataan Death March and his supporter, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) complain about "daily sniping."

The letter sent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi by 20 Clinton fundraisers and donors outraged HuffPo blogger Oliver Willis.

Bill Clinton