Elections

WASHINGTON - With the racially tinged Democratic race drawing to an awkward close, Barack Obama and John McCain face the challenge of winning over "Hillary Democrats" — the white, working-class voters who favored the former first lady over Obama's historic candidacy.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Campaigning a few miles from each other Friday, Barack Obama trained his eye on November and the GOP, while Hillary Rodham Clinton battled for her political life, trying to hang on a bit longer in hopes of denying him the Democratic presidential nomination.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Republican John McCain on Friday disputed blogger Arianna Huffington's contention that she heard him say he voted against President Bush in 2000.

It's hard not to notice: In each of the past three Republican primaries, roughly a quarter of the vote went to someone other than John McCain.

Obama wins endorsements from 5 superdelegates and government employees union ... Lieberman: McCain's bearings are just fine ... Even when it's just for fun, Obama parries media and plays to win ... McCain disputes blogger report that he voted against Bush ... Clinton vows to keep running, calls on Obama to debate her again

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Her voice raspy, her tone determined, Hillary Rodham Clinton urged her supporters Thursday to ignore the political pundits who have declared her toast.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Perhaps Barack Obama's competitive juices need new outlets now that he has expanded his lead over Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

NEW YORK - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that Republican John McCain was "losing his bearings" for repeatedly suggesting the Islamic terrorist group Hamas preferred Obama for president.

WASHINGTON - Kriss Riggs isn't one to spend her money on politicians.

May 9 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama isn't likely to pick rival Hillary Clinton as a running mate, according to one of his most prominent supporters.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Did U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain vote for President George W. Bush in 2000?

WASHINGTON (AFP) - With the Democratic presidential nomination tantalizingly within his grasp, Barack Obama has begun to burnish his image as his party's standard-bearer in the quest to wrest the White House back from the Republicans.

TITLE: "Hillary for President"

May 9 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama isn't likely to pick rival Hillary Clinton as a running mate, according to one of his most prominent supporters.

ATHENS, W.Va. - Hillary Rodham Clinton is counting on a victory in West Virginia, and it's her husband's job to run up the score.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Friday declined to make an endorsement in the Democratic presidential battle, but said Barack Obama could unite the party and win in November.

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's sprint to the Democratic nomination received another boost Friday as two more superdelegates pledged their support, including one who dropped his backing for Hillary Rodham Clinton's faltering White House bid.

WASHINGTON - The American Federation of Government Employees endorsed Barack Obama Friday, giving the Illinois senator fresh momentum toward capturing the Democratic nomination for president.

Washington - They are the only yardstick by which Barack Obama still trails Hillary Rodham Clinton: the 796 party insiders and elected officials, known as superdelegates, who are free to back either candidate in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

To get an idea of how Tuesday's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina reshaped the Democratic presidential race, consider that there were almost as many pledged delegates at stake in those two states than there are in all of the states that haven't voted yet.

NEW YORK - John McCain offered to hand out a few New York slices as he visited a fire station on a light day of campaigning Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Organized labor is paying more attention to Republican John McCain as Democrat Barack Obama solidifies his status as the front-runner in the Democratic contest against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

May 8 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he would do everything in his power to ensure Israel's security and protect the relationship that exists between Israel and the U.S.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama got a front-runner's welcome back at the Capitol Thursday, pressing congressional "superdelegates" to support him in a visit that had the look and feel of a campaign victory lap.

HELENA, Mont. - Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he would like to see the Democratic presidential race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama continue to his state's June 3 primary, the final day of voting.

WASHINGTON - Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman — who quit the Democratic Party 12 years ago to become a Republican — has accused likely Democratic opponent Al Franken of changing positions, demeanor and rhetoric in his attempt to win a Senate seat.

WASHINGTON - Cindy McCain says she will never make her tax returns public even if her husband wins the White House and she becomes the first lady.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Rep. Brad Miller is endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida's Democratic congressional delegation called on the national party Thursday to seat the state's delegation based on its January primary, and the state party is growing more hopeful that the campaigns will agree on a plan by the end of the month.