Obama denounces Wright  —  In Winston-Salem, Obama sharply attacks Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the substance of his remarks yesterday, a far sharper disavowal than he gave in Philadelphia last month.  —  The core of his message: That Wright was not only offensive, but the polar opposite of Obama's own views and politics.

McCain offers market-based health plan  —  Proposes tax credits for individuals; critics say poor would be left behind  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Sen. John McCain on Tuesday rejected calls by his Democratic opponents for universal health coverage, instead offering a market-based solution …

Rush Calls Operation Chaos Pause  —  BEGIN TRANSCRIPT  —  RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, I am calling an operational pause in Operation Chaos.  We have a week to figure out now what's best to do.  If your state still allows voter registration, keep that up, continue to register as a Democrat in upcoming Operation Chaos primaries.

Franken owes $70,000 in back taxes in 17 states  —  DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken, frontrunner in the race to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, owes $70,000 in back taxes in 17 states, where he earned income going back to 2003.  —  Franken on Tuesday told the Associated Press …

Gallup Daily: Clinton 47%, Obama 46%  —  Democratic preferences remain very close  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Democrats at the national level remain very closely divided in their preferences for their party's presidential nomination, with the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update showing 47% …

Michigan Dems Propose Delegate Solution  —  DEMOCRATS IN Michigan want Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee to sign on to a compromise that would allocate a net of ten delegates to Hillary Clinton.  Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick …

Gas tax follies  —  I've been on the road (actually doing a public dialog with Barney Frank on financial reform), so I'm just catching up.  Anyway, John McCain has a really bad idea on gasoline, Hillary Clinton is emulating him (but with a twist that makes her plan pointless rather than evil), and Barack Obama, to his credit, says no.

America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree  —  Among my saddest moments as a career counselor is when I hear a story like this: “I wasn't a good student in high school, but I wanted to prove that I can get a college diploma.  I'd be the first one in my family to do it.

Why'd Obama Join Trinity in the First Place?  —  The question is worth revisiting now that his ex-pastor is threatening his entire campaign.  —  I've heard two basic theories since the Wright tapes first surfaced in March.  The first is cynical: Obama was a black politician in Chicago …