THE VETTING: BEN SMITH RELEASES SELECTIVELY EDITED OBAMA RACE VIDEO  —  Earlier today, Buzzfeed's Ben Smith announced on Twitter that video researcher Andrew Kaczynski had released “the mysterious Harvard/Obama/race video that the Breitbart folks have been talking about.”

Rush Limbaugh: Over 40 Advertisers Flee, Host Says 'Everything's Cool'  —  Talk show host Rush Limbaugh sought to reassure listeners Wednesday after the tally of local and national companies that have pulled their advertisements from his time slot topped 40, insisting that the show …

Gingrich spokesman: Alabama and Mississippi are must-wins  —  Newt Gingrich is canceling planned events in Kansas and instead pivoting his campaign to focus on racking up delegates in the Deep South, with campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond acknowledging Wednesday that the former Speaker needs wins …

$1B of TSA Nude Body Scanners Made Worthless By Blog — How Anyone Can Get Anything Past The Scanners  —  This video is here to demonstrate that the TSA's insistence that the nude body scanner program is effective and necessary is nothing but a fraud, just like their claims that the program is safe …

TPM2012  —  Bachmann: ‘Health Care Dictator’ Could Decide How Many Babies You Can Have  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is warning that the Obama administration's contraception insurance mandate could put America on a slippery slope — to a totalitarian one-child policy.

‘Joe the Plumber’ wins Ohio Republican congressional primary bid  —  Yes, Marcy Kaptur blew out Dennis Kucinich, and Jean Schmidt unexpectedly lost her House seat to a challenger.  —  But one of the biggest — and most overlooked — surprises of Tuesday night was in a northeast Ohio Republican congressional primary.

Clay clerk accuses U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns of trying to buy him out of race  —  GREEN COVE SPRINGS — Clay Clerk of Courts James Jett told a group of Republicans today the FBI is looking into Rep. Cliff Stearns for what Jett said is a plot to buy him out of this fall's congressional primary.

Channel 4 booting anchorwoman Sue Simmons after 32 years  —  After more than three decades, WNBC/Channel 4 is tossing anchorwoman Sue Simmons overboard.  —  Last week, the station gave her the bad news that her contract would not be renewed — and come June, she's history.

Maine Miscellany  —It looks like Maine voters will reverse their 2009 decision and legalize gay marriage in the state this fall.  54% think that gay marriage should be legal to only 41% who think it should be illegal.  And when we asked about the issue using the exact language voters …

Conspiracy, Again  —  As Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio beclowns himself and his wayward admirers, it is worth bearing in mind that the manufactured controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's birth certificate has its origins in anonymous e-mails sent by Hillary Clinton partisans during the 2008 Democratic primary.

Obama Calls Gas ‘Fuel of the Past’  —  Visiting the key battleground state of North Carolina today, President Obama urged Americans to embrace alternative energy sources and lessen their dependence on oil, calling it a “fuel of the past.”  —  As rising gas prices become a key issue on the campaign trail …

Lottery winner still using Michigan Bridge card  —  A million bucks isn't enough for some  —  DETROIT -  —  According to a study, 25 percent of Michigan households receive food assistance—hardly a surprising figure considering today's economic picture.  What is surprising, however …

Obama loses Dem primary in 15 Oklahoma counties  —  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — President Barack Obama collected the most votes in the Oklahoma Democratic primary, but lost in 15 counties.  —  With 98 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday, Obama won 57 percent of the vote.

Racial incident mars high school game  —  School district, students apologize  —  SAN ANTONIO -  —  A local school district is apologizing after an apparent incident of racism at a boys high school basketball game this past weekend.  —  When the final whistle blew Saturday …

Mitt Romney's Zombie Problem  —  The GOP front-runner's grabbing more of the delegates—but he's being pursued by living-dead competitors he can't vanquish.  —  Mitt Romney faces the fundamental problem confronted by all zombie hunters: How do you kill that which is dead already?