AP - Senate Democrats failed Friday to advance a measure to rein in oil market speculators, one of a series of efforts to tell voters they are serious about addressing $4-a-gallon gasoline, and they rejected Republican calls to expand offshore oil production.

AP - Democrat Barack Obama has opened a big lead among Hispanic voters, winning support from the vast majority of those who had voted for rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries, according to a poll released Thursday.

AP - The request befuddled Leah Daughtry. The experienced political hand in charge of planning next month's Democratic National Convention — a self-described "black chick from Brooklyn" and ordained Pentecostal minister who keeps a Bible in her purse — didn't know what to tell the atheists.

AP - Democrats are climbing out of the political graveyard in Texas where George W. Bush buried them. But winning local and legislative races is a far cry from delivering the state for their presidential nominee.

AP - Obama's trip to Mideast, Europe: Campaign-season audition for pledge of new era in diplomacy ... Obama campaign raised $52 million last month, has $92.3 million in bank with DNC ... Evangelicals quietly worry about McCain ... Barack Obama says criticism of his wife is 'infuriating,' blames conservative news media ... NYC mayor offers to ease Clinton's transition back to senator