AP - Sens. John McCain and Chuck Hagel have long been friends. Fellow Republicans and Vietnam War veterans, their Senate offices are just across the hall from each other.

AP - Barack Obama — increasingly under fire from John McCain as he appears poised to win the Democratic nomination — said he is considering a trip to Iraq but dismissed as a "political stunt" an invitation by the Republican candidate to make the visit together.

AP - Hillary Rodham Clinton touted her electability before separate audiences Wednesday, saying her wins in swing states and strong vote margins among certain voting blocs give her the best chance of defeating Republican John McCain in November.

AFP - Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said he may visit Iraq, after taking a barrage from Republican candidate John McCain over his single previous trip to the war zone.

Reuters - President George W. Bush on Tuesday helped raise about $2.5 million for the man he hopes will succeed him, but did it in private amid questions about whether the unpopular president hurts John McCain's chances in the November election.

AFP - Hillary Clinton launched a new bid to wrest the Democratic nomination from front-runner Barack Obama Wednesday, arguing as their duel raced to a climax that she was the rightful victor and best potential president.

AP - McCain: Talk with China over halting nuclear bomb material and with Russia to reduce nukes ... Campaign says Obama made a mistake in saying great uncle liberated Nazi camp at Auschwitz ... Obama says McCain would continue Bush policies that fed housing crisis ... McCain, Bush campaign together — in private — amid complex relationship of pitfalls, benefits ... Wyoming superdelegate commits to Obama ... Bill Clinton says Puerto Rico is key to wife's claim to popular vote

Reuters - Republican candidate John McCain edged further away from U.S. President George W. Bush on foreign policy on Tuesday even as he accepted Bush's help in raising much-needed campaign dollars for his White House bid.

Reuters - U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday helped raise about $2.5 million for the man he hopes will succeed him, but did it in private amid questions about whether the unpopular president hurts John McCain's chances in the November election.

AP - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama set his sights on the West on Tuesday, saying he will fight for states there that narrowly voted Republican in the last presidential election four years ago.

Reuters - Republican candidate John McCain edged farther away from President George W. Bush on foreign policy on Tuesday even as he prepared to accept Bush's help in raising much-needed campaign dollars for his White House bid.