Over the last three months, the Illinois senator has won six of 14 contests, one less than the seven Clinton has won. (They essentially tied in Texas as she won the primary and he won the caucus.) A loss to Clinton in either primary today would underscore Obama's relatively weak finish and make his narrow victory over the New York senator slimmer.”

I don't have anything particularly deep to say about this, other than that it demonstrates that the politics and policy around this issue are far from settled. There are plenty of areas where progressive goals and conservative principles overlap -- mainly around transparency and simplicity. There are far more wrinkles in this issue than have been explored yet. Interesting times!

The cause of Israel, and of our common security, has always depended on men and women of courage, and I've been lucky enough to know quite a few of them. I think often of one in particular, the late Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson. I got to know Senator Jackson when I was the Navy liaison to the Senate. In 1979, I traveled with him to Israel, where I knew he was considered a hero. But I had no idea just how admired he was until we landed in Tel Aviv, to find a crowd of seven or eight hundred Israelis calling out his name, waving signs that read "God Bless you, Scoop" and "Senator Jackson, thank you." Scoop Jackson had the special respect of the Jewish people, the kind of respect accorded to brave and faithful friends. He was and remains the model of what an American statesman should be.

Obamamania apparently has no borders, reaching deep into the nation's capital and drawing volunteers and supporters who are thrilled by what they call a "once-in-a-lifetime campaign." Since the Democratic primary season began in January, Barack Obama fans in Ottawa have been rallying at home and in the U.S. for their candidate to prevail over Hillary Clinton. Now, as Mr. Obama looks almost certain to clinch the Democratic nomination tomorrow with the last of the nominating contests, some here are already planning to help him battle John McCain in the general election.