FLOR-IGAN: "Democratic National Committee rules require that the two states lose at least half of their convention delegates for holding elections too early, the party's legal experts wrote in a 38-page memo," the AP's Pickler writes. "The memo was sent late Tuesday to the 30 members of the party's Rules and Bylaws Committee, which plans to meet Saturday at a Washington hotel. The committee is considering ways to include the two important general election battlegrounds at the nominating convention in August, and the staff analysis says seating half the delegates is 'as far as it legally can' go."
 
More: "Saturday's meeting is expected to draw a large crowd, with Clinton supporters among those encouraging a protest outside demanding that all the states' delegates be seated. Proponents of full reseating have mailed committee members Florida oranges and pairs of shoes to get their attention."

The New York Post hears what others are as well: "The Democratic Party is eyeing a compromise plan to settle the divisive dispute over contested primaries in Florida and Michigan in which half the two states' delegates would be seated at the convention, sources said yesterday." Halving the delegates is what the Republicans did in the first place. The RNC punished several states, including Michigan and Florida for moving up their primaries and they lost half their delegates.

The New York Daily News adds, "The Obama camp has signaled it's willing to give her slightly more than 50% of the delegates from the two states -- but that's all. So the two camps are waging a bareknuckle blitz to woo a majority of the 28 voting members of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee. 'That's part of the process. Everybody is trying to feel each other out,' said undeclared committee member Donna Brazile. 'There is a lot of posturing going on, but I'm not interested in the posturing. I want to make sure that the process is fair.' … Sources said some of Clinton's backers may bolt. 'There are some members of the committee who will stick with their candidate until the end, but there are other people who will side with doing the right thing,' said a party insider."

Politico's Roger Simon has an excellent primer on Saturday's DNC Rules committee meeting, including a quote from ex-DNC Chair and major Rules committee player Don Fowler indicating support for a 50% cut.

MONTANA: Is Clinton writing off Montana? Per NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli, Clinton's visit to Montana yesterday was brief, with only two stops. She hadn't visited since attending a Democratic Party dinner in April, and likely won't again until next week, if at all. Today, she begins a two-day visit to South Dakota with a trip to Mount Rushmore.

Channeling First Read a bit, Maureen Dowd does one of her fictional conversations -- this one between Obama and Bill Clinton on the rules Obama would have for the former president should he decide to pick Hillary as his veep.

"The former first lady has refrained from criticizing Obama directly in recent weeks as he has built an almost insurmountable lead among the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination," the AP's Fouhy writes. "But without mentioning his name [in Montana], Clinton strongly implied that if the Illinois senator becomes the nominee he could be headed for defeat in the general election. 'We have not gone through this exciting, unprecedented, historical election only to lose," Clinton told several hundred supporters here. 'You have to ask yourself, who is the stronger candidate? And based on every analysis of every bit of research and every poll that's been taken and every state a Democrat has to win, I am the stronger candidate against John McCain in the fall.'" 
 
The AP writes that even though Bill Clinton didn't technically have the number of delegates needed until June, "he had essentially won the nomination in March 1992."

The Washington Post writes on the uncomfortable two-day fundraising swing Bush is making on behalf of McCain. "The fleeting public appearances of an unpopular president on behalf of the potential heir to the leadership of the Republican Party underscore the delicate balance for McCain, who is trying to appeal to a restless GOP base that continues to embrace the president while reaching out to moderates and independents who want to move beyond the Bush administration. For now, the senator from Arizona remains locked in a tight race for the White House -- evidence that Americans see him as a brand apart from the GOP."

Whether McCain can continue soaring above his ailing party, or will find himself crashing down to Earth with it, could determine whether Republicans retain control of the White House next year."

But on a day when President Bush is raising money for McCain, having a lead like this in the New York Times is helpful. "McCain distanced himself from the Bush administration on Tuesday by vowing to work more closely with Russia on nuclear disarmament and to move toward the elimination of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe." More: "But Mr. McCain's talk of nuclear cooperation with Russia raised questions about how receptive Moscow might be to Mr. McCain if he were elected, when another of the senator's proposals — excluding Russia from the Group of Eight industrialized countries — seems sure to test relations."

"Mr. McCain's remarks were his most extensive as a presidential candidate on nuclear policy and were part of his effort to advance his national security credentials compared with those of Senator Barack Obama. Although Mr. McCain touched on the subject in late March in a major foreign policy address in Los Angeles, his speech in Denver served as a marker of where a McCain administration would stand on nuclear proliferation and arms deals with the Russians."

The Los Angeles Times gave him a similar "distance" lead. "McCain attempted to distance himself from the Bush administration Tuesday on one of the most contentious foreign policy issues besides Iraq, saying he would work more closely with Russia on nuclear disarmament and would ax plans for a nuclear weapon once coveted by the current president. McCain's advisors characterized his speech on nuclear security policy as a 'significant departure' from President Bush's policies, and it did embrace several initiatives that have been touted by moderates in both parties but largely shunned by the White House."

The AP's Sidoti: "McCain called Tuesday for talks with China to negotiate a temporary halt to production of nuclear weapons-grade material and with Russia on a new treaty to destroy more nuclear weapons." 
 
Is that an Obama fan in that McCain campaign ad?

Obama had to clarify a statement he made on Monday about his uncle's role in World War II, the Washington Post writes. "Speaking in New Mexico on Memorial Day, Obama said a great-uncle had helped to liberate the Auschwitz death camp at the end of World War II. 'I had a uncle who was one of the, who was part of the first American troops to go into Auschwitz and liberate the concentration camps,' Obama said… He continued: 'And the story in my family is that when he came home, he just went into the attic, and he didn't leave the house for six months. All right? Now, obviously something had affected him deeply, but at the time, there just weren't the kinds of facilities to help somebody work through that kind of pain.'"

"That may be a fact, the RNC noted gleefully -- but only if Obama's uncle had served in the Red Army of Joseph Stalin, which liberated Auschwitz on Jan. 27, 1945. Obama's campaign said yesterday that he had erred in naming the camp but not in describing the role of his great-uncle, who partook in the liberation of Buchenwald. 'Senator Obama's family is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II -- especially the fact that his great uncle was a part of liberating one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald. Yesterday he mistakenly referred to Auschwitz instead of Buchenwald in telling of his personal experience of a soldier in his family who served heroically,' Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement."

More: "Obama campaign aides were indignant that Republicans had pounced on what they called an innocent mistake in relating his family history. Tommy Vietor, an Obama spokesman, decried "using the Holocaust and concentration camps as a political football.'"

The Boston Globe: "Republicans tried yesterday to jump on it as a question of Barack Obama's judgment. His campaign chalked it up to an innocent mistake."

On the day before the final day of the primaries, Obama plans a stop in Michigan. "Those familiar with Obama's schedule insist the trip is not designed as victory lap in anticipation of a favorable ruling this weekend at the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting or an attempt to kick-start the Illinois senator's general election campaign in the state. Still, the symbolic import of Obama stopping in Michigan soon after what may be the final ruling about the seating of the state's delegates should not be underestimated."

In its top story, the Boston Globe looks at Obama's claims of being able to redraw the electoral map. Specifically it focuses on six states he's mentioned: Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. "A Globe analysis of six traditionally Republican states where Obama has signaled he will compete … suggests that his confident assertion has validity, but only to a point. Colorado, given its influx of younger, more liberal voters, and Virginia, with its sizable African-American vote and political shifts, are ripe for Democratic coups this year. But any victories elsewhere in the South would require political earthquakes of a sizable magnitude, according to voting patterns, registration data, and interviews with local political analysts."
 
But what the Globe doesn't look at in the piece, however, are Iowa and New Mexico. As indicated on the Globe's map, based on the 2004 results, Iowa and New Mexico are drawn as red states. But Obama is situated to do well in both. As we've noted on First Read before, Virginia's 13 electoral votes plus Iowa's seven equals 20 -- the same number at stake in Ohio. Kerry lost in New Mexico by just 5,998 votes (or 0.79 percentage points), and Richardson would likely put all his effort in for Obama come the fall.

The New York Times' Tom Friedman has some energy policy advice for Obama. "Obama had the courage to tell voters that the McCain-Clinton summer gas-giveaway plan was a fraud. Wouldn't it be amazing if he took the next step and put the right plan before the American people? Wouldn't that just be amazing?"

How bad are things now for President Bush? The presumptive GOP nominee won't even attend multiple fundraisers where Bush will be in attendance (McCain only attended the one that took place in his own home state). Now, Bush's former press secretary has written a tell-all that just, well, trashes the West Wing. The Washington Post: "Scott McClellan writes in a new memoir that the Iraq war was sold to the American people with a sophisticated 'political propaganda campaign' led by President Bush and aimed at 'manipulating sources of public opinion' and 'downplaying the major reason for going to war.'"

"McClellan includes the charges in a 341-page book, 'What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception,' that delivers a harsh look at the White House and the man he served for close to a decade. He describes Bush as demonstrating a 'lack of inquisitiveness,' says the White House operated in 'permanent campaign' mode, and admits to having been deceived by some in the president's inner circle about the leak of a CIA operative's name."

The New York Times: Mr. McClellan's book … is the first negative account by a member of the tight circle of Texans around Mr. Bush… He is harsh about the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina, saying it 'spent most of the first week in a state of denial' and 'allowed our institutional response to go on autopilot.' Mr. McClellan blames Mr. Rove for one of the more damaging images after the hurricane: Mr. Bush's flyover of the devastation of New Orleans. When Mr. Rove brought up the idea, Mr. McClellan writes, he and Dan Bartlett, a top communications adviser, told Mr. Bush it was a bad idea because he would appear detached and out of touch. But Mr. Rove won out, Mr. McClellan writes."

Politico, which broke the news of this book, adds, "Among the most explosive revelations in the 341-page book…:
 --McClellan charges that Bush relied on 'propaganda' to sell the war.
 --He says the White House press corps went too easy on the administration.
 --He admits that some of his own assertions from the briefing room podium turned out to be 'badly misguided.'
 --The longtime Bush loyalist also suggests that two top aides held a secret West Wing meeting to get their story straight about the CIA leak case at a time when federal prosecutors were after them – and McClellan was continuing to defend them despite mounting evidence they had not given him the full facts.
 --McClellan asserts that the aides -- Karl Rove, the president's senior adviser, and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the vice president's chief of staff – 'had at best misled' him about their role in the disclosure of former CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity."

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has a housing bill sitting on his desk that could have veep implications for him, depending on if he signs or vetoes. Business is watching; so is the Wall Street Journal.

Bloomberg News examines the role ex-Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is playing in the McCain campaign. "Fiorina accompanies McCain from Rust-Belt cities to corporate gatherings. In one week in April, she co-hosted a conference call for reporters previewing a McCain address in Pittsburgh on taxes, then moderated an 'economic summit' in Milwaukee, taking questions from leaders in business, education and mortgage lending. She advises the candidate on his economic message, often huddling with him on his campaign plane.

More: "Though her name has been floated as a possible choice to run for the vice presidency, a Cabinet post or other top appointment is more likely, given that she's never run for office. And she doesn't rule out a political run of her own in the future. She half-expected that her foray into politics would make her cynical; instead, she said she's come away with 'renewed faith in democracy, when you get away from all the stuff that's driven by 24-hour news.'"

One of the unintended consequences of the long Dem primary campaign: the lack of fundraising success by the folks in Denver for the convention. "So far, the Denver host committee is about $15 million short of the $40.6 million it must raise by June 16," the New York Times says. "With only $25 million raised so far, the committee is scrambling to offer a new round of special deals for corporate underwriters, as well as to devise a backup plan should the fund-raising fall short and plans for the convention need to be scaled down."

There are a few political stories that we wish we could be spending more time covering. One of them is the surprisingly nasty Dem primary in New Jersey between Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Rep. Rob Andrews. The New York Times has a good piece about how Andrews is being shunned by his colleagues. "While Mr. Andrews sees himself as battling against bullying and threats, his colleagues have a different view, speaking sharply of what they see as ambition and betrayal. Last fall, when all seven of the state's Democratic House members gathered for Chinese food in Mr. Lautenberg's Washington apartment, they pledged to support the senior senator."

"Mr. Andrews was not the only one among them who had shown an interest in replacing Mr.  Lautenberg one day. But other members said everyone agreed to put personal ambitions aside. That is, until April, when Mr. Andrews announced that he was running."

Looking for clues on what issues move North Carolina voters? Elizabeth Dole, who has suddenly found herself in a much more competitive race than she expected, is out with her first TV ad. From the campaign release to First Read: "The 60 second ad focuses on Dole's work to deliver for North Carolina the first and only statewide immigration enforcement plan of its kind in the country." The ad features sheriffs from around the state praising Dole of her efforts to help them get more access to federal dollars to help deal with illegal immigration issues.  
 
So the ad focuses on immigration, an issue, for instance, conservative frosh Dem Rep. Heath Shuler successfully navigated to win in 2006.

From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann and NBC's Libby Leist
DENVER, Colo. -- During remarks today at the University of Denver, presidential hopeful John McCain laid out his plan to cut global nuclear proliferation and negotiate the prevention of nuclear testing worldwide. 

In calling for a "return" to "a tradition of innovative thinking, broad-minded internationalism," McCain appeared to be distinguishing his own diplomatic philosophy from that of Bush, whose administration has been roundly criticized for unilateral actions -- especially by the independent voters so crucial to McCain's success in November.

McCain's call for diplomacy included his suggestion for "taking another look" at the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and "engaging the world in a broad dialogue" about global terror.

But while his remarks about global cooperation may have cut to the left of Bush's so-called "cowboy diplomacy," the Arizona senator's comments on North Korea represented a harder line than the Bush administration has taken in recent months. 

The administration has faced criticism from some conservatives who perceive a softening in the U.S. demands that Pyongyang publicly declare a suspected uranium enrichment program as well as any proliferation activity -- namely with Syria. Some Republicans, including former UN Ambassador John Bolton, have been skeptical of one-on-one talks of the type that Bush envoy Christopher Hill is engaging in this week in Beijing.

In an op-ed in today's Asian Wall Street Journal, McCain appeared to echo that discomfort with the Bush administration's delicate give-and-take with Pyongyang. In the piece, McCain and co-writer Joe Lieberman demanded a "full and complete declaration" of North Korea's nuclear activities -- a position from which the administration's critics fear it may be backing down.

In a conference call with reporters after the Denver speech, McCain advisors said that the senator's comments were not intended as a jab at the current efforts of Hill. Noting that negotiations are still in progress, senior foreign policy advisor Randy Scheunemann said that McCain is "not commenting on an agreement that as far as we know doesn't exist and hasn't been reached."

Scheunemann did, however, characterize McCain's nuclear plan on the whole as "a significant departure from the nuclear security policies of the Bush administration."

In Denver, McCain also indirectly continued his ongoing critique of Barack Obama, who suggested during the early days of the primary season that he would meet with foreign leaders -- like Kim Jong-Il and Iran's Ahmedinajad. Rather than painting Obama's proposal as dangerous, as he has in recent weeks, today McCain slammed it as ineffective and unoriginal.

"Some people seem to think they've discovered a brand new cause, something no one before them ever thought of," he said, outlining Obama's philosophy without mentioning the Illinois senator by name. "Many believe all we need to do to end the nuclear programs of hostile governments is have our president talk with leaders in Pyongyang and Tehran, as if we haven't tried talking to these governments repeatedly over the past two decades."

In October of 2007, Obama delivered remarks on the topic of nuclear proliferation, outlining, in fact, some of the same visions of international cooperation and carefully measured degrees of multilateral disarmament. 

At the time, in his address at DePaul University, Obama said, "I'm not afraid that America will lose a propaganda battle with a petty tyrant," he said, defending his position that the diplomacy prerequisite to global disarmament calls for meetings with rogue leaders. "If we take the attitude that the president just parachutes in for a photo-op after an agreement has already been reached, then we're only going to reach agreements with our friends."

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The right-wing blogs have been abuzz over Obama's comments yesterday, at a town hall in New Mexico, that his uncle had helped liberate concentration camps, and was among the "first American troops" at Auschwitz. The blogs and the Republican National Committee have hit Obama hard, criticizing him for not knowing his history -- that the Soviets, not the Americans, liberated Auschwitz.  

The Obama camp admits the mistake, saying Obama meant Buchenwald, not Auschwitz. "Senator Obama's family is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II -- especially the fact that his great uncle was a part of liberating one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. "Yesterday he mistakenly referred to Auschwitz instead of Buchenwald in telling of his personal experience of a soldier in his family who served heroically."

Here is what Obama said, while talking about post-traumatic stress disorder afflicting veterans, per NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy and NBC's Lauren Appelbaum: "I had a uncle who was one of the, who was part of the first American troops to go into Auschwitz and liberate the concentration camps, and the story in our family was is that when he came home, he just went up into the attic and he didn't leave the house for six months, right. Now obviously something had really affected him deeply but at that time there just weren't the kinds of facilities to help somebody work through that kind of pain. That's why you know the, this idea of making sure that every single veteran when they are discharged are screened for post traumatic stress disorder and given the mental health services that they need, that's why its so important."

And here's video.

The RNC wrote this in response: "Barack Obama's dubious claim is inconsistent with world history and demands an explanation. It was Soviet troops that liberated Auschwitz, so unless his uncle was serving in the Red Army, there's no way Obama's statement yesterday can be true. Obama's frequent exaggerations and outright distortions raise questions about his judgment and his readiness to lead as commander in chief."

The RNC also provides a link to the Holocaust Museum to show the Soviets liberated Auschwitz.

But in its statement today, the Obama campaign said the candidate's great uncle, who the campaign says was his grandmother's brother, was a member of the 89th Infantry Division, which liberated Ohrdruf, a subcamp of Buchenwald. The campaign also provides a link to the U.S. Holocaust Museum, but this a description of the 89th Infantry's part. It also provided a separate link to the 89th's role here.

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
NORTH LAS VEGAS -- In the latest iteration of his McCain-is-the-next-George-Bush argument, Obama used the news that the president will be at a few fundraisers for McCain this week to suggest the presumptive GOP nominee would be a carbon copy of the president on matters from foreign policy to the economy.

Obama contrasted the morning he spent with a Las Vegas area family struggling to make their mortgage payments with McCain's fundraiser with Bush tonight. And he also made light of the fact that these fundraisers -- the Arizona senator appears with Bush at one out of the three events -- were closed to press.

"I had the privilege of visiting Felicitas and Francisco's home in Las Vegas earlier this morning. Today, John McCain is having a different kind of meeting. He's holding a fundraiser with George Bush behind closed doors in Arizona. No cameras, no reporters, and we all know why. Sen. McCain doesn't want to be seen, hat in hand, with the president whose failed policies he promises to continue for another four years," Obama said. "On issue after issue, John McCain is offering more of the same policies that have failed for the last eight years. That's the agenda that he and the president are raising money to support later today."

A few more than 100 people took part in today town hall on the home mortgage crisis -- a hot topic in a state hit hard by foreclosures. Obama gave an overview of his plans for helping struggling homeowners. He criticized McCain again as weak on the economy and for his proposals for addressing the foreclosure crisis.

"For months, John McCain struggled to come up with a real plan to address the housing crisis, even as millions of Americans faced the nightmare of not being able to make their next payments," he said. "It took him three tries to come up with the answer for struggling homeowners and he still came up short. And Sen. McCain is so out of touch with the struggles of working people that he gave a speech laying out his economic agenda last week, and he couldn't even be bothered to talk about the foreclosure crisis that has put so many families on the brink of financial catastrophe and put our economy on the brink or in recession. We've had enough of the can't do, won't do ,and won't even try approach from George Bush and John McCain."

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds responded with this statement: "Whether it's fighting wasteful government spending, addressing global climate change or advocating a more effective strategy in Iraq, John McCain has clear but respectful differences of opinions with the President. However, it isn't surprising that Barack Obama is trying to disguise his lack of depth and weak leadership on economic issues with political generalizations and partisan attacks. John McCain has introduced a solutions based plan targeting the mortgage crisis, and today he launched campaign advertisements in key swing-states highlighting his intentions to fight foreclosures, but that didn't stop Barack Obama from making a misinformed political attack." 

Bounds added, "When Barack Obama's best ideas include nearly $50 billion of taxpayer money with no guarantee that it won't end up in the hands of speculators, and tax hikes on small businesses that provide the paying jobs Americans need, it's clear that he just isn't ready to lead our economy."
 
Obama called on Bush not to veto a bill put forth by Sen. Chris Dodd and Rep. Barney Frank that would help homeowners in part by allowing the Federal Housing Administration to back refinanced mortgages with lowered principals.

"The president has threatened to veto this approach," he said. "Well, it's time to stand up to George Bush and tell him to stop standing in the way of meaningful relief for working people. Congress must pass this bill. The president should sign it and the FHA should start implementing it this fall. We can't wait any longer. It's time for Washington to start acting now."

Obama's trip to Nevada, a state Clinton won in January (although Obama won more delegates in it), is part of a swing through western states he hopes to put in play in the general election should he be the nominee. He was in New Mexico yesterday and will campaign in Colorado tomorrow. Bush won all three states in 2004, but Democrats have made recent gains in Nevada.

From NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger
MOROVIS, P.R. -- Following Bill Clinton is always interesting. But nothing like this.

For weeks, a colleague has told me to dread the former president's return to Puerto Rico. Without a press bus or spokesman, our style of being embedded has always been on the fly. We have to drive ourselves to events and race out when he starts to shake hands at the rope line, hoping to get a head start to the next site. Through the winding roads of South Dakota last weekend, we used an outside power outlet at a closed gas station to power our laptops to send video near Dallas, population 141.

Today's schedule requires much the same. But add windy roads, streets with no names and a language we don't speak, and it gets downright difficult.

President Clinton and Chelsea have five events scheduled today. We don't have addresses for all of them, and some are just highway numbers. The streets are built for one-way traffic, but the cars flow both ways, and we seem to be the only ones slowing down to avoid a collision or a fall down a cliff. Finding a Secret Service agent has become the "Where's Waldo" of our day.

We have been late to events because my rudimentary Spanish has only gotten us so far with the cops blocking the streets. But I have learned a new phrase, "La prensa con el presidente," meaning "the press with the president."

I am on the porch of a small house that has been converted into a German beer garden in a small Puerto Rican city. Hispanic men in lederhosen intermingle with Secret Service and local police, as the former president shakes hands and heads back behind the bar to be given a bottle of Grey Goose vodka.

He doesn't speak the language, so the campaign has adapted. Gone are the long policy speeches he gives on the mainland, which would be cumbersome with or without the aid of a translator. Today, father and daughter toured an observatory funded by Cornell University, ate ice cream in Lareas and shook hands at the junction of two highways.

But most of the day has been spent in the car, either racing ahead or falling behind the motorcade. While playing this game with the president is usually easier, at least today I get to do it while munching fried plantains.

What follows is a stop-by-stop diary of Hillary Clinton campaigning in Puerto Rico over the weekend from our campaign reporter who followed Clinton on the trip.

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
It couldn't have been planned any better, if you believe that Democrats could plan such a thing.

After a gut-punch of a day Friday, when her comment about RFK's assassination was met with an avalanche of criticism, Hillary Clinton was off to the tropics on Saturday for a long weekend of campaigning in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. With a downsized traveling press corps offset by the friendly greetings of local supporters, Clinton enjoyed a short but seemingly reinvigorating trip, likely one of the last of her campaign.

What follows is a timeline of her weekend, in which she covered every part of the island.

SATURDAY, 4:54 PM -- Hill Force One touches down at the Aguillar Airport, a small landing strip on the Western half of Puerto Rico. Instead of the sunny skies we'd been expecting, Clinton steps off her plane to find a tropical rainstorm, and some wet dignitaries to greet her. As she mingles with them on the tarmac, a young boy offers to hold her umbrella and walk along side her.

SATURDAY, 6:10 PM -- Clinton takes the stage at the Coliseo Municipal in Aguadilla, receiving an enthusiastic greeting from the crowd of a few hundred. "Buenas Noches!" she says, the only time she would venture to speak Spanish. At first she speaks a few sentences at a time, pausing to let a translator interpret for those in the crowd who don't understand. But after a while she seems to grow inpatient with the delay and, perhaps recognizing that many seem to understand her, presses on for the remainder of her speech without interruption.

Her remarks focus on what she says is a long-standing relationship with the island. "I am no stranger to these beautiful islands," she says. It will become a familiar refrain all weekend. She talks about visiting after Hurricane Georges, and lobbying her husband for special disaster relief status. "Puerto Rico had a partner in the White House and that produced results for you," she says.

SATURDAY, 8:09 PM -- The campaign staff and traveling press approach their respective hotels in the town of Isabella, and many lose cellular phone signals. Few seem to mind, and enjoy a tropical drink or two. As it turns out, because most on the mainland have checked out for the holiday weekend, no one misses much.

SUNDAY, 11:36 AM -- Clinton is invited to the lectern at Pabellon de la Victoria, an evangelical church in the town of Hormgueros. It's an evangelical church, one that is growing on an island that is predominantly Catholic. Instead of a solemn service, as she had seen the week before in Kentucky, this one is vibrant, complete with fast-tempo music and a colorful dance troop. Clinton has a big smile as the dancers perform in front of her, at first swaying subtly and then earnestly weaving back and forth and clapping to the beat. "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it," she says to the crowd. "And this is a church that rejoices."

Clinton again outlines her record of service on behalf of Puerto Ricans, including the million or so she represents as a New York senator. "I am so grateful that I have a deep and important relationship with the people of Puerto Rico here and in New York. And that is why I am committed to providing equal treatment when it comes to government programs," she says.

She also says it's providence that has brought her here, and keeps her in the race. "I am very grateful that I have this opportunity to come to Puerto Rico to talk with you, to listen, to visit across from one end of the islands to the other with my message that there isn't anything we cannot do together if we seek God's blessing and if we stay committed, and are not deterred by the setbacks that often fall in every life," she says. "If I had listened to those who had been talking over the last several months we would not be having this campaign in Puerto Rico today."

SUNDAY, 12:41 PM -- Clinton has ditched her turquoise pantsuit and is now donning a bright pink tropical shirt as she arrives at the beach in Boqueron. Again she finds herself taken to the rhythms of a local dance ensemble and musical group, and is dancing in her own subtle way along with them. As the dance troop finishes, she reaches out her arms to beckon one of the young girls to come close, and gives her a big hug. The mayor of Boqueron, herself a woman, speaks briefly and says in English, "I love you." Clinton speaks briefly, saying, "I am very grateful to all of you. I want to tell you how much I love being here. This reminds me of very happy days."

She then starts toward the beach, and the local and traveling press ignores demands to keep a distance. A chaotic scene ensues as the press battles with some of the surprised beach goers in vying for Clinton's attention. But eventually the campaign finds a few strings of rope to keep a makeshift barrier around the candidate at all times. At one point as she walks past me on the sand, I say to Clinton that this sure seems a long way from New Hampshire, doesn't it. "It's great. So pretty here," she says. She then keeps pressing the flesh, as a drum band keeps a beat around her.

She's smiling broadly the entire time.

SUNDAY, 3:15 PM -- Clinton arrives in Penuelas for an event at a local restaurant. But she switches up the plan, choosing to have lunch first on a patio hanging over the ocean, rather than speaking to the small crowd gathering in the hot sun to hear her. After more than a half hour she comes out to speak, clocking in an event at just about nine minutes, including time for translation.

Here she offers a new twist on her message, telling the crowd that she's learned that Univision has proposed a debate on Puerto Rican issues to be held before next week's primary. "I accept that invitation, anytime, anywhere," she says. "That is the best way for the people of Puerto Rico to have their questions asked and answered, and for the rest of the United States to learn more about Puerto Rico."

There is no stern, "Meet me in Puerto Rico" demand, though. She knows this is unlikely to happen, so quickly closes her speech. "This primary next Sunday is one of the most important votes you will cast," she says. "You will get to help pick the next president of the United States. Someday I hope that regardless of status you're able to help vote for the president of the United States in the general election."

SUNDAY, 7:20 PM -- Now in Carolina, and back in her pantsuit, Clinton starts speaking at the Casa Cuba, a gathering place for Cuban ex-pats on the island here. Clinton is running ahead of schedule, so much so that when the motorcade arrived here the press was given more than an hour to go out on their own, with some choosing to walk along the picturesque beach.

When Clinton does speak, the press hears what is perhaps the most specific policy pronouncements of the weekend. Specifically, she engages with Barack Obama on what had been a hot-button issue earlier in the campaign -- engaging with the leaders of rogue nations. Earlier in the week, Obama had targeted John McCain as he said he would meet with Cuban leader Raul Castro. Clinton now subtly contrasts her view with his.

"The American people have long stood with the Cuban people in your struggle to achieve freedom and democracy. And we must continue to stand together," she says. "I hope some day to be able to visit Cuba, and to be able to talk freely and walk freely and hear the desires and the needs of the people of Cuba. "But I will not give away the chance for real change. I think we must see evidence of reform before we allow the current government in Cuba to benefit from the prestige and power of a presidential meeting. They must show their good faith, and we will work with them if they do."

It's a strong statement. But is delivered late on a Saturday night on a holiday weekend. It barely creates a ripple.

SUNDAY, 8:33 PM -- Clinton arrives at Sabor Latino, a bar in San Juan. Outside, Secret Service has taken stronger security measures, with some agents openly brandishing weapons in what is apparently a sometimes unsafe community. But inside, Clinton shows now worries, and is in fact having quite a good time. Some of her supporters hand her a Dominican beer, called "El Presidente." The offer cheers, and it's bottoms up for the New York senator.

As she mingles with the crowd, Clinton encounters the four network embedded reporters, some of whom have been following her for more than a year now. "You guys can drink, too," she says after raising her beer in our direction. One says that there might be plans for that later in the evening. "I think you would," she says.

And with the sounds of Enrique Iglesias' "Be With You" in the background, Aaron Bruns, another reporter is nodding along with it. Clinton then decides to very briefly dance with him, closing her eyes and nodding her head, before patting him on the shoulder and moving ahead. A somewhat bewildered Bruns can't believe what just happened, as some of Clinton's staff turn back to laugh at the scene.

MONDAY, 10:58 AM -- Hillary starts here day, Memorial Day, at the home of Carlos Manuel Rivera Figueroa in Bayamon, PR. Only a few reporters are allowed in, but we get snippets from those inside. Figueroa's only son, Jonathan, has served in Iraq and is now in Alaska waiting to be deployed. We learn that the language barrier created "some awkward moments."

MONDAY, 1:48 PM -- The press is back on the road after another local stop. Clinton, joined now by Bill Clinton, has just finished another small roundtable discussion with the Sanchez family, whom she met in 1998 when she visited Puerto Rico after Hurricane Georges. The traveling press actually had missed most of the event, because the driver of our old, rickety bus managed to get separated from the motorcade and subsequently get lost. We do see a brief discussion of alternative energy, with Hillary talking about wind farms in New York and Bill talking about the potential that biofuels present.

Clinton is presented with some newspaper clippings from her '98 visit, and then asks for a tour of the Sanchez home.

MONDAY, 3 PM -- The Clintons, now joined by daughter Chelsea, take the stage at a raucous rally hosted by the local AFSCME union, the Servidores Públicos Unidos. Bill speaks briefly before introducing Gerry McEntee, the head of AFSCME, calling him "the best Democrat in the United States." "We never had a more loyal supporter," he adds.

McEntee gives a long, fiery speech, praising Clinton for everything from her health care plan to the fact that she "does a better reggaeton than Barack Obama." Hillary is feeding off the enthusiastic crowd, and even ventures some Spanish of her own. "Si se puede," she repeats again and again. She then leans over to ask her translator how to say, "Yes we will." He whispers in her ear, and she says: "Not only si se puede. Si loremos!" We think she meant to say "podemos." 

As she has all weekend, she promises to let Puerto Ricans have a voice soon in settling their status. "I am committed to the people of Puerto Rico that on day one of my presidency I will begin to work with all the factions, with the Congress, to enable you to make a decision," she says. "I do not have any preference among the options. That is for the people of Puerto Rico to decide. But you need a president who will work to get it done from day one in the first term of office. That is what I will do with your help."

MONDAY, 6:28 PM -- After some formal pomp and circumstance, Clinton is introduced as the keynote speaker at a Memorial Day service outside the Puerto Rican capital building in San Juan. The Senate President calls her the "junior senator from New York, and the senior senator for Puerto Rico."

She is joined here again by Bill and Chelsea Clinton, who in unison put hand over heart and solute at the appropriate moments. Bill Clinton at one point fumbles to put on an American flag pin to go with his "Hillary 2008" pin. Chelsea helps him fasten it.

In her remarks, Hillary strengthens her argument to give Puerto Ricans a vote in the presidential election by tying it to the solemn day. "I believe it is long past time that we give the people of Puerto Rico, United States citizens all, an equal voice in the vote for the commander in chief who sends young Puerto Ricans to war," she says. "Puerto Rico deserves to have its sacrifice noted. You deserve to have leadership in Washington that respects and honors this sacrifice and all who serve. The real test is not what we say but what we do. The real challenge is how we can not just make speeches that contain promises, but deliver on those promises."

She joins local dignitaries in unveiling the names of more Puerto Ricans who have died serving in armed conflicts.

MONDAY, 8:00 PM -- Clinton is wheels up from San Juan en route to Washington, DC, joined by a slightly tanner press corps. She mingles with her staff in the front of the plane, all of whom seem to be in a much better mood than they were just three days earlier as we left South Dakota.

Interestingly, during her whole trip Clinton held only three traditional rallies. Given what many believe is a strong base of support here, one might have expected her to try to build some crowds and provide some pictures to boost her argument for staying in. Instead she opted, as she often does, for more intimate gatherings with groups of voters at a time, as well as some meet and greet time on the beach and at the bar.

Clinton now prepares to travel to Montana and South Dakota, where the odds are against her but she is determined to fight on. After a day trip to Montana, she plans two days in South Dakota. Some reporters joked with a Clinton spokesperson about staying in Puerto Rico, given the long odds there. Without disputing it we were told not to worry. We'll be back on the island next weekend.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
NBC NEWS has updated the delegate counts in Alaska and Colorado, giving Obama one more and Clinton one less in each state. In Alaska, Obama picks up a split of 10-3 (instead of 9-4 after he got the two statewide PLEOs at convention). In Colorado, Obama gets a split of 36-19 (instead of 35-20). Obama's pledged delegate lead is now upped to 149, his superdelegate lead moves to 34, and his overall lead stands at a combined 195 (including the 12 Edwards delegates).

Obama, today, has also picked up another superdelegate, Wyoming Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Nancy Drummond. "My husband was a Marine during Vietnam -- he was one of many vets that has VA Benefits," Drummond said in a statement released by the campaign. "The men and women in the military and their families are giving the ultimate sacrifice now and I support Senator Obama's plan to honor their service by improving their healthcare, taking care of issues related to combat duty and caring for our homeless vets."

She adds, "We have two incredible candidates... . At both our caucuses and our State Convention, the majority said they want Senator Obama to be our Candidate to run for President. So with that being said, while I certainly respect and admire Senator Clinton's tenacity, I have proudly decided to endorse Senator Barack Obama."

The NBC News Delegate Counts:
PLEDGED: Obama 1649 to 1500
SUPERDELEGATES: Obama 316.5 to 282.5
EDWARDS PL. DELEGATES: Obama 12 to 0
TOTAL: Obama 1,977.5 to 1,782.5

* Obama is 48.5 from the required 2,026.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Former Admiral and Pennsylvania congressman Joe Sestak, an early and ardent supporter of Clinton's, said on MSNBC he'd like to see the New York senator be the nominee, but he added, "There are the cold, brutal facts of reality."

He then pivoted, however, in the same breath to Clinton's electability argument on the popular vote and her leading McCain (by wider margins than Obama) in polling in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida (Obama does not lead in Florida, per recent Quinnipiac polls). He brought up Puerto Rico and that potentially 450,000 to 500,000 could come out to vote there. And that even though the race is about delegates, if Clinton could win the popular vote, then perhaps, superdelegates would get behind her as the nominee -- though, of course, that would have to be by overwhelming margins.

From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
Thirty-second McCain ad "Accountable," which went up in Iowa earlier this month, will hit airwaves in key battleground states Michigan and Pennsylvania.  Focus is the economy.

*** UPDATE *** Clinton is also going up with a TV ad and radio spots and South Dakota, a week out from the Democratic primary there. The TV ad, "Responsibility," also focuses on the economy -- specifically on the national debt, social security and oil. The radio ad, "Matters," is 60 seconds and starts out similarly to other primary state ads: "In Washington, some people say the presidential primary in South Dakota doesn't much matter. That your voice doesn't really count. But you know what? Tuesday, we can show 'em. We can pick a President." And this: "Stand up for Hillary Clinton. She'll always stand up for us." The ad also echoes some of the economic themes of the TV ad.

Scripts follow:
"RESPONSIBILITY"
CLINTON: We are nine trillion dollar debt.
ANNCR: George Bush's spending has sent the economy into a tailspin and put social security in jeopardy.
CLINTON: "We borrow money from the Chinese to buy oil from the Saudis."
ANNCR: Hillary Clinton will stop spending money America doesn't have.  She'll end fifty five billion dollars in giveaways to corporate special interests, reduce the deficit and protect Social Security.
CLINTON: I will get us back to fiscal responsibility. I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

"MATTERS"
ANNCR: In Washington, some people say the presidential primary in South Dakota doesn't much matter.  That your voice doesn't really count. But you know what? Tuesday, we can show 'em. We can pick a President. After all, just because South Dakota comes last in the primaries doesn't mean we shouldn't be heard loud and clear. And we can pick the candidate who'll stand up for us.

Hillary Clinton. She's tackling the national debt that George Bush is leaving us -- $9 trillion dollars -- because she knows we've got to stop borrowing money from the Chinese to buy oil from the Saudis. Hillary knows we've got to stop spending money we don't have so we can protect social security and get back to fiscal responsibility. Hillary Clinton will turn this economy around. We've done it before. We can do it again. Tuesday. Get out and vote. Let South Dakota be heard. Stand up for Hillary Clinton.  She'll always stand up for us.
CLINTON: I'm Hillary Clinton, candidate for President, and I approved this message.
ANNCR: Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Did Hillary stay in too long? Given the thud with which Clinton's RFK flub was received, it's starting to become clear that perhaps she erred in deciding to stay in the race this long. Imagine had she suspended her campaign and still won primaries. Wouldn't that have put her in an even stronger position than now? Obama hasn't run a campaign against her for the last few weeks and, in turn, it's helped Clinton prop up her personal standing. But wouldn't she be winning over the support of some in ObamaNation if she were sort of returning the favor by getting out and suspending the campaign? And that's the rub: At some point for her political future, she has to win back the support of Obama's supporters. And they don't seem to be very forgiving of her right now. The Clinton campaign may believe these folks are being irrational, but it's the state of play right now. It's interesting -- Clinton partisans are mad at a lot of folks, but Obama isn't at the top of the list. For Obama partisans, Clinton (or the Clintons) is at the top of their anger list. As for Clinton, she really hasn't given a good reason for staying in (versus suspending her candidacy while keeping her delegates) for any set of voters other than those folks in Michigan and Florida or for the folks in Puerto Rico. If she were in suspension mode, she could be focusing on legacy restoration. Instead, everything she says is viewed through the prism of angling for a longshot 1% chance at the nomination. Whatever the outcome at this point, Clinton's folks may wish they had suspended their candidacy a few weeks ago. In this case, short-term gain could end up being long-term political pain.

*** Go West, young men: In a few months, we may look back at the schedule this week and realize this was the first official week of the general election. Both McCain and Obama are spending time in battleground states this week. McCain was in New Mexico Monday and attends a town hall tomorrow in Nevada. Meanwhile, Obama also was in New Mexico yesterday and hits Nevada today and Colorado tomorrow. We know there have been whispers that McCain and Obama might travel the country together at some point; looks like the way this week is going, that might have already started. Speaking of the West, the Los Angeles Times has a great stat about the three big battlegrounds (CO, NV, and NM): Kerry lost those three states by a combined 127,000+ votes (just a hair more than his Ohio deficit) and the three states are worth a combined 19 electoral votes (one less than Ohio).

*** Pay no attention to this closed-press event... these aren't the 'droids you're looking for: Tonight, President Bush attends a fundraiser for McCain and the RNC in Phoenix. But the event is closed to the press, although McCain and Bush will stand in front of cameras for a photo-op at 9:00 pm ET, well after the nightly newscasts. Then in Utah tomorrow, Bush does two more closed-press fundraisers for McCain -- yet the Arizona senator won't be in attendance for either one. These Bush fundraisers epitomize this fact: As much as McCain wants to separate himself from Bush (because of his 27% approval rating and Democrats eager to link the two together), McCain still needs the president (to help with fundraising and party stalwarts). President Bush -- you can't live with him, you can't live without him…

*** GI John: In his Memorial Day remarks from New Mexico yesterday, McCain addressed the differences he has with the Jim Webb-sponsored GI Bill that passed both the House and Senate overwhelmingly. McCain was respectful to Webb while explaining his problem with the measure (it would entice soldiers to leave the military earlier than necessary). It's pretty remarkable that a week later, he's still on the defensive about the bill. Perhaps the scathing New York Times editorial was motivation or perhaps it's grief he could be getting from many veterans groups who are more supportive of Webb's bill than McCain's alternative. But you can say this: No one can accuse McCain of trying to do what's political expedient -- something McCain himself continues to bring up when talking about this bill. McCain could have easily ignored the issue, but he chose to bring it up -- again, setting up what could be more uncomfortable press on this issue if President Bush follows through on his veto threat of the larger bill.  By the way, by mentioning Webb in his remarks yesterday, was McCain unintentionally boosting the Virginia Senator's Dem veep standing?

*** Dictating the pace: By the way, in these early days of the general between McCain and Obama, one thing's been clear so far: McCain has controlled the issue debate. Just last night, McCain hit Obama over Iraq, focusing on an issue terrain he'd prefer to fight on rather than the economy. Obama fell into this trap a few times with Clinton during the primaries where it seemed Clinton dictated the issue terrain (think gas tax), even when Obama eventually won that argument with voters. Anyway, McCain offered to travel with Obama to Iraq. It would be an interesting decision if the two did travel together. However, the event would be pure politics, and it also would be a Secret Service and military nightmare. Does anyone in their right mind believe it would be a good idea for the two major nominees to fly into a war zone together?

*** It's bracket time, baby: Today, MSNBC.com debuts the GOP veepstakes tournament. It's similar to the NCAA basketball tournament (or more appropriately, the NCAA baseball tournament, which begins this week: Go Canes and Longhorns... but we digress). We've picked 32 potential running mates and matched them up in a seeded tournament. You get to vote each week on all the match-ups, and the winners will advance each week with the winner being voted on in the first week of June.. To help explain the tournament, NBC's David Gregory and Chuck Todd do their best Dick Vitale and Clark Kellogg impressions and handicap each week's match-ups for your Web-viewing pleasure. Our favorite First Round match-ups: Meg Whitman  (6 seed) vs. Kay Bailey Hutchison (3 seed) and Sarah Palin (4 seed) vs. Rob Portman (5 seed). Both Portman and Whitman get veep shout-outs today in David Brooks' column. We'll debut the Dem tournament, well, shortly.

*** The delegate count: Over the Memorial Day weekend, Obama picked up six more superdelegates after state conventions in Georgia, Wyoming, Hawaii, and Alaska; Clinton, meanwhile, got one. Here are the counts: PLEDGED: Obama 1,647, Clinton 1,502; SUPERS: Obama, 315.5, Clinton 282.5; EDWARDS PLEDGED: Obama 12, Clinton 0; TOTAL: Obama 1,974.5, Clinton 1,784.5. Obama is 51.5 delegates away from the needed 2,026. Speaking of the delegate count, don't miss the weekend CW-setting poll in Montana showing Obama with a double-digit lead over Clinton. No new public polling in Puerto Rico or South Dakota just yet, but it appears safe to call Obama the favorite in South Dakota as well and Clinton the favorite in Puerto Rico.

*** On the trail: Clinton is in Montana, stopping in Pablo and Billings; McCain, before his fundraiser with Bush in Arizona, campaigns and raises money in Colorado; and Obama is in Las Vegas, where he has a discussion with working families. Also, Bill Clinton stumps in Puerto Rico.
 
Countdown to Puerto Rico: 5 days
Countdown to Montana, South Dakota: 7 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 161 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 238 days
 
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The New York Times' Zeleny notes that yesterday's Memorial Day speeches by McCain and Obama in New Mexico provided a glimpse of the fall debate on Iraq. "Will the Iraq war and the nation's security once again be the chief concern to voters in the general election? In a 20-minute speech, with the flags of all branches of the armed forces at his back, Mr. McCain made 14 references to Iraq. Later, he invited Mr. Obama to join him on a tour of Iraq. (Mr. Obama did not immediately say whether he would accept.) 'As long as there is a reasonable prospect for succeeding in this war,' Mr. McCain said, 'then we must not choose to lose it.'"

"Or will economic anxieties at home and a fierce disapproval over the direction of the country be of higher concern to voters? In 10 minutes of prepared remarks, Mr. Obama did not mention Iraq, only raising it when someone in the audience spoke critically of the war in a 30-minute question-and-answer session. 'It's going to take some work,' Mr. Obama said, ticking through a lengthy list of domestic challenges awaiting the next president, including health care and improving the quality of life for veterans. 'It might even take two terms.'" 

Per NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann, John McCain didn't mention Barack Obama in his remarks in Albuquerque yesterday, despite a bruising back-and-forth last week over Obama's lack of military experience. But in the afternoon, in an interview with the AP, McCain criticized Obama for failing to visit Iraq since 2006. Asked about comments by Sen. Lindsey Graham, a chief surrogate who criticized Obama yesterday for his lack of understanding of post-surge Iraq, McCain dismissed his rival as an amateur in his understanding and involvement in the conflict. Noting that Obama has not visited the region since before the surge, he said, "He really has no experience or knowledge or judgment about the issue of Iraq. And he has wanted to surrender for a long time."

McCain agreed with Graham's assessment on Sunday's Face the Nation program that he and Obama could visit Iraq together in the coming months. "Sure, it would be fine," he said of a proposed trip to the region together. "I go back every few months because things are changing in Iraq," he said. "I would also seize the opportunity to educate Sen. Obama along the way."

In his critique, McCain also referenced Obama's plan for a calendar to draw down troop presence, painting it as an unjustifiable and uninformed move. "For him to talk about dates for withdrawal -- which basically is surrender -- in Iraq after we're succeeding so well is I think really inexcusable," he said.

Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki responded with this comment: "Sen. Obama thinks Memorial Day is a day to honor our nation's veterans, not a day for political posturing." Yet the Obama campaign also said it didn't make sense for McCain to criticize Obama for wanting a timetable for withdrawal while McCain envisions having most US troops out of Iraq by 2013.

Also, the McCain campaign continues to pounce on what it believes is Obama backtracking on meeting with Iran's Ahmadinejad. Obama and his surrogates have taken pains over the last few weeks to emphasize they wouldn't meet with Ahmadinejad because he's not the actual leader of Iran. It's an interesting attempt at parsing that Obama's folks are hoping neutralizes the McCain/RNC attacks.

This morning, the McCain campaign notes that Obama -- at a September 2007 press conference -- said he'd meet with Ahmadinejad specifically.

MONTANA (June 3): So the CW is set in Montana, thanks to a Mason-Dixon poll showing Obama holding a double-digit lead there. "Obama leads Clinton by 52 percent to 35 percent among likely Democratic voters, with 13 percent undecided in the poll, which was taken May 19-21. The Democratic primary portion of the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points."

SOUTH DAKOTA (June 3): Speaking of setting the CW, Obama has the support of the state's two most popular Dems (Tim Johnson and Daschle) and Daschle is appearing in a TV ad. In addition, keep in mind that the man behind the successful re-election of Johnson and the near-reelection of Daschle -- Steve Hildebrand -- is on Team Obama.

So what's next for Clinton? The Washington Post seems to pour cold water on the Senate majority leader idea. "The climate on Capitol Hill has changed considerably in the 18 months since Clinton began her presidential campaign. The Senate leadership path that she had once viewed as a viable alternative is now all but blocked. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid  (Nev.) has gained clout in his role, and he will grow even more powerful if Democrats succeed in expanding their narrow majority in November by up to half a dozen seats. Reid's deputies, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (Ill.) and Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), also have enhanced their status in recent months and are quietly laying the groundwork to succeed Reid whenever he decides to step down."

"'Within the caucus, there's strong support for Senator Reid, and those who speculate otherwise don't understand the Senate,' said Durbin, who was the first senator to endorse Obama. When Clinton returns to her old job, assuming she does not win the nomination, Durbin added, 'she will be an important part of the future. But I can't tell you that anyone has approached me, or anyone in the caucus, with any specific suggestions about what she would do.'" 

The New York Times runs a similar piece that asks: What happens when Clinton returns to the Senate? "While she has received millions of votes, stirred thousands of Americans at rallies, made hundreds of appearances and is just scores of delegates short of her goal, defeat would still return her to the Senate as No. 36 out of 49 Democrats. But the seniority arithmetic is only the beginning. There is also the personal challenge of returning to a club where more Democratic members, some quite pointedly, favored Senator Barack Obama and spurned her. For Mrs. Clinton, who has spent years cultivating friendships and raising money for colleagues, that had to hurt. Though the Senate is a place where rival lawmakers daily work side-by-side, this family feud was more public and pronounced than usual."

The AP's Woodward writes something of a Clinton obit -- for both of them. "When Hillary Rodham Clinton finally exits the 2008 Democratic presidential race, she will end a decades-long, power-couple streak of unique political energy, savvy ideas, colossal policy flops and raw ambition dressed in pants suits and briefs, not boxers... By now, the Clintons have been assigned mystical qualities of perseverance. The notion that the adventure is over is almost beyond comprehension… With her cachet, not to mention her job in the Senate, Clinton won't drift far from the nation's consciousness. (Nor is Bill likely to get out of the country's face.)… Soon, though, there will be no Clinton running for president or about to. Imagine that."

Reuters: "Even as she tried to get the political discussion back to topics like the economy, Clinton's reference to the assassination of Robert Kennedy after he won the June 1968 California presidential primary were still the focus of political talk. Writing in the New York Daily News yesterday, Clinton again explained she had mentioned the assassination in the historical context of a campaign that continued well into June. The former first lady said her remarks were taken out of context." And Terry "McAuliffe accused the Obama group of 'inflaming' the issue by issuing that response and then the 'hyped-up press' took her comments out of context."

Per NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli, AFSCME's Gerald McEntee went to Puerto Rico to campaign with the Clintons. No one can say McEntee hasn't been loyal. In addition, we learn -- via Clinton herself -- that Univision has invited both Dems to debate just on Puerto Rican issues. Said Clinton: "I know how important this election is because Univision has offered a debate between me and my opponent just on Puerto Rican issues. I have accepted, I will debate about the future of Puerto Rico anytime, anywhere because I think it's critical."

Look for the media to play "Where's Waldo" today in trying to catch a glimpse of McCain and Bush together at their fundraiser in Phoenix. The Wall Street Journal:  "President Bush and John McCain will appear together at a fund-raiser in Phoenix Tuesday, the first time in nearly three months that the Republican presidential candidate will be seen beside the man he hopes to succeed. With Mr. Bush's popularity at a record low, the McCain campaign has made sure that television footage of the two men together will be minimal. The maneuvering is the latest example of Sen. McCain's aggressive effort to separate himself from the White House, even as he embraces many of the policies that Mr. Bush has promoted throughout his presidency." 

McCain's "campaign has asked Bush, who will be stumping for the Arizona senator next week, to scale down the events -- and they are planning to move the appearances behind closed doors, according to Politico.com," the New York Post writes. "The move is intended to curb the negative impact of being associated with the unpopular president while capitalizing on Bush's draw with the conservative base, the Web site reported."

Here's a Sunday New York Times piece that generated lots of discussion: "Senator John McCain's presidential campaign is in a troubled stretch, hindered by resignations of staff members, a lagging effort to build a national campaign organization and questions over whether he has taken full advantage of Democratic turmoil to present a case for his candidacy, Republicans say. In interviews, some party leaders said they were worried about signs of disorder in his campaign, and if the focus in the last several weeks on the prominent role of lobbyists in Mr. McCain's inner circle might undercut the heart of his general election message: that he is a reformer taking on special interests in Washington." 

On the other hand, conservative commentator Jennifer Rubin makes a pretty good defense of McCain and makes the case that it's Obama who is struggling right now, not McCain. "Now, pundits may be right that the McCain camp has a way to go in sprucing up its money and communications apparatus. He does in fact need a better defined agenda and a 'narrative,' as Karl Rove explained on Sunday. Still, with all that, it is hard to make the case that Obama has been improving his standing with the public and surging to a dominating position in the general election since he was crowned the presumptive nominee. It is easy to figure out why. In part, Obama simply does not win the news cycle when the topic is foreign policy, and specifically his own ever-shifting statements. And in part, the Obama-mania novelty is wearing off. (The latest graduation speech sounds eerily reminiscent of a dozen stump speeches we have all heard before.) Finally, it is a truism that the public likes a winner, and the weekly drubbings he has received at the hands of the already declared runner-up have likely dimmed his allure.

None of this is to suggest that Obama is not the favorite or that McCain doesn't face tough challenges. But the conventional wisdom that recent events have been helpful to Obama's cause seems wrong. Put differently, Obama is likely anxious not to repeat the controversies, gaffes and foreign policy scrutiny - not to mention the election losses - that have dominated the news. So maybe, this is not exactly the best of times for Obama."

The Washington Post's Kessler notes McCain has broken with Bush on North Korea policy. 

Be sure to take notice of McCain's Memorial Day Web ad. It's directed at Hispanics -- but also whites, who McCain may believe need an education about Hispanic contributions in the military. It's a sure sign that one thing that complicates Obama's attempts to turn the Rocky Mountain West blue is McCain's comfort at courting Hispanics and the credibility he has with Hispanics because of the immigration issue. 

The campaign finally got a favor from one of these rogue leaders the potentially presumptive Dem nominee wants to meet with. Fidel Castro attacked Obama for pledging to keep the embargo in place if elected. "In a column published Monday by government-run newspapers, Castro said Obama was 'the most-advanced candidate in the presidential race,' but noted that he has not dared to call for altering U.S. policy toward Cuba. 'Obama's speech can be translated as a formula for hunger for the country,' Castro wrote, referring to Obama's remarks last week to the influential Cuban American National Foundation in Miami."

More: "Castro said Obama's proposals for letting well-off Cuban Americans help poorer relatives on the island amounted to 'propaganda for consumerism and a way of life that is unsustainable.' He complained that Obama's description of Cuba as 'undemocratic' and 'lacking in respect for liberty and human rights' was the same argument previous U.S. administrations 'have used to justify their crimes against our homeland.'"

It's possible that Obama body man Reggie Love -- of Duke hoops and football fame -- will become one of the most famous body men of all time once this general election gets into full swing. Here's a profile of him in the New York Times. 

The AP looks at Obama's fight for Western states. "Obama is signaling, even before the Democratic primary formally wraps up, that he intends to fight this fall for Western states that narrowly went Republican four years ago. New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado aren't definitely Democratic blue or Republican red. Instead, they're known as 'purple states' by political junkies. Together, they account for only 19 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. But those votes could be vital in a close race, particularly if Obama's weakness among white, blue-collar voters carries over from the primary race and cuts his chance of winning some other states where Democrats usually do well."

"Filling in for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and tying himself to the family's legacy, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama urged college graduates Sunday to 'make us believe again' by dedicating themselves to public service."

As mentioned above, debuting on MSNBC.com is our GOP veepstakes tournament.

The Washington Post's Cillizza notes yesterday's Bob Novak column, which went after potential Obama veep pick Kathleen Sebelius for her pro-choice abortion stance. Is Novak hinting that a Sebelius pick would fire up the pro-life movement in a way that McCain isn't just yet?

So did the New York Times' David Brooks make a funny in the lead of his column? Ok, funny for the New York Times op-ed page at least. "My first thought on the running mate question is that to balance his ticket, Barack Obama should pick a really old white general. Therefore, he should pick Dwight Eisenhower. John McCain, on the other hand, needs to pick someone younger than himself. Therefore, he also should pick Dwight Eisenhower."

Here's his Obama short list: "Obama will need a vice president who knows the millions of ways that power is exercised and subverted in Washington… Sam Nunn and Tom Daschle seem to fit the bill. Nunn is one of those senior Democrats (like David Boren and Bob Kerrey) who left the Senate lamenting the dumbed-down nature of modern politics. Daschle was more partisan as majority leader, but he is still widely trusted and universally liked. As experienced legislators, both could take Obama's lofty hopes and translate them into nitty-gritty action."

As for McCain: "If John McCain is elected, he'll face a political culture threatening to split at the seams. In defeat, Democrats will be enraged at everything and everybody… McCain will need somebody who radiates calm… McCain seems to be looking at business leaders like Meg Whitman. But among politicos, the shining stars would seem to be Rob Portman and Tim Pawlenty."

And the Boston Globe's Peter Canellos draws a comparison between Indiana Jones and McCain when it comes to young sidekicks and veeps -- and whether or not it's a good idea (e.g., Bobby Jindal). "When Harrison Ford, now 65, decided to take out his bullwhip and reprise his most famous character, the studio followed a time-honored formula for broadening the appeal of movies with aging stars: They added a kid. So Ford now gets to huff and puff his way through action scenes while 21-year-old Shia LaBeouf gets to learn the ropes from the father that he (and we) never knew he had."
 
More: "Action stars have faced this reality for generations. In the '60s, a thickening John Wayne was forced to share the marquee with a series of forgettable young heartthrobs whose purpose was less to drive the cattle to market than to drive young people into the theater. Now, the Republican Party is wondering whether the same formula that worked for the Duke and Indiana Jones might work for John McCain."

NBC's Abby Livingston reports, Another member from the round table of Camelot plunged a dagger in the heart of the Clinton legacy last night. Kennedy speechwriter and Obama backer Ted Sorenson entered the fray last night on PBS' Charlie Rose. Sorenson does not want another Clinton in the White House in either the number one or two slots.

"He [Obama] must decide who among the possibilities shares his view of the world, his method of governence, who would be a congenial companion or compatriot in the running of the country, and who, if anything happened to Obama, would be prepared to carry on the Obama program and the Obama ideals," he said, adding, "So if you think Mrs. Clinton fits all those criteria, and I don't, then he should pick her." He also expressed disappointment with Bill Clinton's performance as president. "After Dick Morris persuaded him to triangulate and step back, he backed away from most of the important international challenges."

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Obama picked up six delegates to Clinton's one over the weekend. He got one from Alaska (former Gov. Tony Knowles 5/25), Wyoming (W. Patrick Goggles 5/24) and Georgia (Stephen Leeds) and three from Hawaii Brian Schatz -- new HI party chairman 5/25; Kari Luna -- new HI party vice chairwoman, and James Burns -- add on) after state conventions this weekend. Clinton also got one – add-on Verna Cleveland from Georgia.

The NBC NEWS Delegate Counts:
PLEDGED: Obama 1,647 to 1,502
SUPERDELEGATES: Obama 315.5 to 282.5
EDWARDS PL. DELEGATES: Obama 12 to 0
TOTAL: Obama 1,974.5 to 1,784.5

* Obama is 51.5 delegates away from the required 2,026, according the NBC NEWS counts.

(We are also checking to see if we will adjust Alaska's count. NBC had a 9-4 split for Obama, but according to AP, Obama picked up both statewide PLEOs. That would give a 10-3 split there. We will update if adjusted.)

With the Memorial Day weekend upon us, First Read will be taking a much-needed breather before the sprint to the general election, veepstakes, the conventions -- and beyond.

The morning edition (First Thoughts, etc.) will resume on Tuesday. We will update the site as news warrants, however.

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.