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Despite worsening economic conditions and a news backdrop that supposedly favors Democrats, presumed Republican standard-bearer John McCain remains only 3 points behind rival Barack Obama in the latest IBD/TIPP Poll. But the poll also shows McCain isn't pulling as well as expected from the independents and moderates to whom his "maverick" reputation was thought to appeal. He also has yet to close the sale with his party's conservative base. Compared with the 78% support that McCain has with Republicans in general, conservatives back him by 67%, with 17% still undecided. Obama polls 13% among conservatives. In sharp contrast, liberals favor...

RALEIGH—North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Linda Daves made the following statement: “Contrary to any media reports, the ‘Extreme’ ad will run as scheduled next week. There has never been any intention to pull the ad and it will air. The ‘Extreme’ ad has garnered attention around the country. I want to thank the people across North Carolina and across the country who have shown overwhelming support for us. Our aim is to tell the truth and ask difficult questions. We will continue to do so. People here in North Carolina should know that this ad is focused on Democrats Richard...

Having regained some force in Pennsylvania, the tornado of insult and innuendo that is the Democratic Party’s nomination fight will now touch down in four more states. But while Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama regroup this week, John McCain is off doing something that, while lacking the same kind of drama, has a significance of its own. Mr. McCain and his advisers decided this week to embark on a tour of some of the places that symbolize the fragility of America’s promise, even if they aren’t the kind of places that Republicans often go: Selma, Ala.; Youngstown, Ohio; New...

More on Redacted Briefings Comments (5) I called the Dallas Mavericks front office today to express my displeasure at Mark Cuban’s funding of Redacted. I started the conversation by saying, “I hope this isn’t the only phone call you’re going to receive like this, but I am a soldier and I never raped nor murdered anyone.” The woman on the other end of the line said, “Why would you blame Mark?” When I responded, “Because he funded the project,” I found myself talking to dead air. My thought is that we should all call, or write and express our displeasure....

Just climbing to the summit of Mount Rainier would be triumph enough for most people. But for Paul Ferguson, the achievement was symbolic of victory over past failed attempts and a life-threatening disease -- and a final goodbye to a beloved dog.It's been a journey for the 42-year-old Mansfield man, a Lockheed Martin engineer, UT-Arlington doctoral student, mountaineering hobbyist and cancer survivor.But let us backtrack and begin with Mount Rainier, an active volcano in Washington state that soars to 14,410 feet. It's a snowcapped postcard mountain for which Seattle and Tacoma residents build their homes so they'll have a view...

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) - Unusually high Pacific waves battered beaches from El Salvador to Mexico and carried people out to sea, prompting authorities in some places to order swimmers out of the water Tuesday. At least two people were killed. Waves topping 10 feet swept away a dozen swimmers near La Libertad on Monday, 10 of whom were plucked from the water by boats and a helicopter, Green Cross emergency worker Jose Larin said. A 35-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were killed. El Salvador's government advised people "to avoid swimming at our beaches due to the risk,"...

This is funny.

Five of the six games have gone down to the wire. Will Game Seven be in different?

If Sen. John McCain seeks the Republican nomination for president in 2008, as expected, he could face stiff competition from another conservative Vietnam vet considered a maverick within the party - Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel. Observers say Hagel could be attractive to many of the centrist Republicans who voted for McCain in the 2000 primaries. Like McCain, Hagel has parted ways with the Bush administration on a number of issues. He's been critical of American troop levels in Iraq and U.S. preparation for the reconstruction of the country. He's spoken out about U.S. policy regarding prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, saying...

DALLAS (May 2) - The NBA fined Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy $100,000 - the largest amount ever for a coach - on Monday, a day after he accused officials of targeting center Yao Ming this postseason and said Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is to blame. While Van Gundy laughed off the penalty and Yao offered to pick up half the tab, the matter jumped to another, far more serious level. Commissioner David Stern called the fine "an intermediary step," adding that an investigation will continue once the Rockets finish their playoff run. He said further punishment is...

<p>SAN ANTONIO (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks missed their first free throw and made their final 49. Yep, 49 in a row.</p> <p>That superb free throw shooting - along with a few defensive gimmicks from Don Nelson's book of tricks - was how the Mavericks pulled off a stunning comeback and beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-110 Monday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.</p>

Three and easy: Dirk, Mavs put Blazers on brink Nowitzki scores 42 points as Mavs win, 115-103, to take 3-0 series lead 04/26/2003 PORTLAND, Ore. - The Dirk Dilemma has Portland on the brink of elimination and the Mavericks on the verge of advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs. Nowitzki scored 42 points on Friday night as Dallas defeated the Trail Blazers, 115-103, to take a 3-0 lead in their best-of-7 first-round playoff series. Dallas has a chance to wrap up the series on Sunday at the Rose Center. Six Mavericks players scored in double figures. The...