MORNING READ

Publicly, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) first day as a surrogate for Barack Obama went well, but, privately, fissures remain within the party, bloggers write. Obama’s campaign and his supporters are optimistic about his chances in several formerly Republican states in November, according to liberal bloggers. But conservative bloggers can claim victories this week in Supreme Court cases.

In her first appearance as an Obama backer, Clinton made the case Thursday to elect him before a Latino American group, which approved of both Clinton and and the idea of an Obama presidency, writes Sam Stein at the Huffington Post. At an event for Democratic donors, Obama wisely wrote a personal check to help pay off Clinton’s campaign debt and Clinton wisely said that she herself would pay off the $12 million of her personal money she loaned to her campaign, according to MyDD’s Todd Beeton. But once the press was ushered out of the room, the questions from Clinton donors became edgier, with one Clinton supporter directly asking Obama if he would put her on the ticket, reports Marc Ambinder.

From the looks of poll numbers, Obama is poised to become the first Democrat since Jimmy Carter to win a majority of the popular vote, notes kos. Even Alaska has become a battleground, as Obama’s campaign is talking about investing resources that McCain won’t be able to match, writes MyDD’s Beeton. If John McCain is smart, he won’t cede Wisconsin and Minnesota, two states where Obama has double digit leads, since that would free up Obama to contest Virginia and other states that have gone Republican in the past, suggests Noam Scheiber at The Stump. The silver lining for conservatives in recent polls is that majorities in four swing states want U.S. troops to remain in Iraq until the country is stable, writes Hot Air’s Allahpundit.

Conservatives have more to like in the Supreme Court’s decisions this week to strike down the District of Columbia handgun ban and the “millionaire’s amendment” in campaign finance law. Conservatives should applaud the ruling on the ban, as it affirms their right to bear arms and also reminds voters of how important the next election is, writes former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) at The Next Right. The high court’s opinion against the campaign finance law provision weakens legislation that conservatives had seen as restricting free speech, notes Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Clinton’s First Appearance as Obama Surrogate – Sam Stein, HuffPo
Obama Reaches Out to Clinton Donors – Todd Beeton, MyDD
After the Press Leaves, Some Edgy Questions – Marc Ambinder
A Cautionary Tale for Obama – Michael Crowley, The Stump
Popular Vote Landslide – kos, Daily Kos
Those Midwestern Poll Numbers – Noam Scheiber, The Stump
Four States Want Troops in Iraq Until Stable – Allahpundit, Hot Air
Sorting Out the Pres. Playing Field – C. Cillizza, The Fix
Obama Camp: Alaska is a Battleground – Todd Beeton, MyDD
Supreme Court Deals Blow to BCRA – Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
Stand Up and Applaud Sup. Court – Mike Huckabee, Next Right
Prospects for Holding Fossella’s Seat Worsen – Kleefeld, TPM EC
Coburn Omnibus – Kagro X, Daily Kos
Senate Fails to Block Cut in Medicare Fees – Herszenhorn, Caucus
Sadr’s Army Dissolving? – Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
The Fool’s Cap – Andrew Stuttaford, The Corner
Sally Quinn’s Communion – Ramesh Ponnuru, The Corner
AEY, on State Watchlist, Signed Contracts – Tilghman, TPMMuck

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Justices Reject D.C. Ban on Handgun Ownership – WaPo
After Ruling, Expect Court Fights on Guns in Cities – New York Times
Bush Rebuffs Hard Liners to Ease N. Korean Curbs – NYT
Obama, Clinton in Show of Unity – Washington Post