On this day in 1942 75,000 Filipino and American POWs begin their 6-day forced march that history would remember as the "Bataan Death March." On to today's top stories:

"Public Financing? Obama and McCain Appear Split" (Jeff Zeleny and Michael Luo, New York Times) As expected, the McCain camp hit Obama for appearing to renege on his pledge of a year ago to accept public financing. Obama doesn't have to make that choice for some time but both campaigns are preparing their attacks if and when it happens.

"Clinton and Obama Vie for Women Of Philadelphia Suburbs" (Nick Timiraos, Wall Street Journal) According to a Quinnipiac University poll, Obama now leads Clinton among Philly's suburban voters, although Clinton still holds a 13-point lead among women. Both candidates are trying to narrow either of those margins by appealing to suburban women.

"McCain To Be Latest Candidate To Court Mayor Bloomberg" (David Saltonstall, New York Daily News) You get the sense that Michael Bloomberg likes being the center of attention? Back in 2001, McCain endorsed Bloomberg and now the NYC mayor will be returning the favor at business roundtable today in Brooklyn.

"David Brock, Dems plan $40M hit on McCain" (Ben Smith, The Politico) Brock is the head of the liberal site Media Matters, but has turned his attention to the campaign by leading the private effort to attack McCain while the Democratic candidates are busy fighting it out. The group, Progressive Media USA, has only raised a small fraction of the $40 million it wants to have.

"McCain Won't Rule Out Preemptive War" (Libby Quaid, Associated Press) Asked if he would reject "the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war" at a townhall meeting, McCain argued that it would be irresponsible to do so if another nation posed an immediate security threat to the United States.

"Clinton Attacks Rivals' Stances on Iraq" (Salena Zito, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Campaigning in Pennsylvania, Clinton took shots at both McCain and Obama -- saying one will continue the war indefinitely, while the other only says he'll end it. "And one candidate is ready, willing and able to end the war and to rebuild our military while honoring our soldiers and our veterans."

"Allies of Palestinians See a Friend in Obama" (Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times) Obama once spoke more freely about his views on the Israeli-Palestinian matter, but not so much anymore, notes reporter Wallsten. But it is his earlier musings on the subject that cause some Palestinian leaders to think he will be more receptive to their views than the other candidates.

"Foreign Policy: 2 Camps Seek McCain's Ear" (Elisabeth Bumiller and Larry Rohter, New York Times) Like many Republicans, McCain has varied his foreign-policy views between the so-called "neoconservative" and "pragmatist" camps. Both views still hold considerable sway in the party and both want McCain's ear.

"Elton John: Sexism To Blame For Clinton's Lag in the Polls" (Glenn Thrush, Newsday) Boy, America just can't catch a break from its foreign admirers, can it? If Obama is down, they cite racism; if Hillary is down, they cite sexism. But maybe we shouldn't take too seriously the musings of a guy who looks like this.

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