Able was I ere I saw Elba: On this day in 1814 Napoleon Bonaparte is banished to the tiny island of Elba. On to today's top stories:
"Bush Backs Petraeus on Indefinite Suspension of Troop Pullout in Iraq" (Peter Baker and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post) What the president's decision means is that there will be 140,000 troops in Iraq in August and until the end of his term. How this will affect the presidential campaign will largely turn on events in Iraq.
"McCain, in Shift, Asks Government To Step Up in Housing Crisis" (Laura Meckler and Elizabeth Holmes, Wall Street Journal) McCain proposed a housing plan yesterday that differed significantly from the hands-off approach he outlined a couple weeks ago. McCain's plan puts him between the less aggressive President Bush and the more aggressive Democrats in terms of government intervention.
"In Indiana, Obama Trails Clinton But Hopes for a Hollywood Ending" (Margaret Talev, McClatchy Newspapers) Obama's lead in North Carolina and strong showing in Pennsylvania has freed him to visit the one of the other important remaining states still to vote. While Hillary Clinton still leads Obama in Indiana, the state has a large college community and its nearness to Chicago means Obama is already well-known.
"Bill Clinton Defends Wife's Bosnia Remarks" (Mike Allen, The Politico) If you thought Hillary's tale of landing under sniper fire in Bosnia had been pretty well debunked, think again. Bill is back and hitting hard.
"McCain Urges Bush to Consider Boycotting Olympic Opening Ceremonies" (Johanna Neuman, Los Angeles Times) Score one for Hillary, who was the first to call on Bush to boycott at the opening ceremonies in Beijing. McCain is now on board the idea, which makes it 3-for-3 for the presidential candidates.
"Big Donors Among Obama's Grass Roots" (Matthew Mosk and Alec MacGillis, Washington Post) Blunting Obama's contention that his fundraising has created a "parallel public financing system" (as opposed to the real public financing system) reporters Mosk and MacGillis note that it's not just poor college kids and teachers giving to the Illinois senator.
"Clinton Basks in Support Here" (James O'Toole, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Reporter O'Toole notes the big three groups Clinton has in her camp going into the April 22 Pennsylvania primary: Women, Democratic Party officials and Western Pennsylvanians. It's a trifecta of local support that augurs well for Clinton's chances, despite the gains Obama has made on her lead.
"It's History That Makes the Democrats Shudder" (Tim Jones, Chicago Tribune) When it comes to brokered conventions Democrats don't have a pretty history. It's the bitter conventions of years past that makes the Democrats of shudder at the thought of one.
"Powell Has Praise for Obama" (Jeff Zeleny, New York Times) It wasn't an endorsement, but Powell's interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" showed that the former secretary of state has fond opinions of Obama, ranging from the candidate's handling of Rev. Wright to his experience.
Get today's other election stories at RCP's Politics and Election page.
