In the Headlines:

"Obama to Reject Public Funds for Election" (Shailagh Murray and Perry Bacon Jr., Washington Post) - Sen. Barack Obama reversed his pledge to seek public financing in the general election yesterday, a move that drew criticism from adversaries and allies alike but could provide him with a significant spending advantage over Republican rival John McCain.

"Obama team weighs Nunn, Edwards as running mates" (Ken Thomas, AP) - Former Sens. John Edwards and Sam Nunn are on a list of potential running mates for Democrat Barack Obama, a congresswoman said Thursday, one day after she met with the team Obama has reviewing possible candidates.

"McCain meets with Hispanic leaders" (Michael Tarm, AP) - Republican presidential John McCain assured Hispanic leaders he would push through Congress legislation to overhaul federal immigration laws if elected, several people who attended a private meeting with the candidate said Thursday.

"McCain exports free-trade debate" (David Jackson, USA Today) - Lowering trade barriers "is a fundamental necessity if our economy is going to improve," McCain said this week. He has repeatedly criticized Obama for opposing new free-trade deals with Colombia and South Korea, and suggesting a re-negotiation of the existing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico.

On the Morning Shows:

Fox and Friends - Robert Gibbs, Obama communications director, on public financing: "[The Obama and McCain] counsels sat down with each other, it was painfully obvious that the McCain campaign had no desire to regulate the [527] groups. In fact just last week [McCain] said he can't be a referee to all the ads these groups are going to run. It left us with little decision to leave the public financing system."

From Late Night:

Jay Leno: