In the Headlines

"Obama returning to Springfield; will running mate be with him?" (John McCormick and Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune) - Sen. Barack Obama will return to the Old State Capitol in Springfield on Saturday, where he launched his presidential bid in February 2007, and the Illinois Democrat may be joined by his newly minted running mate.

"Talk of McCain's No. 2 Concerns Conservatives" (Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times) - Senator John McCain is facing increasing scrutiny about his selection of a running mate as some social conservatives expressed alarm on Tuesday that Mr. McCain might ask a candidate who favors abortion rights to join him on the ticket.

"Obama and McCain in a statistical tie" (Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times) - John McCain has begun rallying dispirited Republicans behind him, while Democratic rival Barack Obama has made scant progress building new support, leaving the presidential race statistically tied, according to a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll.

"Obama faces new criticism on abortion" (Christopher Wills, AP) - Painted during the Democratic primary as weak on abortion rights, Barack Obama is now being portrayed by opponents of abortion as an extremist who literally supports killing babies.