Despite barreling towards an almost certain nomination for the entire month, John McCain somehow managed to raise less money in February than he did in January. And in case you were wondering about that whole FEC / matching public funds thing, he has surpassed that $54 million spending cap by a cool $4 million or so. I take this as a sign of his supreme confidence in his legal counsel.

A lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee claiming voter disenfranchisement over the barring of Florida's delegates was dismissed by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but questions — and further legal action — are likely to follow.

Some funs news for a Friday: Former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, the Democratic opponent to incumbent Republican Senator John Sununu, is way ahead in a new Rasmussen poll, up by eight and trending. Sununu's been in trouble for a while but maybe Shaheen's lead can start to crystallize over the next few months.

Now CNN and MSNBC are both saying that Hillary Clinton's passport files were also breached in 2007. Man, what is going on at the State Department?

Update: McCain's file was also improperly checked out. Again, is anyone watching the store over there?

We've heard the rumors for weeks, and today it will finally happen: New Mexico Governor and former presidential candidate Bill Richardson will endorse Barack Obama.

Apparently it is going to be a busy day - it came out last night that some State Department employees checked out Barack Obama's passport information without authorization; two got fired, one was punished somehow, and everyone made it out to be nothing more than "imprudent curiosity." However, when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talked about it with reporters just a few minutes ago, she did not so much downplay it as simple misguided snooping. I have no doubt this story will develop throughout the day.

JP Morgan Chase is on the path to finalizing their Bear Sterns buyout, but billionaire Bear Sterns shareholder Joe Louis is considering an attempt at blocking the deal. I guess he isn't just going to grin and Bear it without some Sterns looks!

Via TPM: Remember yesterday when we talked about how John McCain seems to not know what's going on in the Middle East?

The news out of the Proud Mitten State is that the State Senate has adjourned for a 2-week Easter break without approving a plan for a re-vote.

Several years after buried industrial waste pits near the San Jacinto River were linked to severe pollution and toxic levels of dioxin in fish in and around Harris County, the EPA has designated the area for Superfund cleanup, along with a few other sites in Texas. And that's good progress in cleaning up some of the state's most polluted areas.