Today's Top Stories

1) Barack Obama wrote a personal check to Hilary Clinton for $2,300 to ease the debt she incurred from her Presidential run. It was characterized as a "good-will gesture" intended to "nudge" his top donors to help alleviate Senator Clinton's debt, encouraging unity between Clinton and Obama supporters for the good of the Democratic Party. Source: The New York Times

2) John McCain will release an ad, hoping to gain supporters in key battleground states, called "Purpose." The spot publicizes Mr. McCain's energy plan, highlighting key proposals he announced over the past few weeks. The Senator's energy plan includes lifting the ban on offshore drilling and developing alternative fuels. Source: The New York Times

3) On Tuesday, evangelical leader James C. Dobson attacked Barack Obama claiming he has a "fruitcake interpretation of the constitution." He went on to say, “I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology." However, Barack Obama was not the sole recipient of harsh words from the evangelical leader; Mr. Dobson once stated that he would rather stay at home than cast a vote for Senator McCain. He criticized Mr. McCain for not vehemently opposing same sex marriage, and noted that both candidates "don’t give a hoot about the family." Source: New York Times

4) John McCain referred to former President Carter as a "lousy" President. He noted, "This is the same guy who kissed Brezhnev," referring to the moment when President Carter kissed Soviet Union leader Leonid Brezhnev after signing the SALT II treaty in 1979. Source: CNN