Up - Wright

Rev. Wright isn't fading into the background anytime soon. His speech this a.m. emphasized the founding principles of the church (he says that he's speaking out now simply to clear up misperceptions of the black church), but the Q & A (and the subsequent talk on cable nets) was centered on him. His answers to issues ranging from gov’t conspiracies to Farrakhan, and Roman soldiers only served to make him more radioactive, not less.

What does this mean for Obama? Primaries in IN and/or NC could give us some clues. But special elections in LA-06 on 5/3 and MS-01 on 5/13 may be even more informative. In both contests, attack ads on the Dem nominees feature Obama. In MS, the Wright-Obama attack is made for the first time in a TV ad running today.

Should Dems lose both these races - esp. LA-06, where GOPer Jenkins has been considered the underdog - Obama/Wright will be seen as culpable.

This, of course, will add yet another wrinkle to superdels' decisions. If Obama can’t prove he has red-state coattails, how can he expect to sell his chances of expanding the playing field?