Hariri investigator wants more time (AP)

AP - The chief investigator probing the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister asked for more time Tuesday to determine the membership of a terrorist network behind Rafik Hariri's death.

Private RNC polling shows McCain lead (Politico)

Politico - Internal polling data, presented privately last week at the Republican National Committee’s state chair meeting and provided to Politico, shows John McCain with a solid lead over both his potential general election rivals.

ACLU petitions panel in CIA case (AP)

AP - A German citizen thwarted in the U.S. courts is taking his allegations of abduction and torture at the hands of the CIA to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

U.N. investigator wants more time in Hariri probe (Reuters)

Reuters - A Canadian prosecutor heading a U.N. investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri asked the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday for more time to pursue leads in the case.

McCain won't rule out pre-emptive war (AP)

AP - Republican Sen. John McCain refused Wednesday to rule out a pre-emptive war against another country, although he said one would be very unlikely.

NTSB: Drug, alcohol use by bay pilot (AP)

AP - Cosco Busan pilot Capt. John Cota's reported use of drugs and alcohol as disclosed this week by the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation of the Cosco Busan's collision with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Nov. 8, 2007. List of prescription drugs include those Cota was taking in 2007 or had taken in the past.

Feds blame Lieberman for Web site crash (AP)

AP - Federal investigators have found that Sen. Joe Lieberman's re-election campaign caused its Web site to crash on the eve of the August 2006 primary, a collapse he had blamed on supporters of Democratic challenger Ned Lamont.

Dems assail McCain on Iraq, economy (AP)

AP - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday she is the only presidential candidate who will begin a prompt drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq, and rival Sen. Barack Obama cast himself as the one best able to turn the nation's economy around.

Obama may bypass public financing (AP)

AP - Barack Obama, whose fundraising prowess has set records, appears to be paving the way to bypass the public financing system in the fall without yet spelling out his intentions.

Clinton: I differ with Bill on trade (AP)

AP - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday she has a long record of differing with her husband on trade policies, a critical issue as she and Sen. Barack Obama pursue Democratic voters who fault international deals for U.S. job losses.

Pelosi to block vote on Colombia (AP)

AP - Defying the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday the House will change its rules to avoid a required vote this year on a free-trade agreement with Colombia.

Tech problems blamed on Census Bureau (AP)

AP - The company hired to help modernize the 2010 census blamed government officials Wednesday for technology problems that will force census-takers to continue using paper and pencil.

Va. govenor defends lobbying for Obama (AP)

AP - Barack Obama's leading backer in Virginia sees no harm in Democratic insiders beckoning superdelegates to abandon Hillary Rodham Clinton.

US Official: Al-Qaida terrorist dead (AP)

AP - Abu Obeida al-Masri, an Egyptian al-Qaida chief responsible for attacks on U.S. forces in Afghanistan and linked to international terrorist plots, is dead, a U.S. counterterrorism official said Wednesday.

Elizabeth Edwards plugs Clinton plan (AP)

AP - Elizabeth Edwards put in a plug Wednesday for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's health care plan — possibly the closest any Democratic presidential candidate is likely to get to an endorsement from former rival John Edwards or his wife.