In the Headlines

"GOP Sharpens Attacks on Obama" (Michael Shear, Washington Post) - Sen. John McCain's allies have seized on a new and aggressive line of attack against Sen. Barack Obama, casting the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee as an opportunistic and self-obsessed politician who will do and say anything to get elected.

"Lack of funds hobbling the 'Republican attack machine'" (Steven Thomma, McClatchy) - Democrats and the media have used the term so much that it's almost an article of faith. But the so-called "Republican attack machine" waiting with piles of unregulated cash to chew up Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is anything but.

"Clark hits McCain's military credentials" (Josh Kraushaar, The Politico) - Gen. Wesley Clark, acting as a surrogate for Barack Obama's campaign, invoked John McCain's military service against him in one of the more personal attacks on the Republican presidential nominee this election cycle. Clark said that McCain lacked the executive experience necessary to be president, calling him "untested and untried" on CBS' "Face the Nation." And in saying so, he took a few swipes at McCain's military service.

"Obama and McCain search for running mates" (Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times) - To believe the talk in Washington, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is considering more than two dozen candidates as potential vice presidential nominees, including 13 senators or former senators, 11 governors or former governors, two retired generals and former Vice President Al Gore.

On the Morning Shows

Morning Joe - Obama communications director Robert Gibbs, on whether the campaign is behind Gen. Clark's comments: "No, we're not. ... We certainly honor the sacrifice and the service and the heroism of John McCain. Those are the comments of Gen. Clark, not Barack Obama. ... They both love their countries, and anyone who questions otherwise doesn't make much sense.

"What we need in the next president is judgment. The judgment to lead this country."

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis on Clark's comments: "I think the question is why the Barack Obama campaign would place Wesley Clark on that show with the understanding that he's likely to talk about McCain's service to this country in this fashion.... We haven't heard a single word from the Obama campaign on how outrageous [it was].

"This is from a campaign that has tried to raises the bar ... run a different campaign. ... The new look is old politics."

From Late Night

Letterman:

(Greg Bobrinskoy contributed to the Morning Report.)