LIGHTNING ROUND: UNITY 08!

• The much-touted Obama/Clinton unity event went off well in Unity, NH, today. The Clintons each maxed out on contributions to the Obama campaign, and even Terry McAuliffe gushed, "I love Barack Obama!" That's sweet. Facing major Clinton donors last night, however, Obama was repeatedly grilled on the prospects of a real unity ticket featuring VP Hillary Clinton.
• John McCain released a new campaign ad today, focused on putting "Country first" and the candidate's supposed willingness to be innovative on energy solutions. McCain himself spent the day in Ohio, where the LA Times reports on McCain's efforts to reassure conservatives. Survey USA has Obama up by only 2 points in Ohio, 48-46.
• With Time's new national survey showing Obama up over McCain by 5 points, 43-38, Nate Silver wonders whether we should be discounting Obama's national lead, John Fund argues that McCain is far, far from being "doomed" and Charlie Cook lays out the likelihood of an Obama or McCain landslide.
• Obama beefed up his staff today, as Dylan notes. Obama also added a "religious affairs" adviser in the form of Shaun Casey.
• Debra Bartoshevich, the Wisconsin delegate who swore she'd vote for John McCain if Hillary Clinton wasn't the Democratic nominee, has vowed to fight the DNC on her status as a delegate to the convention.
• A victim of its own success, a my.barackobama.com social networking group has formed to challenge Obama on his FISA position.
• And finally, the John McCain campaign website has a Space Invaders-esque "Pork Invaders" that allows you to shoot at (veto) pork to stop government waste. Never one to turn down a chance at slacking and play classic arcade games, I managed to get to level 4 with $6,400 million in saved tax dollars, though I was only able to shoot down 2 of the elusive pork barrel bonuses.

--Mori Dinauer