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Obama confident he can wrap up nomination in two weeks
National Post - Toronto,Ontario,Canada
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama predicted Thursday he could wrap up the Democratic presidential nomination within two weeks, potentially ending an exhausting 17-month campaign that has both re-energized and deeply divided his party. But even as the Illinois Senator exuded confidence, enjoying a jovial backslapping return to Capitol Hill, Democrats were jolted as his rival Hillary Clinton appealed for support along racial lines.

Race Over or Not, Obama Takes a Victory Lap
New York Times - United States
Senator Barack Obama began trying to rally the Democratic Party around him on Thursday and struck a tougher tone against Senator John McCain, saying Mr. McCain was “losing his bearings” in his pursuit of the White House. Even as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton persisted with her campaign for the nomination, Mr. Obama made a celebratory return to the Capitol, where he received an enthusiastic reception on the House floor in an appearance staged to position him as the party’s inevitable nominee.

Clinton urges supporters to ignore calls to end her campaign ...
International Herald Tribune - France
Barack Obama, meanwhile, was reaching out to top Democrats who could help seal a historic nomination well within his grasp. Clinton spent some of Thursday in West Virginia — the next battleground and where she is favored to win — telling supporters that she had faced similar pressure to withdraw before she went on to win New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania's primaries.

Clinton, Obama hesitate to build 'Dream Ticket'
Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA
There's only one problem with the idea of a Hillary Clinton- Barack Obama "Dream Team" ticket -- neither member of the team is ready to buy the dream. With Clinton's White House hopes on the wane, chatter of a joint ticket with Obama on the top was making the rounds of Democratic power circles, the media and in the two campaigns themselves. Obama -- who is said to have resisted the idea privately -- fueled the talk himself Thursday, telling CNN that Clinton is "an extraordinary candidate ... so obviously she'd be on anybody's short list to be a potential vice presidential candidate."

McCain-Obama race starts to take shape
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis,MN,USA
Barack Obama began trying to rally the Democratic Party around him on Thursday. He struck a tougher tone against Sen. John McCain, saying McCain was "losing his bearings" in his pursuit of the presidency. Even as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton persisted with her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Obama made a celebratory return to the Capitol, where he received an enthusiastic reception on the floor of the House in an appearance staged to position him as the party's inevitable nominee.