On The HUSTINGS

MICHIGAN MOVES CLOSER TO NEW PRIMARY, FLORIDA FACES HURDLES

Democrats in Michigan appear to be close to an agreement on a do-over presidential primary, while their counterparts in Florida are facing more obstacles as they contemplate solutions to their delegate dilemma. The Associated Press reported that Democratic officials believe a deal satisfactory to both the Clinton and Obama campaigns could be reached as early as Friday. The agreement would involve a primary because the Clinton campaign is opposed to holding caucuses, which it contends are undemocratic, the AP reported. In Florida, officials have proposed a mail-in vote, but there are lingering concerns about logistics and whether state law would preclude an official certification of results. Both states held primaries in January without active campaigns by the candidates, and the Democratic National Committee has stripped them of their delegates because they violated scheduling rules. Plans for new elections could be scrapped entirely, according to Time.com's "The Page," which reported yesterday that senior Democrats are floating a plan to seat delegates from both states with smaller penalties in place. The delegates would be split between both candidates in a way that gives Mrs. Clinton a net gain, but one that is smaller than if the delegates were awarded based on the voting in January.

OBAMA CALLS SPITZER SCANDAL A 'TRAGEDY'

Senator Obama yesterday called Governor Spitzer's fall from grace over a sex scandal a "tragedy" and suggested he had made the correct decision in announcing his resignation on Wednesday. "Obviously, it's a tragedy," Mr. Obama told reporters on his press plane, according to a Web video posted by ABC News. "It's heartbreaking for the family, but I suspect that it would not have been possible to function as governor." Mr. Spitzer, who was linked to a prostitution ring and could face criminal charges, was a supporter of Senator Clinton. Responding to a follow-up question, Mr. Obama said President Clinton's history of tawdry scandals should not be an issue for voters. "Senator Clinton should be judged on her own merits," he said.

CLINTON ADVISER PENN: OBAMA 'CAN'T WIN' IN NOVEMBER

Senator Clinton's chief strategist and pollster, Mark Penn, said yesterday that Senator Obama would go down to defeat in the fall if he manages to win the Democratic presidential nomination. "Senator Obama really can't win the general election," Mr. Penn told reporters on a conference call. It was not entirely clear whether he was referring to Pennsylvania or the country as a whole. Moments later, Mrs. Clinton's top spokesman, Howard Wolfson, denied that Mr. Penn had predicted Mr. Obama's defeat.

Mr. Penn later revised his remarks, saying, "If you can't win Pennsylvania, it raises serious questions about whether he can win a general election."

A spokesman for Mr. Obama, Thomas Vietor, ridiculed the comment. "It can't inspire too much confidence in the Clinton campaign when their pollster ignores both polls and math by making comments as divorced from reality as this one," the spokesman said. "Senator Obama is leading in delegates, states won, the popular vote, and fares better than Senator Clinton against John McCain in poll after poll, including critical swing states like Iowa, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Wisconsin."

OBAMA PASTOR'S WORDS CAUSE STIR

Provocative comments made by Senator Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, are making the rounds on the Web. Among the comments: "Hillary is married to Bill, and Bill has been good to us. No, he ain't! Bill did us, just like he did Monica Lewinsky. He was riding dirty," the minister said in January. Mr. Obama has said he does not agree with all of his pastor's views.

CLINTON, OBAMA TO DEBATE

Senator Clinton and Senator Obama agreed yesterday to take part in a debate sponsored by ABC News in Philadelphia April 16, less than a week before the state's April 22 primary. Mr. Obama also accepted an offer from CBS News to participate in an April 19 debate in North Carolina, which votes May 6. There was no immediate response from Mrs. Clinton's camp.