CLINTON DENIES TELLING RICHARDSON OBAMA CAN’T WIN

Senator Clinton is denying that she told Governor Richardson of New Mexico that Senator Obama could not win the general election this fall. “I don’t talk about private conversations, but I have consistently made the case that I can win, because I believe I can win,” she said in response to a reporter’s question about whether, as reported by ABC News, she told Mr. Richardson, who has endorsed Mr. Obama, that the senator was certain to lose in November. “Sometimes, people draw the conclusion I’m saying somebody else can’t win. I can win. I know I can win. That’s why I do this every day. And that’s what my campaign is about. I’m in it to win it. And I intend to do just that.”

Asked if her answer amounted to a “no,” she replied, “That’s a ‘no.'” Several press accounts yesterday said aides to Mrs. Clinton claimed that Mr. Richardson was the one who dismissed Mr. Obama’s chances.

“Governor Richardson has never questioned Senator Obama’s electability. He believes Barack Obama is the right person to lead this country and he will be America’s next president,” a spokesman for Mr. Richardson said. “The governor wants to move beyond this he said-she said nonsense. It’s irrelevant and petty.”

OBAMA RAISES $40M IN MARCH, TWICE CLINTON’S TOTAL

Senator Obama raised $40 million in March to Senator Clinton’s $20 million, bolstering his cash advantage heading into the final 10 primary contests. Mr. Obama’s total was less than the record $55 million he raised in February, but his wide edge over Mrs. Clinton dampens the notion that he was hurt by the controversy surrounding his former pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Mr. Obama has now raised $131 million for the year to $70 million for Mrs. Clinton. The two were roughly even in fund-raising for 2007.

AIR AMERICA HOST SUSPENDED OVER COMMENTS

A liberal radio network, Air America, has suspended one of its most prominent hosts, Randi Rhodes, for comments she made off the air about Senator Clinton and others. A video posted Tuesday on YouTube shows Ms. Rhodes using a crude term to describe Mrs. Clinton and a former congresswoman who supports her, Geraldine Ferraro. The comments came in what appeared to be a stand-up comedy routine at an event sponsored by Air America’s San Francisco station last month. “Air America encourages strong opinions about public affairs but does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our hosts,” the network’s chairman, Charlie Kireker, said. His statement cited “inappropriate statements about public figures” by Ms. Rhodes, but the only individual target the it mentioned was Mrs. Clinton.

CARTER HINTS AT SUPPORT FOR OBAMA

President Carter hasn’t officially endorsed a White House hopeful, but he offered a strong hint yesterday that he would cast his vote as a superdelegate to Senator Obama. Speaking to reporters in Nigeria, he noted that Mr. Obama won his home state of Georgia, his hometown of Plains had supported him, and his children and their spouses are “pro-Obama.” “My grandchildren are also pro-Obama,” he said, according to the Nigerian newspaper, This Day. “As a superdelegate, I would not disclose who I am rooting for but I leave you to make that guess.”

EDWARDS SAYS NO TO VICE PRESIDENTIAL BID

A former contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, John Edwards, said yesterday that he would not agree to be the vice presidential nominee this year. Speaking in Las Vegas, he said, , “No,” when asked about taking such a slot, Reuters reported.

CLINTON, MCCAIN TO APPEAR TOGETHER IN MEMPHIS

Senators Clinton and McCain will make a rare joint appearance Friday, participating in an NBC News forum in Memphis to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. The event is not a debate, and a McCain aide, Steve Schmidt, told Newsweek that he expected the two candidates to “share remembrances of Dr. King” but that it is “not a political event.” Senator Obama also will be in Memphis today, but it is not clear whether he will attend the forum.