CLINTON DISMISSES IRAN’S PROTEST OVER THREATS

Senator Clinton is dismissing Iran’s public criticism of her threat to “totally obliterate” the Islamic state if it uses nuclear weapons against Israel. In a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon late Wednesday, an Iranian diplomat called Mrs. Clinton’s statement “provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible.”

“Well, that’s kind of strange coming from a provocative, irresponsible regime, as we have currently in Iran,” Mrs. Clinton told ABC News yesterday. She said she favors more diplomatic talks with Iran, but wants to send an unmistakable message on the nuclear issue.

“I want to make it very clear to the leadership and to the people of Iran that acquiring nuclear weapons is not in their interest, and were they ever to be so reckless as to launch an attack against Israel or a nuclear attack against any of our friends and allies, they would face massive retaliation,” she said.

Mr. Obama has dismissed Mrs. Clinton’s comment about obliterating Iran as “saber rattling” that was likely to be unproductive, a phrase that Mrs. Clinton herself has used to criticize the Bush administration’s stance toward Iran. However, in a 2004 interview, he speculated publicly about missile strikes to destroy Iran’s nuclear program.

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT ISSUES MAJOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULINGS

New court decisions on North Carolina campaign finance laws could have a significant impact on the laws governing federal elections. In one case, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, 2-1, that it was unconstitutional for the state to impose contribution limits on independent political committees. The court agreed with critics that the main justification for campaign finance, the prevention of corruption, was not sufficient to justify donation limits to groups which had no ties to a candidate who might take official action. The same panel also rejected the state’s standards for determining when ads should be considered “express advocacy” for a candidate.

A separate 4th Circuit panel ruled unanimously that North Carolina could ban all contributions during the last three weeks of judicial elections under certain circumstances involving a candidate accepting public financing and another who does not.

Both decisions could be taken up by the Supreme Court.

JACKSON CALLS FOR WRIGHT-OBAMA CEASE-FIRE

At a news conference in New York yesterday, the Reverend Jesse Jackson condoned Senator Obama’s repudiation of his former pastor’s incendiary sermons, but also said it was time to refocus the campaign on more important issues.

Rev. Jackson also seemed to contradict recent comments by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr. asserting that his sermons — which have included insinuations that America held some responsibility for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — came out of the culture of the black church.

“Obviously, no one speaks for all churches,” Rev. Jackson said.

“There is a lot of a pain when pastor and parishioner separate. Lots of pain,” Rev. Jackson, who has endorsed Mr. Obama, said. “In time they’ll reconcile, but right now, there must be a cease-fire. The issues that matter the most to America must get back on the front burner, and I hope that will happen.”

SUPERDELEGATE STAKES

Senators Obama and Clinton each added several backers to their superdelegate tallies yesterday, with one prominent supporter of the former first lady switching his allegiance to the Illinois senator. A former chairman of the Democratic National Committee under President Clinton, Joseph Andrew, announced he was leaving Mrs. Clinton’s camp for Mr. Obama, saying he feared a drawn-out primary battle would damage the party’s chances for victory in November. Mr. Obama also picked up the support of three superdelegates from his home state who were named delegates at a state convention. Similarly, Mrs. Clinton added four newly crowned superdelegates from New York, including Attorney General Cuomo; the state comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, and a former president of Manhattan, C. Virginia Fields. Mrs. Clinton is expected to earn the endorsement of the president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, John Olsen, a superdelegate. Mr. Obama announced the backing of a superdelegate from Texas, John Patrick.