MCCAIN BACKER APOLOGIZES TO CATHOLICS FOR ‘HURTFUL’ COMMENTS

A prominent evangelist who has endorsed Senator McCain, the Reverend John Hagee, apologized yesterday to Catholics for numerous comments harshly critical of the Roman Catholic Church. “Out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful,” Rev. Hagee wrote in a letter to the president of the Catholic League, William Donohue. Rev. Hagee has referred to the Catholic Church as “the great whore” and has also suggested that Hurricane Katrina was a punishment for a sinful culture. Democrats have roundly criticized Mr. McCain for seeking and accepting Rev. Hagee’s endorsement. Mr. Donohue issued a statement yesterday accepting the apology, and Mr. McCain said it was “helpful,” but said he was not involved in coordinating it.

WEBB: ‘NOT REALLY INTERESTED’ IN VICE PRESIDENCY

A lawmaker who is often mentioned as a top vice presidential contender for either Democratic candidate, Senator Webb of Virginia, is suggesting he doesn’t want the job. “I’m not really interested. That’s all I want to say,” Mr. Webb told the Hill newspaper. A Vietnam veteran and former secretary of the Navy, Mr. Webb won election to the Senate in 2006.

CLINTON, OBAMA CROSS PATHS ON SENATE FLOOR

Senators Clinton and Obama shook hands and spoke briefly yesterday after crossing paths on the Senate floor as they returned briefly to the Capitol for legislative votes. Each took a few hours off from the campaign trail to vote on energy-related bills, including one to halt deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a bid to lower gas prices. Cameras showed what appeared to be a cordial conversation lasting less than a minute. The candidates also mingled separately with uncommitted senators, along with the lawmakers from Michigan, which is trying to have its delegation seated at the Democratic National Committee despite being penalized by the national party.

POLL: AGAINST MCCAIN, OBAMA HAS EDGE OVER CLINTON

A new poll shows Senator Obama with an edge over Senator Clinton in a potential general election match-up with Senator McCain. The ABC News/Washington Post survey found Mr. Obama leading Mr. McCain nationally, 51% to 44%, and Mrs. Clinton also ahead of the Arizona senator, 49% to 46%. The results boost Mr. Obama’s argument that he is the more electable Democrat in the fall, although various surveys in the past couple months have found both candidates with the electability edge.

MCCAIN AIDE’S FIRM WORKED FOR PUTIN ALLY

A lobbying firm, Davis Manafort, which is owned in part by a top campaign aide to Senator McCain, Richard Davis, arranged for a public relations firm to burnish the image in America of a political party in Ukraine with ties to President Putin, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site last night. Mr. McCain’s campaign said Mr. Davis is on leave from the firm. Two aides to the presumptive Republican nominee quit over the weekend following reports of their work for Burma, but The New York Sun reported Monday that top McCain aides with financial ties to Saudi Arabia and China have not departed.

CLINTON SETS DISCOUNT FUND-RAISER ON COAST

Ticket prices for Senator Clinton’s fund-raisers are downright affordable compared with the $2,300-a-head receptions she was attending just weeks ago. A mere $150 is required to attend a fund-raiser Mrs. Clinton has scheduled in Los Angeles tomorrow evening at the storied Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

OBAMA SCORES FOUR MORE SUPERDELEGATES

Senator Obama picked up the backing of four more superdelegates yesterday: a former Colorado governor and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Roy Romer; the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin; Rep. Joseph Donnelly of Indiana, and the chairwoman of the Democratic Party in the nation’s capital, Anita Bonds.