JUDY WOODRUFF: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama today denounced his long-time pastor Jeremiah Wright. It came amid a furor over Wright's statements on the 9/11 attacks, the plight of blacks, and other things.
Wright made a series of appearances over the weekend, culminating yesterday in Washington, where he took on the news media, his critics, and even Obama. Today, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Obama fired back.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), Illinois: At a certain point, if what somebody says contradicts what you believe so fundamentally, and then he questions whether or not you believe it in front of the National Press Club, then that's enough.
JUDY WOODRUFF: We'll have much more on this story right after this news summary.
Obama's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, picked up a high-profile endorsement today from the governor of North Carolina. Mike Easley made his announcement a week before the state's presidential primary. He spoke in Raleigh.
GOV. MIKE EASLEY (D), North Carolina: There's a lot of "yes, we can" and "yes, we should" going around. Hillary Clinton is ready to deliver; that's the difference. She's ready to deliver today immediately.
This lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy. She's got get-up-and-go. She's here today. She's going to be here next month, the month after that, and the year after that as the president of the United States.
JUDY WOODRUFF: On the Republican side, John McCain called for greater competition among health care providers. He campaigned in Tampa, Florida, and said Americans should be put in charge of their own coverage. He proposed giving families a $5,000 tax credit to help buy insurance policies.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), Arizona: Insurance companies could no longer take your business for granted, offering narrow plans with escalating costs. It would help change the whole dynamic of the current system, putting individuals and families back in charge, and forcing companies to respond with better service at lower cost.
JUDY WOODRUFF: McCain did not say how much his plan would cost or how many people it would help.
President Bush and Democrats in Congress traded jabs today over the economy and gas prices. The president called a White House news conference and accused Congress of blocking his proposals.
Among other things, he pressed again to ease approval of new refineries and increase future gasoline supplies. He also called for quicker action on bills to help homeowners and ease the credit crunch. Mr. Bush said people face difficult times and, quote, "They want to know whether or not Congress knows it."
GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: Many Americans are understandably anxious about issues affecting their pocketbook, from gas and food prices to mortgage and tuition bills. They're looking to their elected leaders in Congress for action. Unfortunately, on many of these issues, all they're getting is delay.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The president also left open the possibility of suspending the federal gas tax this summer, but Democrats argued the savings would be miniscule for most Americans. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar said, "They know $20 isn't going to help them for the summer. What they want are answers that are going to help them in the long term."
The price of oil retreated today after the dollar rebounded in value. In New York, the cost of crude closed down $3 to settle under $116 a barrel.
But on Wall Street, investors marked time, waiting to see if the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again tomorrow. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 39 points to close below 12,832. The Nasdaq rose more than 1 point to close at 2,426.
Scores of homes and other buildings lay smashed in southeastern Virginia today after a swarm of tornadoes. The National Weather Service confirmed six of the storms struck on Monday. There were no reported deaths, despite the devastation.
Kwame Holman narrates our report.
VIRGINIA RESIDENT: Tornado on the ground! Tornado on the ground!
KWAME HOLMAN: The twisters hit in the middle of the afternoon, after a string of strong thunderstorms rolled through the area. One tornado touched down three times in a 25-mile stretch.
At least 150 homes were destroyed, and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency.
This morning, local officials spoke in front of a backdrop of ruined buildings. Suffolk City Fire Chief Mark Outlaw.
MARK OUTLAW, Chief, Suffolk Fire Department: We went through the area at least three times back to back. So that has proved to work, been very successful.
The teams today again with the dogs have not located anything that -- it's just torn up lumber and torn up houses. Everyone wasn't home, so the houses were empty. If it would have happened in the middle of the night, then obviously the communities would have been more populated.
KWAME HOLMAN: More than 200 people were injured, but most suffered only cuts and scrapes.
TORNADO SURVIVOR: I thought somebody was shooting at us, because like the windows were breaking so fast it sounded like gunshots and everything.
TORNADO SURVIVOR: We looked out. And all we saw, we started running. The next thing you know, the building was collapsed and I was collapsed under for a while. And then someone had to come and drag me out. I'm just thankful to be alive.
TORNADO SURVIVOR: A tree branch hit my car, picked me up about a foot off the ground, and slammed me down into the middle of the median facing the other way.
KWAME HOLMAN: Most people were not allowed to return to their homes or businesses today as damage assessment went on.
JUDY WOODRUFF: In Iraq today, more than two dozen people were killed in the latest fighting in Baghdad. Residents in Sadr City ran for cover as U.S. troops battled Shiite militants. The four-hour clash began when gunmen ambushed a U.S. patrol.
Saddam Hussein's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, went on trial today in Baghdad. He's accused of ordering the death of 42 merchants accused of profiteering in 1992. Aziz is now 72 years old and in poor health.
U.S. Marines attacked a Taliban town in southern Afghanistan today. The assault was the deepest U.S. forces have gone into Helmand province in years. It is the world's largest opium poppy-growing area.
Elsewhere, a suicide blast in eastern Afghanistan killed 18 people and injured 36 more.
