By DeWayne Wickham The deal that ended the dispute over the Democratic primary votes in Florida and Michigan was settled Saturday during a three-hour, closed-door luncheon meeting from which key backers of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama emerged with vastly different views of what actually happened.

By Ray Gronberg, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. Mar. 13--DURHAM -- Aides for presidential candidates and U.S. senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton jousted Wednesday after a Clinton adviser appeared to write off the party's chances of carrying North Carolina in this fall's election.

By Hope Yen Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Harold Ickes, a top adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign who voted for Democratic Party rules that stripped Michigan and Florida of their delegates, now is arguing against the very penalty he helped pass.

Hillary Clinton's campaign suggested Saturday that even if Barack Obama earns more delegates in state primaries and caucuses than she does, a circle of politicians and party insiders should crown her the nominee because she would make a better candidate in November.