HONORARY TRIBESMAN: Barack Obama was adopted as an honorary member of the Crow nation Monday and was given a name that translates as “One who helps people throughout the land.” “What an enormous honor this is,” said Obama, visiting Crow Agency, Mont. Occasionally stumbling to pronounce complex American Indian names, Obama said, “I was just adopted into the tribe, so I’m still working on it.” His adoptive parents in the tribe are Harford and Mary Black Eagle. “Barack Black Eagle,” mused Obama. “That is a good name.”
TO HELP OBAMA?: Sen. Hillary Clinton’s former campaign manager could end up working for Obama in a potential general election campaign. Patti Solis Doyle left the Clinton campaign in early February in a leadership shake-up. After politico.com reported on a potential role for Solis Doyle, top Obama strategist David Axelrod said he had talked to Doyle throughout the campaign. “She said she would be happy to help if we are the nominee,” Axelrod said, “and I said that would be great. Period. End of non-story.” Solis Doyle is a Chicago native and sister of Ald. Danny Solis (25th).
MANIFESTLY POPULAR: Republican candidate Ron Paul’s new book, “The Revolution: A Manifesto,” is No. 1 on the latest New York Times best seller list.
BYRD AS BOOSTER: Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) endorsed Obama, calling him “a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian.” It’s hard to miss the historical significance of the endorsement by Byrd, who was first elected to the Senate in 1958 and who once was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Obama says Byrd once spoke with him about a mistake of his younger years that is a “cross around my neck,” an apparent reference to the Klan membership.
GOING SOUTH: Florida’s presidential primary has been ignored by the national Democratic Party, but the presidential candidates haven’t forgotten the Sunshine State. All three top contenders will be in South Florida this week. John McCain already has spent 45 days there in the past year.
POLL POSITION: The new Gallup Poll shows Obama leading Clinton among Democrats 55 percent to 39 percent — his largest lead all year. In mid-January, Clinton led by 20 percentage points.