IN RECIPE SCANDAL, BLAME GOES TO THE INTERN

Call it plagiarized passion fruit mousse. Republican John McCain's campaign reprimanded an intern for claiming that several Food Network recipes were those of McCain's wife, Cindy. The campaign website had featured "McCain Family Recipes," including three that were seemingly identical to Food Network recipes. Another recipe was similar to one by celebrity cook Rachael Ray. Said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds: "The intern was dealt with swiftly, and the site is down for revision. Our apologies to the Food Network."

NEW ENDORSEMENTS

Springsteen for Obama: Rock star Bruce Springsteen, known for his lyrics about the struggles of working-class Americans, endorsed Barack Obama for president Wednesday, saying "he speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years."

Post-Gazette for Obama: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsed Barack Obama, saying he brings "an excitement and an electricity to American politics not seen since the days of John F. Kennedy." While praising Hillary Rodham Clinton, it said Clinton's criticisms of Obama represent "the cynical responses of the old politics to the new" and amount to doing the Republicans' work.

OBAMAS' INCOME JUMPED TO $4.2 MILLION

Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, made $4.2 million last year, according to tax returns the campaign released Wednesday. The Obamas reported a significant jump in their income from the previous year as profits from the books "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" accounted for about $4 million. The Obamas paid federal taxes of $1.4 million and donated $240,370 to charity.

NEWS SERVICES