Thanks to NAFTA and the trial of Tony Rezko, yesterday wasn't a great press day for Barack Obama. But he at least got a little encouraging news about some meaningless endorsements from P. Diddy and 50 Cent. Russell Simmons said yesterday during his press conference endorsing Obama that Diddy called the Obama campaign and hinted that 50 Cent might defect to Obama because he "didn't know about Hillary anymore." 50 Cent endorsed Clinton last month, citing doubts about America's readiness for a black president and his concerns that Obama might be assassinated if elected.

Obama made no mention of the potential endorsements yesterday, but did tell a bunch of high schoolers in Texas that he listens to rap sometimes even though he doesn't really approve of it. "I'll listen to Jay-Z once in a while and some other stuff," Obama told the youngsters, "but I have to say that so much of the culture glorifies bling, and, you know, violence, and is disrespectful to women. And we've got to counteract some of those cultural influences." This sort of talk, coupled with his Wacky D dance routine with Ellen DeGeneres, leaves Mike Gravel, who curses, celebrates drug use, and truly doesn't give a fuck, as the 2008 candidate most simpatico with the hard core rap game.