May
2 Fox's Last Laugh

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

With Howard Dean appearing on "Fox News Sunday," the Democrats' Fox News freeze out is officially over. A year ago, the DNC was refusing to sanction debates with Fox sponsorship, and the major candidates shunned the network. John Edwards --- relentlessly skewered by Fox commentators --- even made it a campaign talking point. But even back then, many predicted that the de facto boycott would end, as campaigns simply couldn't ignore Fox News viewership and the presumed pool of conservative working class voters.

A slew of stories today (here, here and here) zero in on this rapproachment, much to the dismay of liberal bloggers.  "It legitimizes a right-wing network that is going to use that credibility to smear them in the general election," Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn.org, tells the Los Angeles Times. "They're doing this because it helps them in the short term, but we all know it hurts them in the long term."

The Meeting: Barack Obama's finance committee met this morning in Indianapolis, after a period which is being regarded as the worst of his campaign. Obama's donors are nervous, naturally, fueled by all the Rev. Wright coverage this week.

On the Ground: A flurry of surrogates head to North Carolina and Indiana this weekend. Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen stump for Hillary Clinton today in Indianapolis, Evansville and New Albany; Sean Astin campaigns for Clinton in Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Vincennes and Evansville; Erica Alexander campaigns for Clinton in Gastonia and Raleigh, N.C. and Sophie B. Hawkins stumps for the candidate in Gastonia.

Meanwhile,  Gladys Knight appears with Michelle Obama at a rally in Asheville, N.C.

Quick Hit: Here's Slate's version of the entire Democratic primary in seven minutes.