The Mini-Note

— -- The Note is undergoing some changes. In the meantime, The Mini-Note will provide you an early look at the must-read political stories of the day likely to dominate the political news cycle. If you want to get an early jump on the day in politics, you will want to make The Mini-Note your first stop of the morning.

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We thank you for your continued readership during The Note's renovations.

MUST-READS:

New York Sun's Josh Gerstein: "How Democrats Hoped To Avoid Issue of Guns" LINK

Washington Post's Jonathan Weisman and Jon Cohen: "Final War Funding Bill in Works: U.S. Divided on Pullout, Favor Congress to Set Policy, Poll Finds"LINK

ABC News' Jan Crawford Greenburg and Ariane de Vogue: "EXCLUSIVE: Gonzales Contradicts His Own Testimony"LINK

Washington Post's Dan Balz: "Fundraising Totals Challenge Early Campaign Assumptions"LINK

Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh: "John Edwards's changing tune on the Iraq vote"LINK

Virginia Tech:

Politico's Roger Simon: "Shootings Echo Across Decades Without Gun Control Solutions"LINK

Los Angeles Times' Joel Havemann: "Gun control debate resumes, on one side: Supporters renew call for tougher laws while opponents are largely silent."LINK

The Associated Press's Elizabeth White: "McCain Stands Firm on 2nd Amendment Rights after Va. Tech Rampage"LINK

2008 Fundraising:

New York Times' Kirkpatrick and Aron Pilhoferd: "Finance Filings Offer Glimpses of '08 Candidates" LINK

Politico's Jeanne Cummings: "GOP Funk: Top Dems Have Twice As Many Donors" LINK

Washington Post's John Solomon and Matthew Mosk: "New Loyalties for Old Fundraising Networks" LINK

Wall Street Journal's Brody Mullins and Dean Treftz: "Wall Street Antes Up for 2008: Financial Sector Leads Early Giving To Presidential Candidates."LINK