Sneak Peek: This is bowling. There are rules.

April 01, 2008— -- Over the course of this long campaign, Hillary Clinton has on a few occasions reminded the reporters trailing her that she does indeed have a sense of humor.

So perhaps it was not surprising that when Clinton began to speak in a serious, somber tone in Philadelphia about the tight Democratic race and a way to bring an end to things, a buzz went through the press corps:

"Was she dropping out? Formally inviting Senator Obama to a joint ticket? But when Clinton began tweaking Obama's efforts this weekend to woo the votes of Pennsylvania's 10-pin playing Demcorats, they knew the joke was on them," ABC News' Eloise Harper reports.

"I want to take a moment to say that this has been a very hard fought race. Each of us is drawing enormous support we clearly need to do something so our party and people can make the right decision," Clinton began.

(Wait for it…)

"So I have a proposal today. I am challenging Senator Obama to a bowl-off. A bowling night. Right here in Pennsylvania. Winner take all. I'll even spot him two frames. It's time for his campaign to get out of the gutter and allow all of the pins to be counted."

"I am prepared to play this game all the way until the 10th frame. When this game is over the American people will know when that phone rings at 3am they will have a president who is ready to bowl on day one." LINK

Zing!

The Clinton traveling press corps cannot be faulted for falling for the April Fools Day joke, given the high tension and heated rhetoric on the campaign trail these days. (And the fact that most of the reporters probably haven't had a day off in months, so who looks at a calendar?)

Considering Obama's performance over the weekend at a bowling alley in Altoona PA (a cringe-worthy 37 with a few gutter balls), he better hope that the idea of a bowl-off for the nomination doesn't catch on among party leaders.

Bowling may be the most absurd way to settle this nomination but beyond Just Wait It Out and Let the Primaries End, no proposal on what to do with the uncommitted superdelegates has garnered much enthusiasm or consensus.

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports that Senate Majority Leader and uncommitted superdelegate Harry Reid said today that he supports a plan to have superdelegates make their preference public by July 1, well before the convention in Denver.

"I like that — July 1 or before," Reid said in a hallway off of the Senate floor.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean is not keen on the idea of a superdelegate convention, which is being floated by Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen. In an interview with USA Today, Dr. Dean said a convention of superdelegates cannot happy because "it would look like 330 delegates are overriding the wishes of 30 million voters."

Clinton fools the press and challenges Obama to a bowl-off for delegates. LINK

McCain's Waiting Game
With Democrats consuming all the political oxygen, what does Sen. McCain do now? LINK

Bill Clinton Heckled Again
The former president is interrupted by rowdy crowd members in Selma, OR. LINK

Clinton Compares Herself to Rocky
Sen. Clinton says like Philly icon Rocky Balboa, she will never quit. LINK

McCain a Teacher's Pet?
Sen. McCain returns to his alma mater to discuss the importance of education. LINK

Bush Vs. Putin
President Bush defies Russia's President Putin and supports Ukraine's NATO bid. LINK

McCain Sets the Record Straight
The presumptive Republican nominee weighs in on Nancy Pelosi's comments. LINK

Nancy Pelosi on Olympics, Election
House Speaker addresses a possible Olympics boycott and the presidential race. LINK

Chelsea: Lewinsky 'None of Your Business'
An N.C. State student re-asks Chelsea Clinton about the Lewinsky affair. LINK