Senate Confirms Christopher Hill As Ambassador To Iraq
The Senate last night confirmed Christopher Hill to be President Obama's Ambassador to Iraq. The nomination had previously been delayed by some Republican Senators, including John McCain and Sam Brownback, but Hill was finally able to win confirmation on a 73-23 vote.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama is traveling to Iowa for Earth Day today, accompanied by former governor and current Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack. He will depart the White House at 9:45 a.m. ET, and take off from Andrews Air Force Base at 10 a.m. ET. He will arrive in Des Moines at 12:15 p.m. ET, and will tour the Trinity Structural Towers Manufacturing Plant, which makes wind-energy towers, at 1:20 p.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks on his energy plan, laying out a strategy focused on clean energy. He will leave Des Moines at 3:15 p.m. ET, and is scheduled to arrive back at the White House at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will be speaking at 9:30 a.m. ET, making an announcement about the Recovery Act at the New Carrollton station of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. He will be accompanied by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, Sen. Ben Cardin, and Rep. Donna Edwards. At 11 a.m. ET, he will attend a symposium at the Georgetown University Law Center, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, where he will deliver a speech and be presented the Legal Momentum Hero Award.

McCain Gets GOP Primary Challenger For 2010
John McCain will face a Republican primary challenge for his Senate seat in 2010, from anti-illegal immigration activist Chris Simcox. The challenger is the founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps -- not to be confused with the Minuteman Project -- so expect him to make illegal immigration a big issue against McCain, though the incumbent is still heavily favored to win.

Cantor's Fundraising Shows Clout Within GOP
CQ observes that Eric Cantor's clout is clear from his first-quarter fundraising total of $963,900 -- only slightly less than the other six top members of the House GOP leadership combined. Cantor has become something of a point-man for taking on the Democrats, and the Democrats have taken him on, too. Said John Feehery, a GOP strategist who previously worked for Dennis Hastert: "All the notoriety has actually helped him, because if people are shooting at you, it means that you have arrived."

Bill Clinton And George W. Bush To Meet For Public Chat In May
Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are set to make their first joint public appearance since Bush left office, for an event in Toronto on May 29. The event is billed as a discussion between the two, of "the challenges facing the world in the 21st century."

Cornyn: Preventing 60 Dem Seats "Going To Be Real Hard"
In an interview with The Hill, NRSC chairman John Cornyn admitted he has a tough job preventing the Democrats from getting to 60 seats in 2010. "That's going to be real hard, to be honest with you," said Cornyn, also adding: "Everybody who runs could be the potential tipping point to get Democrats to 60. We've not only got to play defense; we've got to claw our way back in 2010. It'll be a huge challenge."