People who are sick of the Muslim smears directed at Barack Obama should feel encouraged with the new Associated Press article that will be printed in newspapers across the country, entitled "Obama fights false links to Islam."

The lead sentence: "For Barack Obama, it is an ember that he has doused time and again, only to see it flicker anew: links to Islam fanned by false rumors, innuendo and association." From there it goes over every last rumor that's been out there, from the e-mails to the madrassa stories to the folks who emphasize his middle name, and in every case unambiguously reminds the reader that he is not a Muslim.

Whether this article actually changes anyone's mind remains to be seen, but it's definitely an encouraging sign for how mainstream press coverage will proceed, should he win the nomination.