Ralph's Race Card

"The "60 Minutes" reporter and former swimsuit model apparently courted two beaus while she was in Baghdad, and has been labeled a homewrecker for allegedly destroying the marriage of a civilian contractor there, sources said.

"Passions got so hot in the combat zone that one of her lovers, Joe Burkett, brawled in a Baghdad 'safe house' with her other paramour, CNN war reporter Michael Ware, a source said.

"The wife of Burkett, a US Embassy worker, claims the sultry 37-year-old correspondent seduced him while bullets flew overhead. Burkett's wife, Kimberly, also accuses Logan of teaming up with him to take her 3-year-old daughter away, according to the source.

"A close pal of Logan, who confirmed the allegations to The Post, said Burkett's marriage to Kimberly was already finished six months before they sparked up a relationship."

Which would mean it's not much of a story.

Some insight into the backstage booking wars from Greta Van Susteren. On Tuesday "at 9:00am I personally booked Reverend Sharpton to appear ON THE RECORD at 10pm eastern to discuss Don Imus. At 8:12pm, less than 2 hours before we were to begin our 10pm news show, I received a call in my office from Reverend Sharpton . . . he said that Senator Obama's campaign had called and asked him to appear on CNN at the same time he was due to appear on ON THE RECORD and thus could not make our show at the top. I told him that our first segment was the one he had been booked for almost 12 hours earlier and which we had discussed . . . he said Senator Obama's campaign called and wanted him on CNN and that he was sorry.

So . . . here is my question: is Senator Obama's campaign booking CNN now?"

Or put another way, is Reverend Al now a surrogate taking his marching orders from the Democratic candidate?

Perhaps the most buzzworthy item in recent weeks, other than Michelle Obama's $148 dress, was Scarlett Johanssen telling Politico that she and Barack are e-mail buds. Even Howard Stern was questioning how a presidential candidate had the time. Well, Obama tries to pull the plugt on that story line:

"Speaking to reporters aboard his campaign plane, Obama said the actress doesn't have his personal email address. 'She sent one email to Reggie, who forwarded it to me,' Obama said, referring to his 26-year-old personal assistant, Reggie Love. 'I write saying, 'thank you Scarlett for doing what you do,' and suddenly we have this email relationship.' "

Scarlett, if you're feeling dissed, I'd be happy to pick up the correspondence with you. I could really benefit from your insights. Just have your people give my people the address.

Howard Kurtz is the host of CNN's "Reliable Sources."