In Final Weeks, G.O.P. Focuses on Best Bets  —  Senior Republican leaders have concluded that Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio, a pivotal state in this year's fierce midterm election battles, is likely to be heading for defeat and are moving to reduce financial support for his race and divert party money …

Schwarzenegger for Governor  —  The governor has learned how to work with the Legislature and chart a moderate course for California.  —  AFTER HIS HISTORIC ELECTION in the 2003 recall, followed by some early promise and a disappointing sophomore year, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a solid …

2 GOP senators urge new Iraq strategy  —  WASHINGTON - Two leading Republican senators called Sunday for a new strategy in Iraq, saying the situation in getting worse and leaving the United States with few options.  —  Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and John Warner of Virginia are part …

Kerry Says GOP Lied About Foley, Iraq  —  Sen. John Kerry Says GOP Lied About Foley Scandal and Iraq War  —  MANCHESTER, N.H. Oct 13, 2006 (AP)— Sen. John Kerry, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, likened the congressional page scandal to the war in Iraq and the handling of North Korea …

REID'S SMELLY WINDFALL  —  BACK-$CRATCHING WITH DEVELOPERS  —  SENATE Minority Leader Harry Reid's ethics woes continue to mount.  An Associated Press expose shows that Reid pushed through changes in federal law that helped the senator get rich - via complex land deals with a lobbyist who's also tied up in a federal bribery case.

Questions Grow Over U.N. Curbs on North Korea  —  Questions over the effectiveness of the Security Council's punitive sanctions on North Korea for its claimed nuclear test grew Sunday, as both South Korea and China — the North's two most important trading partners — indicated that business …

Dozens Of Iraqis Killed in Reprisals  —  River Towns Trade Sectarian Strikes As Militias Move In  —  Militias allied with Iraq's Shiite-led government roamed roads north of Baghdad, seeking out and attacking Sunni Arab targets Sunday, police and hospital officials said.

U.S. Death Toll in Iraq Hits 53 So Far This Month  —  Two marines were killed by insurgents in Anbar Province on Sunday, the American military command said, and three American soldiers died a day earlier in a bombing in southern Baghdad, bringing the total number of American troop deaths …

Cold Warrior  —  Dean Acheson was perhaps the most vilified secretary of state in modern American history.  Robert L. Beisner, in "Dean Acheson: A Life in the Cold War," his sweeping and thoughtful account of Acheson's tenure, cites a scholar who, with meticulous pedantry …

David Kuo on 60 Minutes: "The name of God is being destroyed in the name of politics"  —  David Kuo, former #2 in the Bush administrations Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and author of the new book Tempting Faith, joined Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes to talk about the book's explosive revelations …

Department of Defense: "Sir, we don't support blogs!"  —  Published October 15th, 2006 by Herschel Smith in Department of Defense |  In Old and New Body Armor for Marines, we discussed the replacement of the Interceptor Body Armor System with the new "Modular Tactical Vest" …

Help Save Ned Lamont: Write His Concession Speech Today  —  "Remember Ned Lamont?  He was that guy who came out of nowhere to beat Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary in 2006, only to turn around and lose to him in the general election when he got too cautious and stopped running …

Quake knocks out power across Hawaii  —  HONOLULU - A strong earthquake shook Hawaii early Sunday, causing a landslide that blocked a major highway on Hawaii Island and knocking out power across the state, authorities said.  —  The state Civil Defense had unconfirmed reports of injuries …

One proud Poppy ... but  —  W follies mar legacy, ex-Prez's aides gripe  —  DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF  —  WASHINGTON - At this month's christening of the nuclear aircraft carrier bearing his name, former President George H.W. Bush delivered a rousing endorsement of his son.

Panel to Seek Change on Iraq  —  A commission backed by Bush has agreed that 'stay the course' is not working, its leader says.  A phased withdrawal is one option on the table.  —  WASHINGTON — A commission backed by President Bush that is exploring U.S. options in Iraq intends …