Top Items:
MSNBC:
Polls: Democrats closer to taking Senate control — But polls show no evidence of a national Democratic 'tidal wave' … Today show — NBC News Election Unit — NEW YORK - Two weeks out from the midterm elections, a second round of MSNBC/McClatchy polls, conducted by Mason-Dixon in eight states …
RELATED ITEMS:
vote.com:
'06 ELEX: BACK TO TOSS-UP — The latest polls show something very strange and quite encouraging is happening: The Republican base seems to be coming back home. This trend, only vaguely and dimly emerging from a variety of polls, suggests that a trend may be afoot that would deny the Democrats control of the House and the Senate.
Alex Johnson / MSNBC:
Tennessee ad ignites internal GOP squabbling — Corker calls for own party to pull spot some Republicans denounce as racist … Alex Johnson — With their majority in the Senate potentially hanging in the balance, Republicans were bickering among themselves over an advertisement …
John Amato / Crooks and Liars:
Is Ken Mehlman kidding? We should ask Harold Ford — The answer to Josh's question is no. He's a guy who isn't afraid to smear people with racism. He's a rich white guy who can spot insanely offensive racism instantly—except when he has a hand in it. He only pays the bills …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
Kate Phillips / The Caucus:
Tennessee Mud: Of Porn and Substance — The mudslide in the Smoky Mountains continued all weekend in the Tennessee Senate race, to the point where Representative Harold Ford Jr., the Democrat, bus-stormed a news conference by his Republican opponent, Bob Corker, to complain about advertisements aimed …
Daniela Deane / Washington Post:
Limbaugh Says Actor Fox Exaggerates Effects of Disease in Ads — Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh attacked actor Michael J. Fox for inserting his halting voice into the U.S. Senate campaign in Missouri, suggesting Fox was "acting" in a commercial where he's shown shaking …
RELATED ITEMS:
steeleformaryland.com:
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: — Cardin Voted Against Stem Cell Research for Pure Political Gain — TEMPLE HILLS, MD - Today, Michael Steele released the following statement setting the record straight on stem cell research: — Michael Steele said, "There is only one candidate in this race …
Tom Morton / jacksonholestartrib.com:
Cubin tells challenger, 'I'd slap you' — The Libertarian challenger for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat says Rep. Barbara Cubin offended him by uttering a slur related to his physical disability. — Thomas Rankin said Cubin approached him after a campaign debate on Sunday and said …
Discussion:
Whiskey Bar, Daily Kos, AMERICAblog, WTF Is It Now??, Democratic National Committee, Swing State Project and Democrats.com
RELATED ITEMS:
Pete Du Pont / Opinion Journal:
Bleak House — Republicans deserve to lose, but what happens if Democrats win? — Two weeks from tonight America is going to be different—first politically and then substantively—for Democrats will likely take control of the House, and move public policy in very liberal directions.
RELATED ITEMS:
Larry Margasak / Associated Press:
Rep. Reynolds set to face ethics panel — WASHINGTON - The House Republican campaign chairman and the speaker of the House are likely to be at odds this week as they testify about the handling of ex-Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record)'s come-ons to male pages.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh
RELATED ITEMS:
Leef Smith / Washington Post:
Some Voting Machines Chop Off Candidates' Names — Computer Glitch Affects Voters in 3 Jurisdictions; Error Cannot Be Fixed by Nov. 7 — U.S. Senate candidate James Webb's last name has been cut off on part of the electronic ballot used by voters in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville …
Discussion:
Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, FP Passport, Sister Toldjah, The Allen Blog and Discourse.net
Tennessean.com:
Ford camp's answers vary on Playboy party — The way Republicans like to tell it, Harold Ford Jr. partied with Playboy playmates at a Super Bowl Party last year. — So, was he there or not? — Responses from the Memphis Democrat and his campaign have varied:
Peter Baker / Washington Post:
Bush's new tack steers clear of 'stay the course' — Phrase became liability for GOP in election year … Today show — President Bush and his aides are annoyed that people keep misinterpreting his Iraq policy as "stay the course." A complete distortion, they say.
Blaine Harden / Washington Post:
Solidly Republican, Suddenly in Doubt — COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — It is, perhaps, the political equivalent of hell freezing over in the interior West. — This red state where conservative Republicans routinely wipe the floor with hapless Democrats has a Republican running for Congress who just might lose.
Kate Zernike / New York Times:
Seats in Danger, Democrats Proclaim Their Conservatism — Listening to Congressional candidates in middle Georgia, it is easy for someone to think that he is in a different year and, possibly, a different country. — Democrats defend themselves against accusations that they are rubber stamps for their party's leadership.
Jack Shafer / Slate:
If You Don't Buy This Newspaper ... WE'LL SHOOT YOUR DEMOCRACY. — Washington Monthly founder Charlie Peters formulated the "Fireman First Principle" years ago to describe the agitprop tactics governments resort to whenever budget cuts are discussed. In the classic case …
Richard Holbrooke / Washington Post:
Three Choices, Mr. President — The Least Bad Option on Iraq: Disengagement and Damage Control — Dear Mr. President: — As soon as the midterm elections are over — and regardless of their outcome — you will have to make the most consequential decision of your presidency …
Discussion:
QandO, New York Times, The Mahablog, The Glittering Eye, FP Passport, Taylor Marsh, The Moderate Voice and It Shines For All
Washington Post:
U.S. Officials: Iraqi Security Could be Ready in 12-18 Months — Ambassador Says Iraqi Political Leaders 'Must Step Up' — Top U.S. officials in Iraq today predicted that Iraqi security forces could be largely self-sufficient within 12 to 18 months and said the Iraqi government is building …
Discussion:
New York Times, TAPPED, The Real Ugly American.com, The Arabist, PoliBlog and INDCJournal
UPI:
YOUR THOUGHTS — The report that sex is always on the mind of men has one glaring flaw, when men are married, then sex becomes a distant memory. — You guy's are just now figuring this out ? Jeeze,.....thank god we are not dependent on your group for the rest of lifes answers.
Discussion:
Sister Toldjah
Arutz Sheva:
Photographer Worked With - and Kidnapped by - Arab Terrorists — Emilio Morenatti, a Spanish photographer working for the Associated Press, was kidnapped Tuesday morning in Gaza. His photos show he was trusted by Palestinian terrorists. — No terror organization has yet taken responsibility …
Holly Yeager / Financial Times:
Elections could be most costly in US history — Next month's midterm elections will be the most costly congressional races in US history, with business interests contributing three-quarters of the estimated $2.6bn that will be spent, says a non-partisan research group.
Peter Wallsten / Los Angeles Times:
Latino and black voters reassessing ties to GOP — Clergy and other leaders say promises haven't been kept. — WASHINGTON — A major effort to draw Latinos and blacks into the Republican Party, a central element of the GOP plan to build a long-lasting majority, is in danger of collapse amid anger …
Think Progress:
Rumsfeld Agrees Bush Is 'Not Backing Away From Stay The Course' — Faced with widespread disappoval of its Iraq policy, the Bush administration launched a coordinated effort this week to convince Americans it has never had a stay-the-course strategy in Iraq. On Sunday, President Bush said, "We've never been stay the course."