Republicans' Hold On the South Gets Test in Tennessee  —  Region's New Demographics  —  May Help Harold Ford Jr.,  —  Centrist Black Candidate  —  Sen. Frist's Seat Up for Grabs  —  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Race has long been a deciding factor in Southern politics, helping determine …

Prickly Peacock nixes Chicks  —  NBC cancels ads for Dixie docu 'Sing' … The Weinstein Co. is claiming that NBC and the CW have refused to air national ads for the new Dixie Chicks docu "Shut Up & Sing."  —  But while the Peacock has specifically said it won't accept the spots …

The Latest October Surprise: Lynne Cheney  —  "Wolf, I have nothing to explain.  Jim Webb has a lot to explain"  —  That was Lynne Cheney an hour ago on CNN.  —  Wolf Blitzer attempted to sandbag Lynne Cheney today, but that the former Chair of the NEH wasn't buying any of it.

Buzz in Virginia  —  Emails began pouring in earlier today about a rumor on Capitol Hill about some trouble in Sen. George Allen's (R-VA) divorce file.  Josh Marshall and others cannot get a response from the Allen campaign.  —  It seems everyone is emptying their opposition research files today.

Bloomberg Sends Troops to Help Lieberman  —  In the Lieberman campaign office in Hartford are, from left, Korinne Kubena, Ariel Dvorkin, Crystal Cook and Brian Honan.  All but Ms. Cook are on loan from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York City.  —  In his battle for re-election …

Press Briefing by Tony Snow  —  White House Conference Center Briefing Room  —  MR. SNOW: Welcome.  A couple of items of business, and then we'll go to questions.  A little bit ago the President placed a phone call to Tom Tidwell, who is the Deputy Regional Forester at the U.S. Forest Service …

Investigators Say Speaker's Aide Hindered Inquiry of Hill Security Contracts  —  Two former House committee investigators who were examining Capitol Hill security upgrades said a senior aide to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert hindered their efforts before they were abruptly ordered to stop their probe last year.

Democrats Get Late Donations From Business  —  Corporate America is already thinking beyond Election Day, increasing its share of last-minute donations to Democratic candidates and quietly devising strategies for how to work with Democrats if they win control of Congress.

HamNation: Racism!  It's Everywhere!  —  It's in every political ad, as long as you look hard enough.  According to my findings, even Harold Ford Jr. himself is sending coded messages.  —  My column, on the same subject, is here.  As one of my commenters put it so well, "I'm fixin' to throw a fit over this."

Deterring Kim Jong Il  —  In an interview aired last week, George Stephanopoulos put the question to President Bush: What would he do if "North Korea sold nukes to Iran or al-Qaeda?"  Bush replied, "They'd be held to account."  —  Seeking specifics, Stephanopoulos asked: "What does that mean?"

DUDE LOOKS LIKE HILALI  —  Sheik Hilali rocks out: … Actually, that last quote has been tidied up.  As J.F. Beck emailed, and television coverage proves, the Sheik actually said: … I'm on your side, Meatman.  The sooner the White House cleans the world, the better.

DEATH COMES FOR THE CUBAN TYRANT  —  Last Wednesday, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro may have slipped into a coma.  —  On Saturday, his sycophant, Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, flew into Havana (scroll down), possibly to bid a final farewell to his Cuban master.

Missouri Senate: Talent by Two  —  Talent (R) 48% McCaskill 46%  —  In the contest of inches that has marked the Missouri Senate race from the start, the most recent Rasmussen Reports election survey shows incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Talent leading Claire McCaskill 48% to 46% (see crosstabs).

Is There Progress Through Loss?  —  A national election, a national decision.  —  A year ago I wrote a column called "A Separate Peace," in which I said America's leaders in all areas—government, business, journalism—were in some deep way checking out.  They saw bad things coming …

Democrats Are Divided on a Solution for Iraq  —  If the Nov. 7 election in the United States is a referendum on the Iraq war, what are the choices?  —  President Bush admitted Wednesday that things were not going as well as he had hoped in Iraq and that he was adjusting tactics on the ground …