The Senate Race in Connecticut  —  The Congressional elections are very much about America's problems in Iraq.  But the campaigns have shed little light on exactly what should happen next.  Nowhere is that more true than in Connecticut.  The two leading candidates, Ned Lamont and Joseph Lieberman …

Webb: Democrats will provide Iraq remedy  —  RICHMOND, Va. - The only remedy to a series of Iraq policy failures by President Bush is a Democratic takeover of Congress in the Nov. 7 election, Virginia Senate candidate Jim Webb said Saturday.  —  The former Republican, who was President …

HOW DO YOU SPELL DESPERATION?  G.O.P.  —  Want to know what desperation looks like?  —  Here's what Bill Frist and Ken Mehlman sent out yesterday in a desperation email fundraiser.  They're scared to death that John Kerry and Ted Kennedy ponied up to elect Democrats.  —  Let's see their $2 million, and raise them.

Safavian Gets 18-Month Prison Term in Abramoff Case (Update2)  —  Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) — Former White House official David Safavian was sentenced to 18 months in prison for lying and obstructing justice in the investigation of disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Biden, calling Iraq 'rathole' backs Courtney and Lamont, but says he won't campaign against Lieberman  —  U.S. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Delaware Democrat and a leading critic of President Bush and the war in Iraq, on Friday backed Vernon Democrat Joseph D. Courtney in his rematch with U.S. Rep. Robert R. Simmons, R-2nd District.

Congressman facing ethics flap  —  Staffers accuse Rep. Tim Murphy of wrongly mixing official duties, campaign work  —  By Gary Rotstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, who is seeking his third term in Congress, has mixed campaign activities and official government work …

Too Little, Too Late?  —  President Bush made a big show this week of reevaluating his Iraq policy.  It made a difference-but only with his base and only at the margins.  The new NEWSWEEK poll finds likely voters still favoring the Democrats.  —  Marl Wilson / Getty Images  —  Change in the Air?

'Not America's man in Iraq,' Premier says  —  Aides say Maliki warns U.S. to respect nation's sovereignty.  —  Iraq's prime minister sharply criticized U.S. policy Friday during a private meeting with the American ambassador, pointing to the United States' failure to either reduce violence …

Businesses Seek Protection on Legal Front  —  Left to right: Stephen Hilger/Bloomberg News; Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times; Adam Berry/Bloomberg News; David McIntyre/Bloomberg News; and Mychele Daniau/Agence France-Presse-Getty Images  —  Frustrated with laws and regulations …

The Non-Contract With America  —  What Democrats aren't saying about their agenda, so we will.  —  A joke in Washington these days is that the only thing that can save the Republicans on Election Day is the Democrats.  House Speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi seems to get this joke …

Debra Dickerson: The GOP's failure to pitch its big tent  —  EXPLAINING INCOME INEQUALITY....It's worth reading Jon Chait's entire article about rising income inequality in the New Republic this week, but for my money here's the most important factoid to lodge firmly in your brain:

US Republicans in Crisis  —  TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Tehran's interim Friday Prayers Leader Seyed Ahmad Khatami stressed that the savage and devilish performance of the US President George W Bush has placed Republicans in a very critical condition.  —  Addressing a large fervent congregation …

Dems spring surprise TV ad on Ryun  —  Washington — House Democrats launched a surprise television attack against Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas on Friday night, hoping to increase the number of competitive races in the battle for control of Congress.  —  Ryun "voted against a $1,500 combat bonus for our troops …

Democrats Push to Counter G.O.P. in Turnout Race  —  Volunteers in Missouri, left, assembled yard signs for Claire McCaskill, the Democratic Senate candidate.  Joyce Georges and her husband, Cliff, are longtime supporters of Jim Talent, the Republican incumbent.

IDF denies using uranium-based warheads during war in Lebanon  —  Israel did not use uranium-based warheads during the Lebanon war, the army spokesperson's office said Saturday.  The announcement was made in response to a report published Saturday on the website of the British newspaper The Independent.