NOW 5TH LARGEST NEWSPAPER IN U.S.  —  The New York Post today surpassed the Daily News and The Washington Post to become the 5th largest newspaper in America after bucking the national trend and chalking up a whopping 5.1 percent jump in circulation.  —  The Post's average paid circulation …

In Key House Races, Democrats Run to the Right  —  In their push to win back control of the House, Democrats have turned to conservative and moderate candidates who fit the profiles of their districts more closely than the profile of the national party.  —  One such candidate, Heath Shuler …

Crying Uncle … Translation: Oh Lawdy!  Massa's wife so mad she even beatin' on us house slaves now.  What dis ol' world comin' to?

The Story Behind the Polls  —  What's with the polls?  —  In 2004, the electorate that went to the polls or voted absentee was, according to the adjusted NEP exit poll, 37 percent Democratic and 37 percent Republican.  In party identification, it was the most Republican electorate since …

Midterm Vote May Define Rove's Legacy  —  Big Losses Could Dim Aura of Bush Adviser  —  By many calculations, Democrats are ready to make big gains in the midterm elections, enough to take over the House and possibly the Senate.  But White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten …

Hunter set to announce presidential bid  —  Some surprised by lawmaker's timing  —  WASHINGTON - With his prized committee chairmanship very much in peril, Rep. Duncan Hunter is poised to announce today that he is considering a long-shot run for the White House.

U.S. Is Said to Fail in Tracking Arms for Iraqis  —  The American military has not properly tracked hundreds of thousands of weapons intended for Iraqi security forces and has failed to provide spare parts, maintenance personnel or even repair manuals for most of the weapons given to the Iraqis …

'Go Ahead, Put Marks on Me'  —  Second Dancer: Alleged Duke Lacrosse Rape Victim Said to Bruise Her  —  ABC News Law & Justice Unit  —  The second dancer in the Duke rape case has said for the first time that the accuser told her to "go ahead, put marks on me" after the alleged attack.

Bush Appointee Said to Reject Advice on Endangered Species  —  A senior Bush political appointee at the Interior Department has rejected staff scientists' recommendations to protect imperiled animals and plants under the Endangered Species Act at least six times in the past three years, documents show.

Write-in tightens race in District 22  —  Sekula-Gibbs running close to Lampson for the seat DeLay held  —  The Republican write-in effort to hold former Rep. Tom DeLay's congressional seat, once viewed as a long shot, has created a tight race, according to a Houston Chronicle-11 News poll.

The Decline Of Trust  —  In 1995 Francis Fukuyama came out with a book called "Trust," in which he argued that a society's capacity for cooperation underpins its prosperity.  The same year, Robert Putnam's famous article, "Bowling Alone," lamented that the United States was depleting its stock of precious social capital.

Tired Of GOP; Wary Of Dems  —  HARRISONBURG, Va. — The mood on the streets of this small Virginia town is the same one dominating the political landscape across key states in this last full week before the Nov. 7 election: People are fed up with Republicans, but not sure they want to vote for Democrats.

Debate Puts Steele on Defense  —  Republican Michael S. Steele struggled to soften his long-held views on touchstone social issues yesterday after being challenged repeatedly on his conservative beliefs during his final televised debate in the campaign for Maryland's open U.S. Senate seat.