Polls: Dems' lead shrinking, but still strong  —  WASHINGTON — A national USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds remarkable parallels between the congressional elections Tuesday and the watershed elections in 1994 that swept Republicans into control of the House and Senate.

Haggard confesses to 'lifelong' sexual problem … COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) — Evangelical pastor Ted Haggard confessed on Sunday to a "lifelong" sexual problem, and said he was "a deceiver and a liar," in a letter read to his New Life Church.  —  "There is part of my life …

Iraqis Roar as Officials Drag Ramsey Clark From Court!  —  "No, Ramsey... You are the mockery!  Get him out!!" … Democrat Ramsey Clark is dragged from the courtroom today...  Iraqis Cheer!  —  Iraqis applaud as one of Saddam's lawyers, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark …

America's referendum on war  —  Pelosi's countdown: She ticks off a list of changes, including a new Iraq strategy  —  (11-05) 04:00 PST Glenside, Pa. — House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi warned that a Republican victory Tuesday would prolong the U.S. involvement in Iraq another 10 years …

Balance and Bias on the Political Beat  —  Readers, especially before elections, watch The Post closely for any hint of political bias.  Recently, such complaints have come mostly from Republicans.  —  Virginia voters must choose between two less than sterling candidates …

Huge march in Venezuela for Chavez opponent  —Text+CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people on Saturday marched in Caracas to support opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales, whose populist campaign has focused on reducing crime and redistributing oil wealth.

Missouri Senate: McCaskill (D) 49%; Talent (R) 48%  —  Missouri's Senate race is shaping up to be a nail-biter to the very end.  The latest Rasmussen Reports election survey shows Claire McCaskill hanging on to a one-point lead over incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Talent—49% to 48% (see crosstabs).

C.I.A. Review Highlights Afghan Leader's Woes  —  The scene of a bombing in September near the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Such attacks have increased in the past two years.  —  A recent Central Intelligence Agency assessment found that the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai …

Climate chaos?  Don't believe it  —  The Stern report last week predicted dire economic and social effects of unchecked global warming.  In what many will see as a highly controversial polemic, Christopher Monckton disputes the 'facts' of this impending apocalypse and accuses the UN and its scientists of distorting the truth

Bay State dems the best thing to happen to GOP  —  It's that time of the election cycle when we get ready to take one for the team.  I'm talking about conservatives.  Here in Taxachusetts.  —  Ted Kennedy, Barney Frank and Mike Dukakis.  Gay marriage and Willie Horton.

Bush Says U.S. Pullout Would Let Iraq Radicals Use Oil as a Weapon  —  During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, President Bush and his aides sternly dismissed suggestions that the war was all about oil.  "Nonsense," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld declared.