More On McCain Campaign Decimation: UPDATE  —  One Republican directly connected to today's events said that Mark Salter, McCain's long-time chief of staff and co-author of his five books, had also left the campaign payroll.  —  But Salter will remain as an adviser.

McCain shakes up staff  —  WASHINGTON - John McCain's campaign manager and chief strategist are gone from their leadership roles, according to several officials with knowledge of the staff changes.  —  One official said Terry Nelson resigned as campaign manager for the Republican presidential candidate …

The McCain Decimation: The Inside Story: UPDATED  —  From a half dozen Republicans close to the campaign here is, best I can tell, what happened:  —  Republicans close to Sen. John McCain said today that McCain was under "enormous pressure" by friends and advisers outside the campaign …

Davis in charge as Nelson fired and Weaver and Salter quit  —  Rick Davis, who managed Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign but had a more limited role in this contest, will take the helm of the Arizonan's troubled candidacy, according to two McCain sources.

Where McCain Stands Now  —  If you need to understand just how serious the damage is to Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign as a result of the resignations of two top strategists, you need only look at our earlier post on McCain's Inner Circle.

'Hustler' Call May Have Prompted Vitter Admission  —  Justin Rood Reports:  —  A call from Hustler magazine may have prompted a Louisiana Republican senator to expose his past with an escort service run by the so-called "D.C. Madam," the Blotter on ABCNews.com has learned.

Sen. David Vitter, a leading Christian social conservative  —  Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana was not merely a supporter of last year's proposed constitutional amendment to "protect the sanctity of traditional marriages" by amending our Constitution to ban same-sex marriages …