McCain Camp Pounces on Obama Comments From ABC News Interview  —  The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tonight pounced on comments Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., made in an interview today with ABC News.  —  This was the exchange in question.  —  TAPPER: Speaking of the Supreme Court …

67% Support Offshore Drilling, 64% Expect it Will Lower Prices  —  Most voters favor the resumption of offshore drilling in the United States and expect it to lower prices at the pump, even as John McCain has announced his support for states that want to explore for oil and gas off their coasts.

Pin at the GOP state convention in Texas: “If Obama is President... will we still call it the White House?”  —  Expect the Republican party to do absolutely nothing about the racists in its own midst.  The national Republican party in Washington has contacts all the time with its state parties.

McCain's Secret, Questionable Record  —  “At a meeting in his Pentagon office in early 1981, Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman told Capt. John S. McCain III that he was about to attain his life ambition: becoming an admiral.... Mr. McCain declined the prospect of his first admiral's star …

Obama Plans Spending Boost, Possible Cut in Business Tax  —  FLINT, Mich. — Sen. Barack Obama shed new light on his economic plans for the country, saying he would rely on a heavy dose of government spending to spur growth, use the tax code to narrow the widening gap between winners and losers …

Haditha Watch: Charges dismissed against Lt. Col. Chessani  —  Fight the smears.  Call John “Cold-blooded” Murtha for comment: 202-225-2065.  —  Note: As of 1:40pm Eastern, you will not find the Haditha story on the front page of the NYTimes website.  —  Told you to watch out for this yesterday.

A Friend in Need  —  Angelo Mozilo's loans to the well-connected raise some questions.  They should be answered.  —  SEEKING TO refinance his Delaware beach house in 2004, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) did what any ordinary property owner in his position would have done.

Reading Ahead  —  THE LATEST study on the impact of vouchers for D.C. students is sure to be read through a prism.  Supporters of the scholarship program will see a glass half-full, opponents one half-empty.  We prefer the characterization of the federal researcher who directed the exhaustive study …

Are Dems talking about McCain's age in ‘code’?  —  In a campaign year marked by flare-ups surrounding comments that have offended one group or another, John McCain and Barack Obama have moved on to the next sensitive battleground: the question of McCain's advanced age.

FIRST THOUGHTS: GORE-ACLE FINALLY SPEAKS  —  From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro  —  *** The Gore-acle finally speaketh: For months, the question wasn't if Al Gore was going to endorse Obama, but when.  And would he do it at a time that was pivotal in the primary?

Group muddies McCain message  —  Non-profit bent rules while supporting his agenda, raising money  —  WASHINGTON — Allies of Sen. John McCain opened a Washington think tank in 2001 to promote transparency and accountability in government, a signature issue for the Arizona Republican …