Gains for McCain in latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll  —  Republican presidential candidate John McCain moved from being behind by 6 points among “likely” voters a month ago to a 4-point lead over Democrat Barack Obama among that group in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.

Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity on accused shooter's reading list  —  4-page letter outlines frustration, hatred of ‘liberal movement’  —  Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.

Kaine ‘very, very high’ on VP shortlist  —  As Senator Barack Obama turns to the choice of his running mate, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has emerged as one of the campaign's potential finalists, sources familiar with conversations in Richmond and in Chicago said.

Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says  —  Former Justice Department counselor Monica M. Goodling and former chief of staff D. Kyle Sampson routinely broke the law by conducting political litmus tests on candidates for jobs as immigration judges and line prosecutors …

Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak says he has brain tumor  —  Biopsy set for later today  —  Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak said today he has been diagnosed with a brain tumor but says that, “God willing,” he plans to be back at work soon.  —  Novak said he was diagnosed Sunday …

Is Anything Sacred?  —  Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv was lambasted for printing the note that Obama placed in the Western Wall, allegedly stolen by a Yeshiva student.  “Notes which are placed in the Western Wall are between the person and his Maker; Heaven forbid that one should read them or use them in any way …

U.S. Deficit to Reach Record $490 Billion in 2009  —  The U.S. budget deficit will widen to a record of about $490 billion next year, an administration official said, leaving a deep budget hole that will constrain the next president's tax and spending plans.

How Important Was the Surge?  —  Ten Iraq experts weigh in on the effectiveness of the surge.  —  The past few weeks have been momentous for the national conversation about Iraq.  Nouri al-Maliki's explicitly stated insistence on a timetable for American withdrawal was transformative.

A NOTE ABOUT THE OBAMA STAFFING TODAY  —  From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli  —  Obama departed Reagan-National Airport in DC 10 minutes ago en route to his economic event.  —  It's worth noting that campaign manager David Plouffe is traveling with the candidate today (which I understand has happened …

Go take a hike, injured vets tell nervy Cheney  —  WASHINGTON - Vice President Cheney's invitation to address wounded combat veterans next month has been yanked because the group felt his security demands were Draconian and unreasonable.  —  The veep had planned to speak to the Disabled American Veterans …

Be Afraid.  Please.  —  Life is full of disappointments.  —  Early Friday, I went to the Real Clear Politics Web site, as I do every morning, for my fix of political news and commentary.  I perked up when I saw the third entry on the list of that day's notable articles — “No. 44 Has Spoken.”

Change Obama can't believe in; he's on a ticket with Larry Craig  —  Here's how Republican Idaho is:  —  In 1992, Bill Clinton came within 1 percentage point of finishing third there in the general election behind President George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot.