Top Items:
USA Today:
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.
RELATED:
Gallup:
Gallup Daily: Obama 48%, McCain 40% — No further gains for Obama in latest update — PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama's lead over John McCain has settled back slightly to a 48% to 40% margin among registered voters in Gallup Poll Daily tracking conducted July 25-27.
Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Where's the Bounce? — WASHINGTON — It is a question that has hovered over Senator Barack Obama even as he has passed milestone after milestone in his race for the White House: Why is he not doing better? — It shadowed him as he struggled against Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton …
Tom Bevan / Real Clear Politics:
Gallup/USA Today Poll: McCain +4 — This one should set the tongues wagging: … This is the first poll showing McCain with a lead over Obama since a May 1-3 Gallup/USA Today survey showed him with a slim 1 point lead. A Fox News poll at the end of April had McCain up 3.
The Politico:
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.
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …, New York Times, Marc Ambinder, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, MSNBC, FiveThirtyEight.com and TIME.com
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Kaine in ‘Serious’ Talks With Obama — Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has told close associates that he has had “very serious” conversations with Sen. Barack Obama about joining the Democratic presidential ticket and has provided documents to the campaign as it combs through his background, according to several sources close to Kaine.
Jeffrey Ressner / The Politico:
The Streisand interview — “She sometimes answers questions by e-mail,” said one of Barbra Streisand's trusted confidants, when asked if the star would consent to an interview with Politico. Streisand, who occasionally posts political statements on her own website, rarely does print Q …
Hayes Hickman / Knoxville News-Sentinel:
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.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, protein wisdom, Firedoglake, Orcinus, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, INSTAPUTZ, Clayton Cramer's BLOG, alicublog, The Mahatma X Files, Out & About Newspaper, Hullabaloo, Shakesville, Daimnation!, Pam's House Blend, Sister Toldjah, Macsmind, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Other McCain, Left in the West, The Mahablog, On Deadline and Open Left
RELATED:
Carrie Johnson / Washington Post:
Internal Justice Dept. Report Cites Illegal Hiring Practices — For nearly two years, a young political aide sought to cultivate a “farm system” for Republicans at the Justice Department, hiring scores of prosecutors and immigration judges who espoused conservative priorities and Christian lifestyle choices.
RELATED:
Josh Patashnik / The New Republic:
Somehow, the Bush Administration Sinks Even Lower
Somehow, the Bush Administration Sinks Even Lower
Discussion:
Liberal Values
Jonathan Godfrey / The United States House …:
Conyers, Sánchez Consider Criminal Referral Concerning DoJ …
Conyers, Sánchez Consider Criminal Referral Concerning DoJ …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Sadly, No!, Opinion L.A., AMERICAblog News, Buck Naked Politics and The LA Times President …
Lara Jakes Jordan / Associated Press:
Report finds Justice aides illegally discriminated against career …
Report finds Justice aides illegally discriminated against career …
Maureen O'Donnell / Chicago Sun Times:
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 …
RELATED:
Human Events:
Robert Novak Hospitalized — Robert Novak was admitted yesterday to a Boston hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In a written statement given to his publisher, Novak said: — “On Sunday, July 27, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I have been admitted to Brigham …
Discussion:
New York Times, NewsBusters.org, Taegan Goddard's …, American Street and Patterico's Pontifications
The New Republic:
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 …
RELATED:
Jerusalem Post:
Attorney: Probe Israeli paper for printing Obama note — Attorney Shahar Alon petitioned Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz on Sunday to order police to open a criminal investigation against the editor of Ma'ariv and other correspondents from the newspaper following its publication …
Roger Runningen / Bloomberg:
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.
RELATED:
American Prospect:
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.
Michael Calderone / The Politico:
O'Reilly calls McClellan a “liar” — Today on the “Radio Factor,” Bill O'Reilly called former White House press secretary Scott McClellan a “liar” and an “idiot,” as captured by Johnny Dollar. — O'Reilly's criticism followed up McClellan's recent comments to Chris Matthews that the White House fed talking points to Fox News.
Discussion:
Think Progress
FactCheck.org:
Snubbing Wounded Troops? — A McCain TV spot falsely insinuates that Obama canceled his visit because “the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras.” — A new McCain ad says Obama “made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras.”
Marc Ambinder:
Double Entendre Kisses Off MoveOn's Youth Moblization Effort — MoveOn.Org claims this is the first political ad to air on Comedy Central: — “I've been living with it for a while now.” — No, not the syph. — It's “hope.” The guy on the right is Rider Strong from “Boy Meets World.”
Discussion:
Hot Air
RELATED:
Mark Murray / MSNBC:
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 …
Discussion:
TIME.com