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.
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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.
Discussion:
Pajamas Media, Commentary, Patterico's Pontifications, Weekly Standard Blog, TalkLeft and www.redstate.com
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.
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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 …
The Streisand interview — “She sometimes answers questions by e-mail …
Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Obama-Clinton Ticket Is Seen as Unlikely
Obama-Clinton Ticket Is Seen as Unlikely
Discussion:
The New Republic
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:
Firedoglake, protein wisdom, The Huffington Post, TBogg, Associated Press, Jesus' General, Orcinus, Street Prophets, INSTAPUTZ, The Raw Story, Hullabaloo, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, skippy the bush kangaroo, alicublog, Pam's House Blend, Shakesville, Sister Toldjah, The Mahatma X Files, Political Machine, Macsmind, No More Mister Nice Blog, News Hounds, Out & About Newspaper, Daimnation!, The Other McCain, The Democratic Daily and Left in the West
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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 …
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Israel Insider:
Paper, rapped for outing Obama note, claims campaign pre-approved leak — What initially seemed to be a journalistic scoop of dubious moral propriety now seems to be a case of an Israeli paper being played by the Barack Obama campaign. Maariv, the second most popular newspaper in Israel …
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 …
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.
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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 …
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Denise Lavoie / Associated Press:
Columnist Robert Novak diagnosed with brain tumor
Columnist Robert Novak diagnosed with brain tumor
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
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.
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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.
MSNBC:
Transcript: ‘Response ... will be a positive one’ — Ahmadinejad welcomes ‘new behavior’ from United States, if sincere … WILLIAMS: Mr. President, I know you wanted to begin with a statement. — AHMADINEJAD: In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful, a prayer for the emergence of the 12th imam.
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org
Katie Fretland / The Swamp:
McCain has spot removed, awaits biopsy — Sen. John McCain, who survived melanoma three times after suffering sun damage from his years as a Vietnam POW, said he had a spot of skin removed from his right cheek today. Doctors will perform a biopsy of the spot, AP reports.
Martin Kady II / The Crypt's Blogs:
Coburn gets best of Reid on ‘omnibus’ package — Sen. Tom Coburn is used to being a lonely “no” vote on overwhelming Senate votes, but on Monday afternoon, his GOP colleagues came to his defense. — Coburn (R-Okla.) prevailed in blocking a massive package of generally non-controversial bills …