What McCain Should Do Next  —  Notwithstanding the hype about Barack Obama, here is where the presidential race stands: John McCain was within an average of 1.9% of his Democratic opponent in last week's daily Gallup tracking poll.  —  It shouldn't be this close.  Sen. Obama should be way ahead.

How Would Nominee Clinton Have Treated Obama?  —  Share This: Digg!  —  On Morning Joe, Chuck Todd said that the “feeling in Chicago,” presumably referring to the Obama campaign, is that Hillary Clinton is seeking treatment that she would never have given Barack Obama had the roles been reversed.

A Way Back to the High Road?  —  The first question I asked John McCain and then Barack Obama was: How do you feel about the tone and direction of the campaign so far?  —  No surprise.  Both men pronounced themselves thoroughly frustrated by the personal bitterness and negativism they have seen …

Guilty as Ordered  —  Now that was a real nail-biter.  The court designed by the White House and its Congressional enablers to guarantee convictions of high-profile detainees in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba — using evidence obtained by torture and secret evidence as desired — has held its first trial.

500: Deadly U.S. Milestone in Afghan War  —  Not long after Staff Sgt. Matthew D. Blaskowski was killed by a sniper's bullet last Sept. 23 in eastern Afghanistan, his mother received an e-mail message with a link to a video on the Internet.  A television reporter happened to have been filming …

Race Takes Central Role in a Memphis Primary  —  In the culmination of a racially fraught Congressional campaign in Memphis, a black candidate is linking her liberal-leaning white primary opponent in Thursday's contest, Representative Steve Cohen, to the Ku Klux Klan in a television advertisement.

Tabloid's claims threaten Edwards' role at party's convention  —  RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Sen. John Edwards has a deadline to save his spot on the national stage.  —  With two weeks to go before their national convention, a number of Democrats are saying that Edwards needs …

Obama Hits Back, Too Softly For Some  —  Barack Obama released a television advertisement yesterday that questions John McCain's claims to be a “maverick,” and he charged in a campaign appearance that the Republican displays independence only when it suits him politically.

Obama's View on Abortion May Divide Catholics  —  WASHINGTON — Sixteen years ago, the Democratic Party refused to allow Robert P. Casey Sr., then the governor of Pennsylvania, to speak at its national convention because his anti-abortion views, stemming from his Roman Catholic faith …

Dude, You Stole My Article  —  HOW I INVESTIGATED A SUSPICIOUS ALT WEEKLY.  —  The saga began in the classical manner: with an e-mail about Jimmy Buffett.  Several weeks ago, I received a note from a Slate reader drawing my attention to an article published in March 2008 in the Bulletin …

Re-tiresome  —  Oh, so now McCain says it's a good idea to inflate your tires.  This is something new: He has taken to attacking Obama on positions where he agrees with Obama.  Another example: he flayed Obama for his proposal to withdraw from Iraq, then said it was a “pretty good” timetable.

Iraqis Fail to Agree on Provincial Election Law  —  BAGHDAD — Iraqi lawmakers adjourned for the summer on Wednesday without passing a crucial election law that many here hoped would solidify the recent, still fragile gains in security.  The failure seemed likely to mean the postponement …