Gunman Kills Democratic Official in Arkansas  —  Bill Gwatney, the chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party, was shot in his office in Little Rock Wednesday morning and died a few hours later, police officials said.  —  The officials said a single gunman fired three shots at Mr. Gwatney …

Kristol: Colin Powell to Endorse Barack Obama  —  Sources say former Secretary of State Colin Powell will endorse Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol told FOX News exclusively on Thursday.  —  “He may well give a speech …

Presidential Race Draws Even  —  GOP Base Getting Behind McCain  —  With less than two weeks to go before the start of the presidential nominating conventions, Barack Obama's lead over John McCain has disappeared.  Pew's latest survey finds 46% of registered voters saying they favor or lean …

Three prominent Republicans declare their support for Obama  —  Barack Obama won the endorsement yesterday of three prominent Republicans, including Jim Leach and Lincoln Chafee, both of whom lost their congressional seats to Democratic opponents in the 2006 mid-term elections.

NY Times tries to torpedo anti-Obama book; succeeds in spreading its message  —  Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear.  Jerome Corsi, author of the bestselling Unfit for Command in 2004, a book that turned the phrase “swift boat” into a verb and helped defeat John “Reporting for Duty” Kerry …

McCain Announces That Lieberman And Graham Are Going To Georgia  —  At a press conference just now, John McCain redoubled his efforts to thrust himself into a leadership role on the Russia-Georgia crisis front, announcing that two top campaign surrogates, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, are going on a visit to Georgia.

Georgian president to McCain: Move ‘from words to deeds’  —  (CNN) - Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday called for John McCain and other American leaders to do more for Georgia in their response to the conflict in his country.  —  “Yesterday, I heard Sen. McCain say …

Stop Obama/Bayh 08  —  Popular candidates like Gen. Wes Clark and Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) were famously recruited into politics by volunteer-driven “drafts.”  Now something close to the opposite of a draft is rumbling among concerned Democrats, as insiders and bloggers respond to apparently credible rumors …

MCCAIN TAKES $2300 CONTRIBUTION FROM OWNER OF GAY SEX SITE MANHUNT  —  You may have read about Manhunt.net founders Larry Basile and Jonathan Crutchley (above right) in Michael Joseph Gross' OUT article entitled “Has Manhunt Destroyed Gay Culture?”  —  Crutchley's political leanings are pointed out near the beginning of the piece:

Erasing The Race Factor  —  Obama's Best Hope Is To Face the Issue Directly  —  Barack Obama has a problem.  He really, really doesn't want this campaign to be about race.  He wants it to be about change, President Bush, the economy, gas prices, Iraq, Afghanistan — almost anything else.

Unabomber Objects to Newseum's Exhibit  —  Ted Kaczynski, the convicted “Unabomber,” is upset that his Montana cabin, where he was eventually captured, is part of a display at the Newseum.  —  In a handwritten letter to a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals …

‘Gitmo On The Platte’ Set As Holding Cell For DNC  —  DENVER (CBS4) ― CBS4 News has learned if mass arrests happen at the Democratic Convention, those taken into custody will be jailed in a warehouse owned by the City of Denver.  Investigator Rick Sallinger discovered the location and managed to get inside for a look.

Unrealpolitik  —  If Russia doesn't halt its advance into Georgia, here's what Max Boot would have the U.S. do: … To his credit, Boot goes on to note the obvious objection that Russia might be in a position to make life miserable for us if we started treating Georgia as '80s Afghanistan, take two.

McCain: 'In the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations.'  —  In recent days, Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) rhetoric toward Russia has mostly been overblown bluster, including an accusation that the country wanted to restore its old empire.  However, since a cease-fire was announced …

PHELPS' PIG SECRET: HE'S BOY GORGE  —  Swimming sensation Michael Phelps has an Olympic recipe for success - and it involves eating a staggering 12,000 calories a day.  —  “Eat, sleep and swim.  That's all I can do,” Phelps, who won two more gold medals today, told NBC when asked what he needs to win medals.