Obama veep announcement expected in coming days  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Barack Obama will publicly disclose his vice presidential choice in the coming days, though the Democrat is keeping most aides who are preparing for the announcement in the dark and is giving away nothing to voters as he campaigns.

Biden the clear frontrunner for Veep  —  Foreign Relations Committee chairman has globe-trotting credentials  —  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Within the last few hours I've spoken with two of the finalists for the role of Barack Obama's running-mate, and to two other sources who are close to the process.

Inverted optics: DNCC wraps Obama in upside-down flag; A familiar look?  —  Maybe the DNCC has kept track of the polling this summer and figures the Democratic nominee is officially in distress.  That's the only explanation for a silly gaffe by the convention committee for the graphics …

Lauding ‘cathartic’ effect of roll-call vote, Rendell to cast his convention vote for Clinton  —  With devotees of defeated U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) relishing the chance to publicly back her one more time during a roll-call vote at the Democratic convention next week …

Obama Sharpens the Message  —  Barack Obama seems to have gotten the message about his message.  In the past few days, amid growing concerns among Democratic allies, Obama has begun campaigning in a different gear, one that is more aggressive in attacking John McCain and more focused on the economic concerns of struggling Americans.

Bob Woodward to reveal ‘The War Within’  —  Bob Woodward's new book is shrouded in such mystery that even the title was a secret until now.  —  Publishing sources say the book, completed just three weeks ago and out Sept. 8, is titled “The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008.”

McCain, Seen 2-1 As Better Against Russia, Gains On Obama, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Men And White Voters Go Republican  —  American likely voters say 55 - 27 percent that Arizona Sen. John McCain is better qualified than Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to deal with Russia …

The Education of McCain  —  On Tuesdays, Senate Republicans hold a weekly policy lunch.  The party leaders often hand out a Message of the Week that the senators are supposed to repeat at every opportunity.  Sometimes there will be a pollster offering data that supposedly demonstrates …

Taliban Forces Kill 10 French Soldiers and Raid U.S. Base  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban insurgents mounted their most serious attacks in six years of fighting, one a complex attack with multiple suicide bombers on an American military base on Monday night, and another by some 100 insurgents …

Gore to speak at convention Thursday  —  (CNN) - Former Vice President Al Gore has accepted a speaking role on the final night of the Democratic convention, appearing on the same stage that Barack Obama will officially receive the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, three sources tell CNN.

As U.S. Economic Problems Loom, House, Senate Sweat the Small Stuff  —  Members of Congress Love a Good Resolution; Watermelons and Undertakers Fit the Bill  —  WASHINGTON — The 110th Congress, whose term officially ends in January, hasn't passed any spending bills or attacked high gasoline prices.

Invesco's top seats go to big donors  —  SUITES, CLUB LEVEL SAVED FOR FUNDRAISERS, VIPs  —  Barack Obama's big-money donors are being offered premier seats to his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High, according to information obtained by The Denver Post.

It's Rudy  —  So many e-mailers this morning are predicting that the McCain trial balloon is really about Giuliani.  I'm not there, but here's one: … The McCain campaign has already hired a Giuliani staffer as the unnamed veep's communications director...

Where The John Edwards Scandal Is Headed  —  I've read the comments.  I know what some of you think. … Let's just recap the what The Deceiver calls ‘the non-story’ so far.  —  A former Senator and vice-presidential candidate misused campaign contributions and money pledged to fight poverty …

democrats want to lose  —  and therefore did not fully vet the candidate they shoved down everyone's throat.  I am the first blogger to blog about Obama's abortion vote and how it would become the october surprise...they have michelle obama on tape defending live birth abortion, and raising money for it too...