VP Alert  —  NR has learned that the McCain campaign has been calling key state GOP officials around the country the last couple of days and sounding them out about the consequences of a pro-choice VP pick.  The campaign is asking about the reaction of conservative grass-roots activists …

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.

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 …

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 finally gets to oil rig  —  John McCain is taking a helicopter from New Orleans to a Gulf Coast oil rig this morning - the energy photo op that had been originally planned to counter-program Barack Obama's speech in Berlin.  —  McCain is visiting Chevron's Genesis spar, a platform about 150 miles off the Louisiana coast.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

College Presidents Want Lower Drinking Age  —  College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth, and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age to 18 from 21, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

Roseanne rips Jolie, Pitt, Voight over politics  —  Comedienne blasts actors for failure to get behind Obama for president  —  LOS ANGELES - Roseanne Barr is using her personal Web site to slam Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jolie's father, Jon Voight.  —  Calling Jolie Voight's “evil spawn” …

Hillary Clinton gives ‘Judas’ Richardson a hug or a shrug  —  It was, if memory and The Ticket's search function serves, back in March that big Bill Richardson, the goateed governor of New Mexico who'd built his impressive resume largely on important assignments for the Clintons …