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.

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 …

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 …

New L.A. Times/Bloomberg presidential poll has some surprises later today  —  Which White House contender had the better summer?  —  A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll of registered voters across the country leaves little doubt about the answer.  —  We can't reveal the precise figures yet …

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.

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.

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 …

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...

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.

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.”

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.

Obama's Remarks to the VFW  —  Thank you, Commander Lisicki, for your leadership.  Let me also acknowledge the leadership of Virginia Carman, the president of the VFW ladies auxiliary, as well as my friend Jim Webb who will be speaking here later today.  Finally, let me thank all of the members …

Swift-boat?  Moi?  —  It's worth noting that pursuing the cross-in-the-dirt evangelical parable as it might have happened to McCain is in no way impugning anyone's war record.  No one is disputing in any way what McCain did in Vietnam, his heroism, his sacrifice or any jot and tittle of his combat in arms and time in captivity.

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 …