Biden the clear frontrunner for Veep  —  Foreign Relations Committee chairman has globe-trotting credentials  —  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - I've recently 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.

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 …

Exclusive: Obama team reserving Old State Capitol in Springfield for Saturday to showcase running mate  —  The Chicago Sun-Times has learned that the Obama team, in the run-up to the Democratic convention, will showcase the new Obama ticket Saturday in Springfield at the Old State Capitol …

Solzhenitsyn Biographer: Cross-In-Dirt Gulag Story Never Happened  —  There's been a ton of buzz on the web for the last day or so — beginning with this Daily Kos diary — suggesting that John McCain patterned his story about a Vietamese captor drawing a cross in the dirt before him on a similar episode …

Barack Obama chooses Kathleen Sebelius for Vice President  —  We have a credible lead that Barack Obama will be announcing Kathleen Sebelius for Vice President / VP.  —  Our sources work within an ad agency that is hired by the Obama campaign, and have noted that the vast majority …

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 …

Once Upon a Time  —  I was watching the old pre-9/11 Three Kings the other night — and was struck that there was a time when Hollywood, like the earlier books of many authors who later critiqued the Iraq War, was apparently furious at the United States for not removing Saddam (cf. the chants “Free Iraq!").

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 …

Gore to speak on Democratic convention's final night  —  (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.

Is the tide turning?  —  CNN Senior Political Analyst  —  Heading into the candidates' appearances on Saturday night at Saddleback Church, the conventional wisdom in politics was Barack Obama should have a clear upper hand in any joint appearance with John McCain — one the young, eloquent …

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...

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 …

Another POW, Same Story  —  After a brief conversation with Col. Bud Day, I can confirm that Col. Day is most likely the toughest man alive in addition to being the most decorated Air Force veteran in history.  Some of the details Day shared with the McCain Report are too gory to reproduce here …