In Obama's Choice, a ‘Very Personal Decision’  —  WASHINGTON — In the beginning, Senator Barack Obama was not entirely sold on Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. And Mr. Biden told friends that he was pessimistic of his chances of becoming Mr. Obama's Democratic running mate.

Colin Powell in McCain mix  —  Retired Gen. Colin Powell is among the potential running mates who have been considered by John McCain, campaign advisers told Politico.  —  Powell was among the possible vice presidential choices the Arizona Republican senator was thinking of when he said he would not rule …

Too Much of a Bad Thing  —  My mom did not approve of men who cheated on their wives.  She called them “long-tailed rats.”  —  During the 2000 race, she listened to news reports about John McCain confessing to dalliances that caused his first marriage to fall apart after he came back from his stint as a P.O.W. in Vietnam.

Finding the Mess Behind the Mess  —  A BURSTING real estate bubble set off the Japanese recession of the 1990s, which deepened as ailing banks languished.  It took Japan's economy more than a decade to resume steady, noticeable growth.  —  Will this happen to the United States?

Georgian Civilians Tell of Miserable Conditions as War Captives  —  Georgian civilians captured and recently freed by Russian and South Ossetian forces on Saturday described beatings, forced labor and miserable living conditions in prison.  —  Georgian officials said that 79 Georgian civilians …

Last Call for Change We Can Believe In  —  AS the real campaign at last begins in Denver this week, this much is certain: It's time for Barack Obama to dispatch “Change We Can Believe In” to a dignified death.  —  This isn't because — OMG!  — Obama's narrow three- to four-percentage-point lead …

Obama and Biden in Springfield, IL: “With Joe Biden At My Side”  —  Barack and Joe Biden just finished the Springfield event.  Over 35,000 people gathered for Barack's Vice President announcement speech.  —  Here is part of his speech...  Watch the speech below...  Read Barack's full remarks, as prepared for delivery...