McCain's Prickly TIME Interview  —  For years, John McCain's marathon bull sessions with reporters were more than a means of delivering a message; they were the message.  McCain proudly, flagrantly refused direction from handlers, rarely dodged tough questions and considered those who did wimps and frauds.

Gallup Daily: Obama Moves Ahead, 48% to 42%  —  Democratic candidate gains in Monday through Wednesday interviewing  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Democratic candidate Barack Obama has gained ground in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking average from Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday …

TEMPLE OF DEM ON MT. O-LYMPUS  —  GOP MOCKS GRAND STAGE FOR BAM AS GREEK HUBRIS  —  DENVER - Democrats will kneel before the “Temple of Obama” tonight.  —  As if a Rocky Mountain coronation were not lofty enough, Barack Obama will aim for Mount Olympus when he accepts his party's nomination atop …

McCain ad to rebut Obama's DNC speech  —  Tonight, John McCain will talk directly to his opponent in a television ad his campaign is airing in battleground states, around the time Barack Obama accepts the presidential nomination, McCain's campaign said.  —  Aides would give few details beyond …

Retribution sought for Lieberman  —  DENVER — Connecticut delegates are demanding that party leaders punish Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent, because of his support of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the Republican nominee.  —  For many of them, Lieberman's plan to speak …

Fox: Bush might not speak at RNC on Monday because of Gustav.  —  President Bush is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention on Monday, but with Tropical Storm Gustav expected to hit Gulf coast, the White House is beginning to hint that President Bush might not speak that day.

Flashback: 40 Years Ago Today, Bill Ayers Arrested at DNC  —  For those Democrats who are too young to have a proper appreciation of their party's history, which likely includes most of Senator Obama's supporters, we direct your attention to a memorable moment in DNC history that shows …

The Optimism of Fools  —  Following my sour take on the forthcoming election, and my follow-up posting that practically all my emailers agree with me, a dissenting reader chid me thus, under the subject line “Why you aren't getting disagreeable emails”: … This gladdens my heart, because it tells me I am doing my job.

Texas still leads nation in rate of uninsured residents  —  jroberson@dallasnews.com  —  Texas once again led the nation with the highest percentage of residents without health insurance, a U.S. Census Bureau report showed Tuesday, although the same study also reports a slight dip last year …

Pawlenty Clues — Sked Cleared  —  CBS affiliate WCCO in Minneapolis is reporting that Gov. Tim Pawlenty's schedule has been cleared for today and tomorrow...  Now — McCain's campaign could have made similar requests of other candidates.  But Pawlenty's is the first we know about.

McCain rally tickets still available  —  DAYTON — Tickets are still available for Sen. John McCain's Friday, Aug. 29, rally at Wright State University's Nutter Center in Fairborn.  —  McCain and his wife Cindy will appear at the event, dubbed the “Road to the Convention Rally.”

Putin accuses U.S. of orchestrating Georgian war  —  SOCHI, Russia (CNN) — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential election candidates.  —  In an exclusive interview with CNN's Matthew Chance …

Biden's Exaggerations  —  Inflating Obama's record will not resolve doubts.  —  THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION exposed the central defect of Senator Barack Obama's candidacy: the absence of compelling evidence he is up to the job of president.  The exposé comes courtesy …

Video: A new McCain spokesman for Obama's unreadiness  —  John McCain went to the vault from the Democratic primaries and found a treasure trove of comments from Democrats on the unreadiness of Barack Obama to lead the nation.  It includes the comments we've seen before from Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden …

Avoiding A Long, Disappointing Fall  —  A thorough diagnosis of what's been ailing the Obama campaign.  And suggestions for a cure.  —  I.  —  RELATED CONTENT  —  Judis (4/23/08): The Next McGovern?  —  Judis (5/7/08): It's All Over Now, Baby Blue  —  The Barack Obama campaign has been floundering.