Scholars question Palin credentials  —  John McCain was aiming to make history with his pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and historians say he succeeded.  —  Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.

6 things the Palin pick says about McCain  —  The selection of a running mate is among the most consequential, most defining decisions a presidential nominee can make.  John McCain's pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says a lot about his decison-making — and some of it is downright breathtaking.

McCain Gets $7 Million Bounce from Palin Pick  —  Sen. John McCain has taken in $7 million in contributions since announcing Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, a top campaign aide said today.  —  The money bounce may owe to Palin's appeal with conservative donors, many of whom said privately …

Palin Makes Good First Impression: Is Viewed More Favorably than Biden  —  Sarah Palin has made a good first impression.  Before being named as John McCain's running mate, 67% of voters didn't know enough about the Alaska governor to have an opinion.  After her debut in Dayton and a rush …

Gallup Daily: Obama Continues to Lead 49% to 41%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama maintains an eight percentage point lead over John McCain when registered voters nationwide are asked whom they would vote for in the presidential election if it were held today, according to the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking figures.

Poll: Voters uncertain on Palin  —  ST. PAUL — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin faces a getting-to-know-you process as the Republican vice presidential candidate, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds: Most Americans say they've never heard of her.  —  There is also wide uncertainty about whether she's qualified to be president.

Campaigns Shift as McCain Choice Alters the Race  —  DENVER — Senators John McCain and Barack Obama began recalibrating their strategies for the presidential campaign — and reconsidering some of their basic assumptions about which states and voters were in play — in a contest recast …

Palin's faked “pregnancy”?  Covering for teen daughter?  UPDATE #2!  —  Okay, I just have to diary about this, although in many ways this falls into the “none of our business category”.  —  But it appears that Pallin's last child, a baby with Down's syndrome, may not be hers.

McCain: I may postpone convention  —  John McCain said the Republican National Convention may be postponed as federal officials said Hurricane Gustav was gathering to a devastating Category 5 as it headed toward star-crossed New Orleans.  —  “It just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion …

Michael Moore: Hurricane Coming During GOP Convention ‘Proof There Is a God in Heaven’  —  Controversial filmmaker admits he's delighted to see a natural disaster potentially interfere with the Republican event.  —  Business & Media Institute  —  Sometime you really have wonder at what cost …

Inside an RNC Raid  —  Thanks to the miracle of cellular technology, I was able to talk to a homeowner while his home was surrounded by police conducting an RNC-related raid.  At approximatedly two-thirty this afternoon, I reached Mike Whelan, a waiter and army veteran, at his duplex at 951 Iglehart Ave. in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Crackdown begins: Food Not Bombs house among Saturday raids  —  Minneapolis Police Department officers stand guard outside the Food Not Bombs house.  Photo: Jeff Severns Guntzel  —  MnIndy RNC reporter Jeff Severns Guntzel is at the Minneapolis Food Not Bombs house, which was raided by police this morning.