Obama Campaign Behind Anti-Palin Smear Site?  —  Suddenly appearing among the Google search results for “sarah palin gay,” a web site titled: Sarah Palin Supports Gay Rights. … Interesting.  There's nothing else on the page.  This sure looks like the work of the dastardly right-wing anti-gay attack machine, doesn't it?

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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

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 …

Choice stuns state politicians  —  John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate stunned and divided Alaska political leaders on Friday.  Supporters said she was a shrewd choice, but others argued Palin has no business being a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Sarah Palin  —  One weird bit from a New Republic post on McCain's choice of Sarah Palin (it seems to be credited to professor Alan Wolfe, but surely he wouldn't say something that is without evidence): … It's unclear where this “witches” claim is coming from, although I suspect it's due to this post from Andrew Sullivan:

Fowler Fouls: Hurricane is God's Favor to Democrats  —  Plus, it's totally funny!  —  On a plane from Denver to Charlotte following the Democrats' convention, I found myself seated behind former National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Don Fowler and Congressman John Spratt of South Carolina.

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 …

GOP'S RNC 'CANE PLAN  —  REPUBLICANS MIGHT DELAY AND TRANSFORM CONVENTION … Last updated: 8:02 pm  —  John McCain and the GOP are considering scrapping political speeches and turning their Minnesota convention into a “service program” to help victims of Hurricane Gustav, The Post has learned.

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.