Surprise?  First Two National Polls Find Palin Gains LESS Support from Women  —  NEW YORK The first national polls on John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin yesterday came out today from Rasmussen and Gallup — and contrary to what the GOP probably hoped, she scored less well with women than men.

Zogby Poll: Equilibrium in the POTUS Race!  —  Brash McCain pick of AK Gov. Palin neutralizes historic Obama speech, stunts the Dems' convention bounce  —  UTICA, New York - Republican John McCain's surprise announcement Friday of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate …

MANIFESTLY UNSERIOUS.... At this point, I realize I'm belaboring the point.  “Sarah Palin is an awful choice for a running mate,” I can hear you saying, “We get it.”  —  But I can't help but think the magnitude of this mistake has not yet sunk in among political observers.

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 …

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?

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.

Media obsession: 5 questions for Palin  —  If John McCain had picked Mitt Romney or Joe Lieberman to be his running mate, news organizations (Politico included) would have had profiles and analyses at the ready the instant the news went out.  —  Instead, McCain's choice threw the chattering class for a loop, to put it mildly.

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.

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 …

Storm scrambles GOP convention  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Bush is unlikely to make it to the Republican National Convention, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may deliver his acceptance speech via satellite because of the historically huge hurricane threatening New Orleans, top officials said.

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 …