Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a “per diem” allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

Record Contradicts Palin's ‘Bridge’ Claims  —  The Bridge to Nowhere argument isn't going much of anywhere.  —  Despite significant evidence to the contrary, the McCain campaign continues to assert that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told the federal government “thanks but no thanks” to the now-famous bridge to an island in her home state.

Sliming Palin  —  False Internet claims and rumors fly about McCain's running mate.  —  We've been flooded for the past few days with queries about dubious Internet postings and mass e-mail messages making claims about McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin.  We find that many are completely false, or misleading.

Sarah Palin is not such a small-town girl after all  —  It is clear that few in America, let alone Britain, have any idea what to make of Sarah Palin.  The Republicans' vice-presidential candidate confounds the commentators because they don't understand the forces that shaped her in the remote state of Alaska.

McCain Gains Momentum in New Poll  —  Both Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain solidified support among party loyalists during the conventions, but it was the Republican nominee who entered the presidential campaign's final stretch with newfound momentum, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Forgoing Subsidy, Obama Team Presses Donors  —  After months of record-breaking fund-raising, a new sense of urgency in Senator Barack Obama's fund-raising team is palpable as the full weight of the campaign's decision to bypass public financing for the general election is suddenly upon it.

FOX/Rasmussen Swing State Polling  —  Background  —  Rasmussen Reports conducted five state telephone surveys in partnership with Fox News Channel on September 7, 2008.  The surveys were conducted in Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  A total of 500 Likely Voters …

Obama on the Need for Habeas Corpus: Distinguishing Between ‘Barack, the Bomb-Thrower’ and ‘Barack, the Guy Running for President’  —  FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — A fired-up Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took on his opponents — “these people,” he said incredulously, in a familiar refrain — for shamelessness and dishonesty.

Randi Rhodes Launches Disturbing Attack Against John McCain  —  TRULY SICK  —  Rhodes Claims McCain Was ‘Well-Treated’ In Vietnam  —  *** EXCLUSIVE TO THE RADIO EQUALIZER ***  —  Quick, what's the most disgusting potential way to attack the McCain-Palin presidential ticket?

Sarah Palin dolls go on sale as John McCain's running mate's popularity soars  —  Two new action dolls have gone on sale of Sarah Palin, the Alaska Governor who John McCain has chosen to be his Republican presidential running mate.  —  The dolls are the latest in a line of American political candidates …

DON'T PATRONIZE SARAH PALIN.  —  In The Best Man, the only useful or amusing film—or play—ever to have been set at an American political convention, Gore Vidal presents us with Joe and Mabel Cantwell (Cliff Robertson and Edie Adams in the 1964 movie version), who are a right-wing “family values” couple with a large and grisly brood.

McCain Hits Obama on Army ‘Future’; Took Similar Position in '06  —  Back in 2006, John McCain lashed out at the Army, for its wasteful, bloated Future Combat Systems modernization program.  Earlier today, it appears the Republican presidential nominee may have gone after his Democratic rival — for opposing the very same program.

McCain plans new Palin rollout  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will speak at her son's Army deployment ceremony on 9/11 and spend two days with ABC News crews later this week as part of a McCain campaign plan to increase Americans' comfort with her as a leader.  —  Campaign and network officials …

Editor Defends Use of CodePink Members in ‘Independent’ Focus Group  —  A Detroit Free Press editor expressed regret Monday that left-wing and anti-war activists were included in a focus group of so-called independent voters the newspaper interviewed during the political conventions …

Surprise Me Most  —  None of us have ever lived through an election at a time when 80 percent of voters think the country is headed in the wrong direction.  But now that we're in the thick of it, a few things are clear.  From voters, the demand is: Surprise Me Most.  For candidates, the lesson is: Weirdness Wins.