Deal May Be Dead: Democrats Blaming McCain  —  Obama, McCain Leave White House Without Deal on $700 Billion Bailout  —  After days of bipartisan negotiations and meetings today at the White House, the deal to bail out staggered investment banks may be dying amid partisan finger-pointing.

McCain to do round of network interviews tonight  —  John McCain will appear on all three network newscasts tonight, a top aide said.  —  McCain is at the White House meeting with President Bush, Barack Obama and congressional leaders now and will tape interviews with NBC, ABC and CBS after the West Wing session.

House GOP: We have leverage on bailout  —  House Republicans say they have significant leverage on the revamped bailout package, claiming that Democrats will scramble for votes unless they make changes to it.  —  Republicans in the lower chamber are balking at the bailout package …

What Happened In The Cabinet Room...  Though Sen. Chris Dodd implied that Sen. McCain sandbagged the rest of the negotiators by bringing up alternative proposals, McCain himself did not bring up those proposals, according to four independent sources briefed by four different principals inside the meeting …

Agreement Reached on Bailout Ahead of High-Level Meeting  —  Proposal Breaks $700 Billion Into Installments  —  A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers left a two-hour-plus meeting in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday saying they have a “fundamental agreement” on a $700 billion plan to bail out U.S. financial markets.

Obama Will Make Debate A Townhall If McCain Doesn't Show  —  UPDATE: An adviser Barack Obama says he expects John McCain to attend: … Barack Obama is committed to hosting a public, televised event Friday night in Mississippi even if John McCain does not show up, an official close to the Obama campaign tells the Huffington Post.

Frank: Republicans “winced” when McCain was mentioned in meeting  —  Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said that “nobody mentioned McCain” during the several-hour-long meeting on the $700 billion market rescue plan, other than Frank and that his Republican colleagues “winced” when he did.

Deal would phase in bailout funds  —  The leaders of House and Senate banking committees reached a bipartisan agreement Thursday on the framework for legislation authorizing Treasury's ambitious $700 billion rescue plan for the financial markets.  —  The final language of the bill must still …

Lawmakers Seem Near Deal on Bailout  —  WASHINGTON — Lawmakers indicated Thursday that they were close to hashing out an agreement on a proposed $700 billion bailout of the financial system, hours before a meeting at the White House to complete the deal.  —  After Congressional staff members …

Palin On Foreign Policy  —  “Exclusive”: Katie Couric talks with Gov. Sarah Palin about her foreign policy experience and Alaska's proximity to Russia.