Skepticism of Palin Growing, Poll Finds  —  With the vice presidential candidates set to square off today in their only scheduled debate, public assessments of Sarah Palin's readiness have plummeted, and she may now be a drag on the Republican ticket among key voter groups, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Obama Makes McCain Very Uncomfortable  —  Let the record reflect that Barack Obama made the approach to John McCain tonight.  —  As the two shared the Senate floor tonight for the first time since they won their party nominations, Obama stood chatting with Democrats on his side of the aisle …

McCain criticizes Ifill  —  Hours ahead of the vice presidential debate, Sen John McCain (R-Ariz.) criticized the selection of PBS' Gwen Ifill as moderator because she is writing a book called “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.”  —  “Frankly, I wish they had picked …

LEADING THE NEWS  —  Despite furious grumbling about Senate tactics, House leaders said they expect the House will finish its business on Friday by approving a slightly modified version of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout it rejected earlier this week.  —  The new bill will include …

GOP ‘Gotcha Journalism’ Charges Throw Spotlight on Debate  —  For days now, television viewers have watched Sarah Palin unable to explain the significance of her home state's bordering Russia, unable to name a Supreme Court ruling she disagrees with, unable to name a single newspaper she reads.

Florida GOP meets in secret as Obama passes McCain in polls  —  TALLAHASSEE — Florida Republican leaders hastily convened a top secret meeting this week to grapple with Sen. John McCain's sagging performance in this must-win state.  —  Their fears were confirmed Wednesday when four …

McCain on the bailout bill he supported last night: “This bill is putting us on the brink of economic disaster”  —  John McCain was on “Morning Joe” a few minutes ago to talk mostly about the bailout bill.  His answers were, as usual, discombobulated as he ranted about Washington (as if he hasn't served in D.C. for 26 years.)

33 days - Chuck Todd sees race ‘at a tipping point’  —  Newsday cover: “Senate to House: BAIL'S IN YOUR COURT - Sweetened rescue bill clears hurdle, but are there enough votes in the House?” ...  The Obama Channel (really) ... Debate Day II ... Phish reuniting

Gilchrest Unloads on Know-Nothing Pols and the Rest of Us  —  Wayne Gilchrest, the nine-term Republican congressman who represents Maryland's Eastern Shore and parts of Anne Arundel County, has had it, and he's ready to talk.  —  He's had it with his own party, which he says “has become more narrow …

Not-So-Secret Handshake  —  It was Senator Barack Obama who crossed the aisle.  —  On Wednesday evening, as the senators gathered to vote on the $700 billion bailout package, Mr. Obama walked over to the Republican side of the chamber to extend a greeting to Senator John McCain.

Bailout Bull's-Eye for Kids' Arrow-Makers' Tax Break  —  Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) — Rose City Archery Inc., an Oregon company that makes arrows used by children, hit a bull's-eye with Senate legislation that would rescue Wall Street banks.  —  Senators attached a provision repealing a 39-cent excise tax …

More Data Shows Obama Battleground Strength  —  From latest TIME/CNN state polls:  —  FLORIDA: Obama 51, McCain 47  —  MINNESOTA: Obama 54, McCain 43  —  MISSOURI: Obama 49, McCain 48  —  NEVADA: Obama 51, McCain 47  —  VIRGINIA: Obama 53, McCain 44 … Get The Page delivered to your inbox.

TEACHERS GET HIT ON THE BUTTON  —  The teachers union has been handing out thousands of Barack Obama campaign buttons to its members, sparking a clampdown by education brass.  —  The Department of Education - which has a long-standing policy barring teachers from wearing campaign buttons in schools …

The V.P. Debate: What to Watch for  —  What to watch for tonight?  —  What's not to watch?  —  The debate between Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska should be fascinating on every level — from substance to style, soup to nuts.

So Why's Huck An Early '12 Frontrunner?  —  It's very early to assume that Obama wins, but if he doesn't, expect the GOP to engage in a circular firing squad.  Who's the frontrunner?  —  The betting money is on Mitt Romney for his governing experience, talented pool of political operatives …

Obama releases iPhone recruiting, campaign tool  —  Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign launched an iPhone application on Thursday that turns the vaunted device into a political recruiting tool.  —  The most notable feature “organizes and prioritizes your contacts by key battleground states …

October remains the month for political surprises  —  Featured Topics:  —  AP - In this Oct. 26, 1972 file photo, then presidential adviser Dr. Henry Kissinger tells a White House news ...  BOSTON - Heading into the final weekend of the 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry was feeling …

The Calm Of Obama  —  I've been amazed by it for over a year now, because I have no ounce of it in myself.  But then I like my political leaders temperamentally conservative, so I can be as radical as I like and no harm gets done.  Obama's little secret is that he isn't that cool.

Senate Approves $1.5 Billion Plan For Metro Funding  —  The U.S. Senate voted last night to authorize long-sought federal funding for Washington's cash-strapped and aging Metro system, clearing a major hurdle toward providing $1.5 billion over 10 years to help maintain the nation's second-busiest rail system.