Analysis: Palin's words carry racial tinge … WASHINGTON (AP) - By claiming that Democrat Barack Obama is “palling around with terrorists” and doesn't see the U.S. like other Americans, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin targeted key goals for a faltering campaign.

Obama clinches on Rove map  —  With 30 days until Nov. 4, Karl Rove projects that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would get at least 273 electoral votes - three more than are needed to win - if the presidential election were held today.  —  But Rove warns that this race is “susceptible to rapid changes …

Minnesota Poll: Obama leaps ahead of McCain  —  The Democrat's lead in the state is tied to the economy, the debate and new party strength.  —  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has opened up a commanding lead in Minnesota over Republican John McCain, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

Hilarious Example of Media Bias  —  You've got to watch this video.  CNN's Soledad O' Brien ran a focus group of self declared Republicans, Democrats and undecideds during the Palin/Biden debate.  —  Soledad asked them immediately after the debate, “How many thought Joe Biden won the debate tonight?”

Frank talk of Obama and race in Virginia  —  As Obama supporters push to win the dead-even battleground state, they are talking directly about race, betting that the best way to put neighbors at ease is to open up.  —  WHITEWOOD, VA. — The isolated towns of Virginia's Appalachian coal region …

Ifill: Palin ‘blew me off’ during the debate.  —  During the vice presidential debate on Thursday, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced that she “may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear.”  In fact, “On at least 10 occasions, Palin gave answers that were nonspecific …

Obama's ‘Good Will’ Hunting  —  From the magazine issue dated Oct 13, 2008  —  The Obama campaign has shattered all fund-raising records, raking in $458 million so far, with about half the bounty coming from donors who contribute $200 or less.  Aides say that's an illustration of a truly democratic campaign.

Palin Misquotes Albright: “Place In Hell Reserved For Women Who Don't Support Other Women”  —  At a rally today in California, Gov. Sarah Palin offered up a rather jarring argument for supporting the Republican ticket.  “There's a place in Hell reserved for women who don't support other women …

Porn producer invokes the Bush/Yoo defense — unsuccessfully  —  On Friday in Tampa, Florida, Paul F. Little was sentenced by a federal judge to 3 years and 10 months in a federal prison after being convicted of the grave and terrible crime of distributing pornography “over the Internet and through the mail” …

Dispatch Poll: Obama opens lead on McCain  —  Early voting makes pre-Nov. 4 standings more important  —  Amid growing concerns about the economy, Ohio Democrats are coming home to Sen. Barack Obama, giving him a 7-point advantage in a new Dispatch Poll as the volatile presidential campaign swings into its final month.

A shot across the bows  —  Paul Begala, in a shot on Meet the Press that sounds like something other than an offhand remark, suggests an Obama comeback to an expected McCain ad blitz on the Ayers relationship. … The guilt-by-association attacks on Obama are as much about tapping into a range …

Starbursts  —  Everyone's already made fun of this from National Review editor Rich Lowry, so I'll quote it then try to make a slightly non-mocking point: … Now the simple fact of the matter is that Palin is an unpopular figure.  There's no sense arguing about this.