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.

Now Wall Street may shun $700bn bail-out  —  Fears are mounting that many Wall Street banks and financial firms will refuse to participate in the US government's $700bn bail-out package, leaving global markets and world economies in a perilous state for months to come.

Biden's Mother-in-Law Dies  —  Bonny Jean Jacobs, 78, the mother-in-law of Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice presidential nominee, died this afternoon after a long illness.  Mr. Biden has canceled all campaign appearances Monday and Tuesday to be with his wife, Jill Jacobs Biden, and their families.

Va. GOP fears McCain could lose the state  —  Virginia Republicans are warning that John McCain's prospects for winning a state that has been in the GOP column in every presidential election since 1964 could be in jeopardy.  With Barack Obama treating the Old Dominion like a battleground state …

RNC to File FEC Complaint on Obama Fundraising Practices  —  A lawyer for the Republican National Committee today said the party will ask the Federal Election Commission to look into the source of thousands of small-dollar contributions to the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.

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.

Mich GOP county chair calls McCain move “complete crock of crap”  —  Al Ribeiro, until now McCain's Michigan state director, had the unenviable task of sending out an email to Republicans in the state explaining as delicately as possible why they were pulling out.

The Palin Problem  —  Yes, she won the debate by not imploding.  But governing requires knowledge, and mindless populism is just that—mindless.  —  Photos: (from left) J. Scott Applewhite / AP; Khue Bui for Newsweek  —  From the magazine issue dated Oct 13, 2008

FORGETTING THE PAST  —  My radio partner Brian Ward of Fraters Libertas noted an appalling instance of historical ignorance in the Minneapolis public schools, and added his thoughts on the current epidemic of amnesia: … Brian quotes from McCullough's address when he accepted the National Book Award:

Dead heat in Colorado  —  A new poll shows Colorado voters support McCain and Obama equally.  Eight percent are still undecided.  —  The Denver Post  —  Securing their reputations as independent-minded swing voters, Coloradans are now evenly split over the race for the White House …

Paul Begala, Mike Murphy, Chuck Todd, David Gregory, Gwen Ifill, Peggy Noonan and David Yepsen  —  MR. TOM BROKAW: Our issues this Sunday: Just 30 days to go and the battle for electoral votes is shifting rapidly.  We take you through the national political map and the key battleground states …

59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress  —  Congress was front and center in the national news last week and the American people were far from impressed.  If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, 59% of voters would like to throw them all out and start over again.