‘Joe the Plumber’ is focus of presidential debate's first few minutes  —  The story of “Joe the Plumber” - Joe Wurzelbacher of Shrewsbury Street in Springfield Township - became a centerpiece of the early minutes of the presidential debate last night.  —  And Joe the Plumber became the subject of national and international interest.

Joe not a licensed plumber, McCain's enthusiasm not diminished  —  The Toledo Blade is reporting that Joe the Plumber is actually not licensed.  But that, combined with his apparent tax lien, isn't lessening McCain's ardor.  —  He said in an interview with Fox's Carl Cameron today that he hoped …

Obama Hasn't Closed the Sale  —  Both candidates continue to tinker with their strategies.  —  In the campaign's final two weeks, voters will take a last serious look at both presidential candidates.  The outcome of the race isn't cast in stone yet.  —  Barack Obama holds a 7.3% lead …

Undecideds Laughing At, Not With, McCain  —  From TIME's Amy Sullivan:  —  In politics it is generally not considered a good sign when voters are laughing at you, not with you.  And by the end of the third and last presidential debate, the undecided voters who had gathered in Denver …

Virginia GOP Mailer Depicts Dems — And Obama?  — As Appeasers Of Terrorists  —  In the race's final stretch, much of the real sludge and slime that floats to the surface will be the work not of the campaigns but of under-the-radar operations run by state parties and the like.

Inland GOP mailing depicts Obama's face on food stamp  —  Download story podcast  —  The Press-Enterprise  —  The latest newsletter by an Inland Republican women's group depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken, prompting outrage in political circles.

Americans Flunk Simple 3-Question Political Survey  —  Some news audiences are more politically savvy than others, according to a new poll, with readers of The New Yorker and similar high-brow magazines being the most knowledgeable.  —  The survey, conducted between April 30 and June 1 …

Crist: GOP may be exaggerating voter fraud  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida's governor says his fellow Republicans may be exaggerating claims of voter fraud in the state.  —  Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday that he has confidence in Secretary of State Kurt Browning, who says there's only been a scattering of isolated incidents.

The Left's Big Blunder  —  The disastrously counter-productive strategy of Obama's supporters  —  Two campaigns are being waged right now for the presidency of the United States.  No, I'm not talking about the Obama campaign and the McCain campaign.  I'm talking about the real-world campaign and the meta-campaign.

Palin Rips Obama Over ACORN in Maine  —  BANGOR, Me.  — Speaking before a crowd of a few thousand supporters in an airport hangar, GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin continued to question Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's patriotism and commitment to fair elections.

Debate Transcript  —  The Third McCain-Obama Presidential Debate  —  SENS. MCCAIN AND OBAMA PARTICIPATE IN A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DEBATE, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK  —  SPEAKERS:  —  U.S. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (AZ) REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE U. S. SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (IL) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

Obama Invokes Granite State Lessons  —  Senator Barack Obama offered fresh words of wisdom today for any of his supporters who are feeling overly confident with the presidential race: New Hampshire.  —  “For those of you who are feeling giddy or cocky or think this is all set …

It's Really, Really, Really Over  —  Jacob S. Hacker is Professor of Political Science and Co-Director of the Center for Health, Economic, and Family Security at U.C. Berkeley.  He is also a Fellow at the New America Foundation in Washington D.C. His most recent books are Health At Risk …

Senator Government V. Joe the Plumber  —  I'll have more to say about the debate in my print column, which releases later today.  But I did want to say a few things about my colleagues—in general, no names—and the coverage of the campaign this year.  —  Pundits tend to be a lagging indicator.

Ayers Is No Education ‘Reformer’  —  The new media spin is worse than Obama's original evasion.  —  One of the most misleading statements during the presidential debates was when Barack Obama claimed that William Ayers was just “a guy in the neighborhood.”