‘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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Verizon and AT&T Provided Cell Towers for McCain Ranch  —  Senator's Wife Did Not Receive Favors, Campaign Says  —  Early in 2007, just as her husband launched his presidential bid, Cindy McCain sought to resolve an old problem — the lack of cellphone coverage on her remote 15-acre ranch near Sedona …

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.

Harsh GOP robo-call hits Ayers  —  A harsh new robocall (above) — at least the third in a series — attacks Obama for having “worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers” whose group “killed Americans.”  —  Robocalls are a relatively inexpensive way to deliver a negative message …

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.”

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.

Fact-checking: Does anyone care?  —  The debate had barely concluded when ABC News' George Stephanopoulos threw it over to reporter John Berman at the network's “fact check desk” in Washington.  —  “One of the more telling things in this debate was Joe the Plumber,” Berman chimed in, “but as you noted, his name was Joe Wurzelbacher.

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 …

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 …

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.