Good news: Toledo moves to shut down Joe the Plumber  —  Look on the bright side.  The media's finally starting to vet acquaintances of Barack Obama. … Also revealed: His boss's business probably doesn't bring in anywhere near $250,000 a year so he should stop dreaming about turning …

Barack Obama for President  —  THE NOMINATING process this year produced two unusually talented and qualified presidential candidates.  There are few public figures we have respected more over the years than Sen. John McCain.  Yet it is without ambivalence that we endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Obama At The Al Smith Dinner  —  Funny too,...  “People tell me I share the politics of Alfred E. Smith and the earns of Alfred E. Neumann”  —  “I was originally told that we would able to move this outdoors to Yankee Stadium.  Can someone tell me what happened to the Greek columns I requested.”

Lobbyist Speaks: Rumor Of McCain Affair False, Damaging  —  VICKI ISEMAN TALKS FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THE GOP NOMINEE, THE NEW YORK TIMES, AND THE STORY THAT CHANGED HER LIFE.  —  In one of the most sensational stories of the presidential campaign, The New York Times published a 3,000-word …

Shocker: Tribune Co. Gives Notice To Drop AP  —  NEW YORK Tribune Company has given a two-year notice to the Associated Press that its daily newspapers plan to drop the news service, becoming the first major newspaper chain to do so since the recent controversy over new rates began.

McCain to Letterman: ‘I Screwed Up’  —  He made it.  —  After a high-flying adventure, Senator John McCain finally sat down next to David Letterman on the set of “The Late Show” on Thursday and offered his mea culpa: “I screwed up.”  —  Anyone following Mr. McCain or watching Mr. Letterman knew exactly what Mr. McCain meant.

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.

Today's Polls, 10/16  —  With seven different daily tracking polls to work with — one of which releases three separate versions of its model each day — there is a lot to choose from for those who might seek to cherry-pick results.  —  Slow news day, Matt?  If this is a two-point race right now, I'll eat Drudge's fedora.

Money & Business  —  Did Barack “Spread the Wealth” Obama Just Blow the Election?  —  No. Really.  You're kidding me.  Barack Obama actually told that Joe the Plumber guy that he wants to “spread the wealth around.”  What, did Obama just get done reading the Wikipedia entry on Huey “Share the Wealth” Long or something?

Latest McCain Robocall Alleges That Obama Denied Babies Medical Care  —  We've obtained yet another McCain campaign robocall, and this one levels perhaps the nastiest charge yet: It claims that Barack Obama callously denied newborns needed medical attention by opposing a measure to force doctors …

Glenn Beck joins Fox News  —  Drudge teased this earlier, and Fox News has announced that conservative radio and television host Glenn Beck is joining the network, leaving behind CNN's Headline News.  Beck will host a show at 5 p.m. on Fox beginning in the spring (Full release after the jump).

‘DIP’ Loans Are Scarce, Complicating Bankruptcies  —  Credit has gotten so tight in recent weeks that companies contemplating a bankruptcy filing can't find the cash needed to get through the process.  —  This multibillion-dollar corner of the lending market — debtor-in-possession and exit financing …

Nader Displays New Fervor on the Bailout Issue  —  Standing on the steps of Federal Hall just after noon on Thursday, Ralph Nader was the same familiar tall, rumpled, graying figure, fervently railing against corporate power and greed.  —  “There are no bailouts for the working people of this country! …