Growing Doubts About McCain's Judgment, Age and Campaign Conduct  —  Obama's Lead Widens: 52%-38%  —  Barack Obama's lead over John McCain has steadily increased since mid-September, when the race was essentially even.  Shortly after the first presidential debate on Sept. 26 …

Palin Claims The Vice President Is ‘In Charge Of The U.S. Senate’  —  Yesterday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sat for an interview with KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado.  In response to a question sent to the network by a third grader at a local elementary school about what the Vice President does …

JOE D'OH PUTS O IN ‘CRISIS’ MODE  —  SAYS WORLD WOULD TEST YOUNG PREZ  —  By CARL CAMPANILE in Belton, Mo., and GEOFF EARLE in Orlando, Fla.  —  Joe Biden warned that America's enemies would test Barack Obama with an international crisis within six months if he's elected president …

Is Palin A 2012 Contender or Pretender?  —  As Barack Obama has maintained a steady lead over John McCain over the last few weeks in the presidential race, many political junkies have begun to look beyond 2008 to the next presidential election.  —  And, inevitably, that conversation begins …

Why can't Klein get a seat?  UPDATE  —  Time columnist Joe Klein, who's been a forceful critic of the McCain campaign (and already said he's unwilling to accept a post-election apology), has found himself without a seat on the McCain or Palin the past four months.

Bernanke Endorses Obama  —  There was a time when Fed chairmen feared to even seem political.  —  Ben Bernanke apparently wants four more years as Federal Reserve Chairman.  At least that's a reasonable conclusion after Mr. Bernanke all but submitted his job application to Barack Obama yesterday …

The comprehensive argument against Barack Obama  —  CLOSING THE DEAL  —  A Roadmap for Campaign 2008's Homestretch  —  By Guy Benson (www.guybensonshow.com) and Mary Katharine Ham (www.weeklystandard.com)  —  Editor and Contributor, Ed Morrissey  —  WHO ARE WE?

Obama to media: pony up for election night access  —  (Crain's) — The best-funded political campaign in American history says news organizations will have to pay—in some cases almost $2,000 each—if they want to cover Barack Obama's election-night celebration in Chicago.

ROOM DISSERVICE  —  THE source who told us last week about Michelle Obama getting lobster and caviar delivered to her room at the Waldorf-Astoria must have been under the influence of a mind-altering drug.  She was not even staying at the Waldorf.  We regret the mistake, and our former source is going to regret it, too.

Tracking Poll Primer  —  Now that there are fully eight distinct national tracking polls, I thought I'd take the time to give you my Cliff's Notes assessment of each one.  The polls are arranged in the order in which they typically appear throughout the day — as you may have discovered …

I hope this is in good taste  —  Barack Obama's grandmother is gravely ill. My temptation yesterday was to say nothing.  And then, this morning, I came across this picture at Andrew's place.  I've reflected a lot—personally—on Obama's campaign and the values of parenting.

Fresh Face on Cable, Sharp Rise in Ratings  —  Rachel Maddow, a woman who does not own a television set, has done something that is virtually unheard of: she has doubled the audience for a cable news channel's 9 p.m. hour in a matter of days.  —  More important for her bosses at MSNBC is that …

McCain Scaling Back in Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Colorado?  —  ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reports: Democratic sources say the McCain camp may be giving up on New Hampshire and Wisconsin.  —  Instead of placing new television advertising buys in those states, they say the McCain campaign …

White supremacists target middle America  —  The white-power movement is changing its marketing strategy to broaden its appeal.  —  The USA's largest neo-Nazi group is ditching its trademark brown Nazi uniform with swastika armband for a more muted look in black fatigues.

Obama: ‘Erratic’  —  Obama's newest negative spot shifts away from health care policy and attacks McCain's temperament head-on.  —  The unreleased ad, which aired in at least Virginia, quotes newspaper descriptions of McCain having “careened from stance to stance,” been “erratic,” and “poured gasoline on the economic mess.”

Gallup Daily: Obama Holds Lead in Various Scenarios  —  Lead between seven and 10 points among likely voters  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama maintains a lead over John McCain in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update from Saturday through Monday; the size of the lead varies between seven …

Heads They Win, Tails You Lose: For the Beltway Media, Even Democratic Victories Prove the Country is Conservative  —  We usually have to wait until after the Democrats emerge victorious at the polls for the Beltway finger-waggers to begin warning them not to be too ambitious, not to do too much …

Patio Man Revisited  —  Patio Man is surprised at how much the bankruptcy of Sharper Image has upset him.  In the vast expanse of teenage clothing stores at the mall, Sharper Image at least offered him a moment of interest and delight.  The store allowed him to indulge his curiosity …

Voting in Kansas  —  So please do keep sending in those stories of how you're seeing the election and how the early voting is going.  —  Here's one from a Kansas Obama supporter:

Barack Obama: Why I believe he should be the next President  —  There are all sorts of reasons for hoping that Barack Hussein Obama will be the next president of the United States.  He seems highly intelligent.  He has an air of courtesy and sincerity.  Unlike the current occupant of the White House …

U.S.-Iraq Military Agreement Hits New Stumbling Block  —  The Iraqi cabinet Tuesday called for reopening negotiations over a draft agreement to keep U.S. forces in this country beyond 2008, in the most serious sign yet that the accord is in trouble.  —  U.S. officials are increasingly concerned …

Drudge unplugged: How his campaign influence has collapsed  —  I'm not saying that given the choice I wouldn't pick a robust economy and a worry-free global outlook.  But circumstances being what they are, I have to say that as the White House campaign hits its final stride under the ominous shadow …

AP INVESTIGATION: Palin children traveled on state  —  ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin charged the state for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business.

Poll Suggests U.S. Troops Support McCain 3-1  —  A Military Times poll indicates landslide support for John McCain, who captures 68 percent of the military vote to Barack Obama's 23 percent.  —  FOXNews.com  —  A poll by the Military Times newspaper group suggests that there is overwhelming support …