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 …

RNC appears to shell out $150K for Palin fashion  —  The Republican National Committee appears to have spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.

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 …

Shame on McCain and Palin for using an old code word for black  —  The “socialist” label that Sen. John McCain and his GOP presidential running mate Sarah Palin are trying to attach to Sen. Barack Obama actually has long and very ugly historical roots.  —  J. Edgar Hoover …

McCain Accidentally Agrees: Western Pennsylvania Is Racist  —  Sen. John McCain offered, on Tuesday, what may go down as one of the more awkward moments of this campaign cycle, in which — speaking in Western Pennsylvania — he declared he 'couldn't agree more' with the sentiment …

CNN's Rank Dishonesty  —  Watch this clip from a CNN interview with Sarah Palin (I'm assuming nothing of significance has been edited out by TPM).  And then read the context of the quote from Byron's favorable story on how Palin governed from an issue ago: … I'm disgusted, but not surprised.

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.

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 …

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?

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 …

AP INVESTIGATION: Alaska funded Palin kids' travel  —  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.

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.

And *this* is why we all did our happy dance when McCain picked Palin.  —  You're going to want to watch this one to the end.  —  Because this is what we wanted, and this is what we're going to be getting from here on in.  —  I guess that we know now why Biden took the day off …

Lorne Michaels: How ‘SNL’ Got Sarah Palin  —  ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How incredibly fortunate was it that the election's breakout star also happens to look exactly like Tina?  —  LORNE MICHAELS: There was all that, and it's the first election with a star in a long time.

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 …

The Obama I (Don't) Know  —  CHICAGO -  —  My Obama number is one.  I know him through our association at the University of Chicago Law School and through mutual friends in the neighborhood.  We have had one or two serious substantive discussions, and when I sent him e-mails …

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 …

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.

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.

Obama's November Surprise: Another Bland SNL Performance?.  —  He may appear on SNL Nov. 1, which if it's anything like his last appearance, will feature him expertly standing, smiling, accepting applause, and delivering stump speech lines without nearly enough irony.  Truly, it was electrifying.