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 Talks Nonsense on Tax Cuts  —  Revenues will inevitably be diverted from Social Security.  —  Now we know: 95% of Americans will get a “tax cut” under Barack Obama after all.  Those on the receiving end of a check will include the estimated 44% of Americans who will owe no federal income taxes under his plan.

McCain camp looking for way to win without Colorado  —  (CNN) — The McCain campaign is looking at an Electoral College strategy heading into the final two weeks that has virtually no room for error and depends heavily on a dramatic comeback in Pennsylvania, which hasn't backed a Republican for president in 20 years.

OPRAH OFFERS PRODUCTION HELP WITH OBAMA'S NETWORK SPECIAL  —  Oprah Winfrey is offering to “produce” the half-hour Barack Obama advertisement set to air on Oct. 29, a top source tells the DRUDGE REPORT.  The Daytime TV dynamo has even offered up her studio space in Chicago.

Kristol: What Biden Implied  —  John McCain took note Monday of Joe Biden's remarks the day before at a Seattle fundraiser (where Biden apparently didn't realize at first there were media present).  But there's more McCain could say.  —  Here's McCain, in Belton, Missouri:

Barack Obama to visit ill grandmother Madelyn Dunham  —  Race suspended as he travels to Hawaii  —  Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, in 1979 gets a hug during his high school graduation in Hawaii from his maternal grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham and Madelyn Payne, both natives of Kansas.

Palin dubs Obama: ‘Barack the Wealth Spender’  —  GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado (CNN) — Taking “Joe the plumber” wordplay to an unprecedented new level, Sarah Palin on Monday dubbed Barack Obama “Barack the Wealth Spender” for his plan to offer tax credits to lower and middle-income wage earners.

Spotted: Mark Foley  —  There have been so many scandals since October, 2006, the month that I launched this blog, that I just about forgot who Mark Foley was.  —  I got an excited phone call yesterday from two friends, TV producer Richard Ayoub and talent manager Dolores Cantu, who were having lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

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 …

Sarah Palin's college years left no lasting impression  —  In the five years of her collegiate career, spanning four universities in three states, Palin left behind few traces.  Not many professors or students even remember her.  —  Reported from Moscow, Idaho — What can we learn …

Majority of States Now in Recession  —  In March, 5 States Were in Recession; Now There are 27 With 14 More at Risk  —  ABC NEWS Business Unit  —  What started out as a housing problem in a few states has now exploded into a full-fledged recession with a majority of states now in or dangerously close to recession.

Bill Clinton must be yelling “I told you so!”  —  Once again we see the Obama Rules in action: Obama as Zeus on Olympus decries the petty mean politics of mere mortals that the McCain campaign is using against him: “In the final days of campaigns, the say-anything, do-anything politics too often takes over.

NARAL hits McCain in mail  —  That cover should draw some, ahem, attention.  —  The piece is hitting voters ID'd as pro-abortion rights in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.  —  (Digression: Where do they find male models …

Senator Dodd's Notion of Courtesy  —  After reports emerged in June about him having received favorable treatment on two home mortgages from the Countrywide Financial Corporation, Senator Christopher Dodd, a Democrat from Connecticut, promised that he would release documents to support …

Buh-Bye And Smoke Up  —  A hedge-funder who got an 870 percent gain last year quits and writes a memorable farewell letter: … He urges throwing away your blackberry and getting stoned.  The full, somewhat brazen, and thoroughly enjoyable screed is after the jump.  He's right about marijuana, of course:

‘Anti-American’ comments hurt Minn. rep's campaign  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann spent months building her profile through appearances on “Larry King Live” and other TV talk shows.  It took only a few minutes of airtime, and one disparaging remark about Barack Obama, to undo it.

RNC raises specter of 9/11 attacks  —  The jumbo jet bearing down on the travellers in the airport concourse is on the front.  —  The Obama hit comes after you flip it open.  —  McCain has dropped the “Who is Barack Obama?” line from his speech, but the party is picking it back up here in a piece that …

Bush Decides to Keep Guantánamo Open  —  WASHINGTON — Despite his stated desire to close the American prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, President Bush has decided not to do so, and never considered proposals drafted in the State Department and the Pentagon that outlined options …

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 Appeal Rises in Poll; No Gains for McCain Ticket  —  As voters have gotten to know Senator Barack Obama, they have warmed up to him, with more than half, 53 percent, now saying they have a favorable impression of him and 33 percent saying they have an unfavorable view.

Palin Rally Breaks Record  —  With just 15 days to go until Election Day, there was a record breaking crowd at Suplizio.  According to Mesa County Republicans the rally drew 22,000 people making it the biggest in Grand Junction's history.  The speech was only about 15 minutes …

Poll shows Dems retain lead  —  Obama makes gains in New Hampshire  —  Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has widened his lead over Republican Sen. John McCain in New Hampshire, a new Monitor poll shows.  The poll also showed Democrats holding leads in every major state race.

A Conversation with Sarah Palin  —  CBNNews.com — LANCASTER, Pa. — Saturday morning, CBN News was granted an interview with Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin.  David Brody sat down with the Governor of Alaska for about 20 minutes.  The two discussed everything from her faith walk …