McCain Support Continues Downward Spiral  —  Obama Leads by 19 Among Those Who Have Already Voted  —  Barack Obama leads John McCain by a 52% to 36% margin in Pew's latest nationwide survey of 1,325 registered voters.  This is the fourth consecutive survey that has found support for the Republican candidate edging down.

Rift Cracks ‘Demoralized’ McCain Campaign  —  McCain Staffers Blame Palin's Lack of Readiness; Palin Loyalists Blame Over-Managing By McCain Handlers  —  The McCain campaign is definitely demoralized right now.  The blame game has begun.  —  There is no question that there is a rift …

Sources: Sarkozy views Obama stance on Iran as ‘utterly immature’  —  French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very critical of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's positions on Iran, according to reports that have reached Israel's government.  —  Sarkozy has made his criticisms only in closed forums in France.

7 days — One week out — Republicans expect to be crushed in historic landslide: buy emergency time in Montana and West Virginia  —  GM seeks Treasury $$$ ... GOP blame game now reaches down to state parties - Al Hunt is in Obama's gym pool at this moment — Michelle Obama shops J. Crew online …

Obama's ‘Redistribution’ Constitution  —  The courts are poised for a takeover by the judicial left.  —  One of the great unappreciated stories of the past eight years is how thoroughly Senate Democrats thwarted efforts by President Bush to appoint judges to the lower federal courts.

Why McCain is getting hosed in the press  —  Politico political editor Charles Mahtesian was e-mailing the other day with a Republican lobbyist who signed off with a plea that sounded more like a taunt: “Keep it balanced.”  —  A reader e-mailed us with the same sentiment in different language.

Rush's Blueprint  —  Last week, Tony Blankley published and Rush Limbaugh publicized what may prove one of the most important articles of 2008.  I don't mean that the article was good - very much the contrary.  But bad work can be even more important than good, if enough people can be got to believe it.

McCain was frank, garrulous and accessible — and then he wasn't  —  John McCain talks to the media, including Los Angeles Times reporter Maeve Reston, right foreground with tape recorder, at a rally in Ohio in February.  Early on, McCain artfully created a sense of intimacy with the reporters who traveled with him.

Social conservatives fight for control of Republican Party  —  The right flank is positioning to change the GOP's leadership and direction — even if John McCain wins the presidency.  Some moderates fear such a shift would alienate more voters.  —  Reporting from Washington …

Watch as the press corps battles its performance anxiety!  —  With the election just a week away and Barack Obama pulling away from John McCain, tiny tendrils of trepidation are starting to drift over the liberal members of the commentariat and the political press corps.

Palin's Love Boats  —  Until two cruise ships steamed up to Alaska two summers ago, the record for the silliest statement by a journalist had been held by Lincoln Steffens, in his time a famous American radical.  Sent in 1919 to see how Russia was doing under the communists …

Hollywood insiders rip MSNBC, defend Palin  —  LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - In a room full of television industry executives, no one seemed inclined to defend MSNBC on Monday for what some were calling its lopsidedly liberal coverage of the presidential election.

Obama's Moving Tax Threshold: $250,000?  $200,000?  $150,000?  What Next?  —  One of the things I've seen at Republican rallies is that people just don't believe Barack Obama when he says he'll raise taxes only on those who make more than $250,000 a year.

Reid eyes Byrd ouster  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is quietly preparing to ease 90-year-old Sen. Robert C. Byrd from his perch as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Democratic insiders tell Politico.  —  Reid has not yet discussed his plans with Byrd.

Why McCain Lost Me  —  Yesterday, while reading the latest polling data on John McCain, Sarah Palin and their appeal — or growing lack of it — to “ independent women voters” it suddenly dawned on me: I am one of these elusive independent female voters, and I have the credentials to prove it.

A Voting Rights Disaster?  —  Suppose in your neighborhood there are 600 registered voters per machine, while across town there are only 120 per machine.  (That's a 5 to 1 disparity, which is what exists in some places in Virginia today.)  On Election Day, your line wraps around the block …

Pelosi says don't be afraid of Democrat control  —  MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (KGO) — In the home stretch of the presidential campaign, San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi has become a key piece of the Republican campaign strategy.  —  Senator Barack Obama (D) of Ill., continues to lead John McCain …

12,165 now on Florida's ‘no match’ vote list  —  TALLAHASSEE — More than 2,000 new Tampa Bay voters are on the state's “no match” list of unverified identities, and their votes in next week's election may not count as a result.  —  Those people, part of more than 12,000 statewide …

New to Campaigning, but No Longer a Novice  —  AKRON, Ohio — On a visit to her husband's campaign office here the other day, Michelle Obama was handed a phone and a script of talking points and made calls to a few undecided voters.  Mrs. Obama mixed policy on taxes and health care with chitchat about Ohio …

Breaking: Here's what we know about Pennsylvania right now  —  Tonight we spoke with a friend from Hillary Clinton's campaign who is now working for McCain/Palin — and is specifically working with Democrats for McCain in Pennsylvania.  We worked with her in Texas, Indiana, Ohio …