‘Joe the Plumber’ Backs Claim That Obama Would Bring ‘Death to Israel’  —  Joe Wurzelbacher, on his first campaign trail appearance for John McCain, says he agrees that a vote for Barack Obama would be “a vote for the death to Israel.”  —  FOXNews.com  —  Joe Wurzelbacher, a.k.a. …

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.

Ooooooh, Barracuda!  —  Allies of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are now trying to throw McCain aide Nicolle Wallace under the proverbial bus, and as they do so those in McCain's circle are wary of the impact on Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., himself.  —  Since becoming McCain's running mate …

News Orgs Investigate Possibly Fatal McCain '64 Car Crash  —  For the past two months, a major American magazine and an allied news service have been engaged in a legal battle with the United States Navy over records that they believe show that John McCain once was involved in an automobile accident …

McCain camp demands L.A. Times release video  —  John McCain's campaign is demanding that the Los Angeles Times release a video of a party for a prominent Palestinian activist that Barack Obama attended in 2003.  —  The Times described the going-away party for former University of Chicago professor …

In Memo, McCain's Top Pollster Sees Tighter Race  —  Elizabeth Holmes reports from battleground Pennsylvania on the presidential race.  —  John McCain's campaign has seen “significant” progress in internal polling in the last week, Republican pollster Bill McInturff said Tuesday …

Crist extends voting hours  —  This is a very big deal: Florida Governor Charlie Crist, to the shock and dismay of Florida Republicans, just moved to extend early voting hours, a move likely to widen the Democrats' lead under a program on which the Obama campaign has intensely focused.

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.

The Seven Reasons McCain-Palin Are a Lock to Win  —  Dan Perrin dared me to front this.  Gladly.  Dan, btw, is a Republican strategist, in addition to writing wonky books on health care.  — Erick.  —  There are seven serious, historic, demographic and other wise culturally compelling reasons Senator John …

Obama Makes Hay of McCain Adviser's Health Care Comment  —  HARRISONBURG, Va. — Democrat Barack Obama seized on remarks made by Republican John McCain's top economic adviser today to call McCain's health care plan “radical” and “unaffordable.”  —  On CNN today, McCain adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin …

Slate Votes  —  Obama wins this magazine in a rout.  —  We asked Slate's staff and contributors to tell us whom they're voting for on Election Day and why.  These are their responses.  Click here to read Editor David Plotz's explanation for why we share this information with you.

Embarrassment  —  And the lack thereof.  Michael Malone at ABC beautifully, if tragically, with shame, reports on the “get-a-room” performance of the national media in this presidential election year and his own awakening: … Yeah, well here's my advice on that point, Mike.

Obama Infomercial, a Closing Argument to the Everyman  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama will use his prime-time half-hour infomercial on Wednesday night to make what is effectively a closing argument to a national audience of millions.  At times he will speak directly into the camera …

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.

The Polls — They Are... Tightening.  And Not Tightening.  —  So — here's what seems to be happening nationally.  —  Nationally, John McCain seems to be gaining an eensy bit of traction among Republican base voters and conservative leaning independents.  A dew drips worth of white men here, a few drips among rural voters.

My Choice: Obama  —  In one week, Americans will face a momentous choice.  We must decide which of two talented, patriotic individuals is better suited to set the course for the nation and steer it through a stormy sea.  —  I have known John McCain for many years, even before he was first elected …

NRSC celeb thinks Obama may be anti-Christ, ‘sooooo evil’  —  Jonathan Martin noted with some amusement a new video from the NRSC video featuring celebrities you may not have heard of, plus Pat Boone in a swimming pool, attacking Al Franken.  —  A reader adds an odd note: One of those …

Heritage Calls on Obama to Pull False Ads  —  The Heritage Foundation today asked Barack Obama to immediately pull two ads that misrepresent the views of Heritage's Rea Hederman.  The campaign has released a 30-second TV ad with false information and repeats it on the campaign website.

Ohio Republicans Turn Voting Feud Into an Ad  —  The Ohio Republican Party launched Tuesday a radio ad that opens with the sound of a ticking clock and asks, “Could Ohio's election be stolen?”  —  In suggesting that “many” voting registrations in the state “may be fraudulent,” …

Twilight Struggle  —  In its closing days, the Bush administration escalates the war on terror.  —  On Sunday, U.S. helicopters accompanied by a special forces team struck in Sukkariyeh, Syria, just over the border from Iraq.  It was a raid with enormous implications for the war in Iraq and the broader war on terror.

A wave for GOP staffers?  —  A glance at the Republican job bank page on Texas Rep. John R. Carter's website paints the whole, bleak picture with what it doesn't show: real jobs.  —  So far, the only postings this month for paid employment have been for a staff assistant job in the office of Rep. Paul Ryan …