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 …

‘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 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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 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 …

The Michelle Obama tapes to be aired any day/time from now: API and Fox News Network (USA) in a final agreement on the airing days/time.  —  A final agreement has been reached between African Press International (API) and Fox News Network (USA) on the dates to air the Michelle Obama tape arising …

Hedge funds hit as Porsche moves on VW  —  Volkswagen's shares more than doubled on Monday after Porsche moved to cement its control of Europe's biggest carmaker and hedge funds, rushing to cover short positions, were forced to buy stock from a shrinking pool of shares in free float.

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.

Why I'm Still Sweating an Obama Victory  —  With all due respect to Judis, I'm not popping anything just yet, except maybe some sleeping pills to get me through the night.  (That's for you, John.)  In the last few days, pretty much every tracking poll I trust (WaPo, Gallup, Rasmussen) …

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.

On the Road: Raleigh, North Carolina  —  “Who was the most miserable person in the Olympics this year?” asked former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk of the assembled hundreds at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina.  “It's the guy who thought he had the race won …

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 …

Campaign workers attacked  —  Two people were arrested Monday afternoon after an altercation led to five Republican campaign workers being sprayed with Mace at their headquarters in Galax.  —  Galax Police Chief Rick Clark said officers were dispatched shortly before 1 p.m …

BP reports record $10 billion profit  —  LONDON (Reuters) - British oil major BP Plc (BP.L) may have marked the oil industry's high point by reporting a record $10.0 billion third quarter replacement cost profit on Tuesday, as the recent collapse in crude prices ensures a tougher outlook.

McCain Calls for Bailout of Troubled US Homeowners  —  Republican presidential candidate John McCain told CNBC that the government's top priority in the financial crisis should be on buying bad mortgages to keep Americans in their homes.  —  “The administration is not doing what I think they should do …

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.

Daniels to skip another Palin rally  —  Gov. Mitch Daniels today began his final campaign swing in his now-famous RV, heading to southern Indiana.  —  One place Daniels won't include on his tour is the Jeffersonville stage where Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president, will be campaigning Wednesday evening.

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.

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,” …