‘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. …

The Sarah Party  —  SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — I've got news for the Christopher Buckleys of the world — if Sarah Palin is enough to make you decide you're not a Republican, you're not a Republican.  —  I saw the Republican Party today, standing in line to see Palin at Shippensburg University.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Election: Your health insurance at stake  —  McCain and Obama have vastly different views on the future of employer-sponsored health insurance.  Either one could bring big change.  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Both presidential candidates want to turn employer-sponsored health insurance on its head.

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.

As McCain Cancels, Obama Rallies  —  CHESTER, PA - Dressed in blue jeans and a black jacket, Barack Obama braved the cold rain falling in Pennsylvania, and held his scheduled rally - outdoors.  “A little bit of rain never hurt anybody,” he quipped to the 9,000 who showed up in ponchos and futilely holding umbrellas.

Gallup Daily: Presidential Race Narrows Slightly  —  Obama leads by two to seven points among likely voters  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The gap between Barack Obama and John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Saturday through Monday has narrowed slightly, and Obama is now at 49% of the vote …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

A tour of Jeremiah Wright's new mansion  —  Fox News producer Jesse Watters takes you on a tour of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's new mansion — including Greek columns, endless garages, golf course, and more...  God damn America!  Here's your wealth-spreading, redistributive change in action: