Charles Krauthammer Slams Sarah Palin, Jim DeMint Over Delaware Endorsement  —  On Monday's edition of Fox News' “Special Report with Bret Beir,” columnist Charles Krauthammer criticized former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Sen. Jim Demint (R-SC) for endorsing Delaware Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell …

Nelson: ‘It Would Be Very Hard For Me To Support’ Allowing Tax Cuts For The Rich To Expire  —  Ben Nelson (D-NE), the most conservative of the Senate's 59 Democrats, became the first in his party to say he might side with Republicans on the Bush tax cuts, suggesting he might filibuster …

Blumenthal Up Just 6 Points In Connecticut Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Much McMahon Support Is Anti-Blumenthal  —  Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Democrat, leads Republican former wrestling executive Linda McMahon 51 - 45 percent among likely voters …

After Volatile Primary Season, G.O.P. Faces New Test  —  As the long and turbulent primary season of the midterm election campaign drew to a close on Monday, the Republican establishment was placing its confidence on hold and bracing for the prospect that voters in yet another state would send …

Confessing to Crime, but Innocent  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eddie Lowery lost 10 years of his life for a crime he did not commit.  There was no physical evidence at his trial for rape, but one overwhelming factor put him away: he confessed.  —  At trial, the jury heard details that prosecutors insisted …

The 1099 Insurrection  —  The White House fights an effort to ease a burden on small business.  —  You might not have seen it reported, but the Senate will vote this morning on whether to repeal part of ObamaCare that it passed only months ago.  The White House is opposed …

Mitch Daniels makes White House moves  —  Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has been holding a series of private dinners with top Republican business leaders, policy hands and donors from around the country since this spring, an indication that he's thinking more seriously about a presidential bid than he publicly lets on.

McConnell intros Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2010  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky drew the line in the sand with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday, introducing the Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2010 to extend the Bush tax cuts of 2001 …

The Salesman  —  Experienced, emotional, marked by personal tragedy and political setback, Joe Biden is in many ways the antithesis of the president he serves.  But his stock has risen steadily in the West Wing, and with the Democrats poised to lose much of their leverage in the midterm elections …

Liberal despair: Age of irrationality  —  A couple of influential writers broadly in sympathy with Obama today float the same notion: That we're living in a fundamentally unreasonable age, that voters basically can't be trusted, and that democracy is just barely muddling through.

New Polls Show Mostly Republican Leads  —  Fox News is set to release a series of new polls of likely voters in several key states.  They were released early to users of their new iPhone app.  —  Florida: Marco Rubio (R) leads Gov. Charlie Crist (I) in the U.S. Senate race, 43% to 27%, with Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) at 21%.

Only Nixon Could Go to China  —  How Obama can help ease “Islamophobia.”  —  “One of the things that I most admired about President Bush was after 9/11, him being crystal-clear about the fact that we were not at war with Islam,” President Obama said in his Friday press conference.

Did Castle Vote to Impeach Bush?  —  The madness continues, as activists who support Christine O'Donnell in the Delaware Senate primary have stepped up their attacks on Mike Castle by alleging that he voted to impeach President Bush.  That will come as a surprise to those who wonder …

American Hiker Sarah Shourd Freed From Iran: Reports  —  Iranian TV Reports Sarah Shourd, American Hiker Held in Iran for 14 Months, Has Been Released  —  Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans who have been held in Iran for 14 months on accusations of espionage, has been released, Iranian state television reported today.

AIG Plots End to U.S. Aid  —  Insurer and Treasury Discuss Accelerating the Sale of Government's Stake  —  American International Group Inc. and its government overseers are in talks to speed up an exit plan designed to repay U.S. taxpayers in full while enabling the giant insurer to regain independence …

Democratic aides may get cold shoulder from K Street after midterms  —  Democratic congressional aides aiming for a big payday from K Street have seen their value plummet with their party's declining fortunes, according to corporate headhunters and lobbyists.

Next, Michelle Obama's health reform plan for the nation's restaurant menus and families dining out  —  First Lady Michelle Obama, who has been unable to convince the Smoker-in-Chief to give up that dreadful habit, now has some health suggestions for other American families and for restaurant menus across the country.

The Day After Tomorrow  —  Every political movement has a story.  The surging Republican Party has a story, too.  It is a story of virtue betrayed and innocence threatened.  —  Through most of its history, the narrative begins, the United States was a limited government nation …

Al Sharpton to launch Sunday-morning show  —  He'll also start a media company and magazine  —  The Rev. Al Sharpton has created his own media company and will launch a Sunday-morning syndicated TV show, he told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday.  —  The controversial civil rights advocate …

G.O.P. Allies Drive Ad Spending Disparity  —  Outside groups supporting Republican candidates in House and Senate races across the country have been swamping their Democratic-leaning counterparts on television since early August as the midterm election season has begun heating up.

Wonkbook: GOP doubles down on Bush tax cuts; possible recess appointment for Warren; EPA vote  —  Republicans spent much of yesterday walking back John Boehner's conciliatory comments on the Bush tax cuts.  Mitch McConnell and the Senate GOP, in particular, made it clear that either everyone …