Chris Matthews gets into confrontation with GOP delegates  —  TAMPA, Fla. — MSNBC host Chris Matthews got into a heated exchange with Republican delegates at a Tampa restaurant early Friday morning following the conclusion of the GOP national convention.  —  Matthews was booed and sworn …

Romney Aides Scratch Their Heads Over Eastwood's Speech  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Clint Eastwood's rambling and off-color endorsement of Mitt Romney on Thursday seemed to startle and unsettle even the candidate's own top aides, several of whom made a point of distancing themselves from the decision to put him onstage without a polished script.

How Fast Can Paul Ryan Run?  —  Last week, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Paul Ryan said that he had run a marathon in under three hours, or, more precisely, “I had a two hour and fifty-something.”  That is quite speedy, and running fans in the forums of Letsrun.com treated the claim with great skepticism.

Obama speech to soldiers met with silence  —  President Barack Obama was greeted with fleeting applause and extended periods of silence as he offered profuse praise to soldiers and their families during an Aug. 31 speech in Fort Bliss, Texas.  —  His praise for the soldiers …

La. Rep. Scalise thanks nation for support in aftermath of Isaac  —  GOP Rep. Steve Scalise (La.) on Saturday discussed the damage caused by Hurricane Isaac and thanked Americans for their support in the aftermath of the devastating storm.  —  “Please keep those good thoughts and prayers coming …

7 wounded in shootings, including 2 near United Center and 1 downtown … Two people were wounded as two groups of people shot at each other just west of the United Center late Friday night, according to police.  —  One group of people was walking south of Washington Boulevard on Damen Avenue …

President Barack Obama is thanking troops for their service as he marks the second anniversary of the end of combat operations in Iraq.  He says he will ensure that soldiers remain well-equipped and vows to assist in their economic transition to civilian life.

Voter Fraud: Hard to Identify  —  Voter fraud has become a divisive political-campaign issue and given rise to proposals for new voter-identification legislation in 14 states this year.  A Texas law passed last year was struck down by federal judges Thursday for failing to prove it wouldn't unfairly affect poor and minority voters.

Obama Faces Tougher Battle  —  THEN AND NOW: Obama in October 2008, left, speaking in Ohio.  Right, the president in August in New Hampshire, a battleground state.  —  When President Barack Obama emerged from his car in Charlottesville, Va., to address a crowd of 7,000 mostly college kids …

Romney's likeability improves in post-convention boost: Reuters/Ipsos poll  —  (Reuters) - Mitt Romney emerged from the Republican convention with an overall improvement in his image among voters but no significant change in the number who say they will vote for him, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday.

Michelle Obama Presents Course: ‘Supermarket Shopping 101’  —  (CNSNews.com) - As part of her anti-obesity Let's Move campaign, First Lady Michelle Obama is now presenting a brief online course: “Supermarket Shopping 101.”  —  The course, which now appears on the letsmove.gov website …

Starting the Final Night Live Blog (in the Comments, I Mean): Thread 1  —  Here's the Update: complete schedule: … By the way, take a gander at the Murderer's Row of talent the Democrats have scheduled for next week: … I omitted all the ones I never heard of or barely heard of.

Newsweek's Anti-Obama Cover Set to Be a Newsstand Hit  —  Widely Attacked But Apparently Also Widely Purchased  —  Newsweek received withering and widespread criticism over its “Hit the Road, Barack” cover story by Niall Ferguson.  The magazine had become “an august publication letting itself …

‘The Fighter’ bails on Brown  —  Nothing is sheltered from the whirlwind whims of elections season, even the squared-circle of a boxing ring.  —  Mill City ring king Micky Ward found himself backed into a corner Thursday when word trickled out that he was supporting U.S. Senator Scott Brown's re-election campaign.

Akin: Rove apologized  —  Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) says former Bush adviser Karl Rove has apologized for joking about murdering him.  —  Late Friday, Akin tweeted “Rove apologizes to Todd Akin,” along with a link to an Associated Press story saying an Akin adviser had confirmed the nature of a phone call between the two men.

Judge Sides With Obama On Ohio Early Voting Suit Despite Romney Attacks  —  A federal judge sided with the Obama campaign on Friday and ruled that Ohio made an “arbitrary” decision when it took away early-voting rights for most voters but carved out a special exemption for military and overseas voters.