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Exclusive: McCain to name VP on Aug. 29 — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to celebrate his 72nd birthday on Aug. 29 by naming his running mate at a huge rally in the battleground state of Ohio, Republican sources said. — That's a week from this Friday, and the day after Sen. Barack Obama …
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VP Alert — NR has learned that the McCain campaign has been calling key state GOP officials around the country the last couple of days and sounding them out about the consequences of a pro-choice VP pick. The campaign is asking about the reaction of conservative grass-roots activists …


Obama Appears Ready to Announce His Running Mate — WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has all but finalized his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate roll-out plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday …
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Obama veep announcement expected in coming days — CHICAGO (AP) — Barack Obama will publicly disclose his vice presidential choice in the coming days, though the Democrat is keeping most aides who are preparing for the announcement in the dark and is giving away nothing to voters as he campaigns.


The Lingering What-If Question: Clinton? — No power brokers in the Democratic Party are openly campaigning for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as their vice-presidential nominee this year, and even Mrs. Clinton's closest aides have stopped talking her up. Yet privately, some Democrats continue …
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Hillary Clinton gives ‘Judas’ Richardson a hug or a shrug — It was, if memory and The Ticket's search function serves, back in March that big Bill Richardson, the goateed governor of New Mexico who'd built his impressive resume largely on important assignments for the Clintons …


Bob Woodward to reveal ‘The War Within’ — Bob Woodward's new book is shrouded in such mystery that even the title was a secret until now. — Publishing sources say the book, completed just three weeks ago and out Sept. 8, is titled “The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008.”
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AP: Title, print run on Woodward book announced
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TIME.com

I Honestly Can't Believe I'm Reading This — Regardless of what any one American's politics or personal election preference might be, is it lost on people what they are reading if they click into Andrew Sullivan's blog from Memeorandum? … What is quite well known beyond ANY shadow …
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Invesco's top seats go to big donors — SUITES, CLUB LEVEL SAVED FOR FUNDRAISERS, VIPs — Barack Obama's big-money donors are being offered premier seats to his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High, according to information obtained by The Denver Post.
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Power Line

Reed Doesn't Show at McCain Benefit He'd Help Publicize — ATLANTA — Ralph Reed, once one of the leading strategists in the Republican Party, found himself Monday night persona non grata at a fundraiser hosted by his party's presumptive presidential nominee.
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Protesters mark McCain's visit to Atlanta for fund-raiser

Obama Camp: Ralph Reed Uninvited to McCain's Fundraiser
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Political Machine


Roseanne rips Jolie, Pitt, Voight over politics — Comedienne blasts actors for failure to get behind Obama for president — LOS ANGELES - Roseanne Barr is using her personal Web site to slam Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jolie's father, Jon Voight. — Calling Jolie Voight's “evil spawn” …

Increasingly Bizarre- Michael Goldfarb's +7 Rapier of Jackassery — I really don't care to spend the next few weeks arguing whether or not McCain is lying about his Christ/Cross/guard moment and will let others chase after things that can not be proven one way or another …
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Countdown Special Comment to McCain: Senator, grow up! — Keith Olbermann takes on John McCain and his campaign managers with another powerful Special Comment on Monday's Countdown. McCain has consistently voted against our troops, but he and his campaign continue to spread lies and distortions …
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Buck Naked Politics

The Education of McCain — On Tuesdays, Senate Republicans hold a weekly policy lunch. The party leaders often hand out a Message of the Week that the senators are supposed to repeat at every opportunity. Sometimes there will be a pollster offering data that supposedly demonstrates …


The Ruling — This past Friday, I wrote to you regarding our attempt to be included in the Saturday event held at Saddleback Church featuring both Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. — Barack Obama received one full hour during his interview. — The same for John McCain.


Breaking: Bayh to Be Obama's VP? Probably a Hoax — Update: The longer this story sits without confirmation or updates from CNN, the more it appears that the answer to “Could it be a hoax?” is a solid YES. — Could it be a hoax? Could CNN have dropped the story from their website …

College Presidents Want Lower Drinking Age — College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth, and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age to 18 from 21, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.