 Goldsmith's experience questioned
 Union-Tribune file photos
San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre repeatedly questioned Judge Jan Goldsmith's trial experience at a debate yesterday, while Goldsmith twice chided Aguirre for cronyism.
|
Alaska inquiry finding: Palin abused power
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 6:08 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.
Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report by a bipartisan panel that investigated the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.
More Politics & Elections News
LAKEVILLE, Minn., 4:39 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Raw anger in McCain's crowds as Obama strengthens: The anger is getting raw at Republican rallies and John McCain is acting to tamp it down. McCain was booed by his own supporters Friday when, in an abrupt switch from raising questions about Barack Obama's character, he described the Democrat as a “decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.”
WASHINGTON, 4:29 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
McCain TV ad raises Obama's links to ex-radical: Republican John McCain, trailing in polls and searching for a way to gain ground, assailed Democratic rival Barack Obama on Friday in a sharply worded TV ad that said: “When convenient, he worked with terrorist Bill Ayers. When discovered, he lied.”
CLEVELAND, 4:14 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Palin says supporters want tougher attack on Obama: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said more than one person has whispered in her ear in Ohio that John McCain needs “to take the gloves off” in his campaign against Democrat Barack Obama.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, 3:49 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Leading in polls, Obama plays it safe: Barack Obama is playing it safe. Leading in polls with 25 days to Election Day, the Democratic nominee is offering careful proposals to address the economic crisis while letting allies respond to John McCain's sharpest charges.
3:47 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Voter fraud accusations mar presidential campaign: Accusations of voter fraud have hurled a giant mud ball into an already messy presidential campaign, with Republicans alleging that Democrat Barack Obama has close ties to an activist group accused of compiling fake registration forms, including ones for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys – submitted in Nevada.
NEWNAN, Ga., 3:15 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Georgia sued over voter citizenship verification: Voting rights groups asked a federal judge Friday to stop Georgia's attempts to verify the identities and citizenship of new voter applicants, arguing they amounted to a “systematic purging” of rolls just weeks before the election.
3:05 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Obama leads McCain solidly in two national polls: THE POLL: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, national presidential race among registered voters THE NUMBERS: Barack Obama 46 percent, John McCain 39 percent
2:59 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Economy is overriding issue in governors' races: In his bid to become the next governor of Missouri, Rep. Kenny Hulshof survived a bitter primary that at one point saw the candidates bashing each other for supporting public funding for drugs such as Viagra.
PHOENIX, 2:37 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Half sister of Cindy McCain dies: A half sister of Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, has died of Alzheimer's disease, the family announced.
WASHINGTON, 1:50 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
McCain, Obama offer dueling ideas to save economy: John McCain and Barack Obama outlined modest steps to counter the faltering economy and plummeting stock market on Friday, fresh evidence of the dominant role of pocketbook issues in their race for the White House.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 1:48 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Judge orders state to preserve Palin's e-mails: A judge has ordered the state of Alaska to preserve any government-related e-mails that Gov. Sarah Palin sent from private accounts.
CORAL GABLES, Fla., 1:48 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Bush raises $2 million in Florida, South Carolina: President Bush worked to allay fears about the financial crisis on Friday then left the White House and headed south to raise nearly $2 million for the Republican Party in South Carolina and the battleground state of Florida.
WASHINGTON, 1:45 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Watchdog seeks probe of 2 political groups' TV ads: A campaign finance watchdog group on Friday filed a complaint with federal regulators against two groups – one pro-Republican and the other pro-Democrat – alleging they violated the law by airing political ads during the presidential contest.
LAS VEGAS, 12:25 p.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
McCain missing the mark with Hispanics: Cindy Florez can't always remember the name of the man who will get her vote for president, but she knows his party and that's enough.
Oct. 10 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Governor tries again with redistricting bid: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not like to take “no” for an answer. So he's back on the ballot with one of his pet issues – taking the power to redraw legislative district boundaries away from the Legislature.
Oct. 10 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
4 candidates running for three seats on Palomar board: Two incumbents and two challengers are vying for three open seats on the Palomar College board of trustees.
ENCINITAS, Oct. 10 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Candidates take stands on land swap, charter schools: Candidates for the Encinitas Union School District board of trustees are staking out positions on such issues as preparing students for a rapidly changing work environment; boosting revenue to augment art, physical education and other programs; and determining the role of charter schools.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., 10:57 a.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Biden says McCain trying to distract voters: Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden says Republican candidate John McCain is trying to distract voters from the nation's financial problems.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, 8:28 a.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Obama says McCain trying to stoke anger, division: Democrat Barack Obama accused Republican John McCain of trying to divide the country Friday, but he let other Democrats handle harsher attacks while he kept his message mostly upbeat.
WASHINGTON, 7:47 a.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Today on the presidential campaign trail: Republican John McCain on Friday hammered his Democratic rival Barack Obama over his association with former 1960s radical William Ayers in a new TV ad.
KITTANNING, Pa., 7:26 a.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
McCain losing ground with working-class whites: The steel mills and coal mines of western Pennsylvania helped fuel the nation's economic engine. Today, old factory shells and boarded-up storefronts stand as bleak reminders of those once-prosperous times.
NEW YORK, 6:24 a.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Thursday's late-night TV wrap-up: Late-night TV show hosts found humor in the presidential debate, the candidates and the economy.
WASHINGTON, 4:49 p.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Obama plans half-hour TV ad days before election: Already advertising at record levels, Barack Obama has scheduled a half-hour commercial for prime time on Oct. 29, six days before Election Day.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, 8:28 a.m. Oct. 10 (AP)
Obama says McCain trying to stoke anger, division: Democrat Barack Obama accused Republican John McCain of trying to divide the country Friday, but he let other Democrats handle harsher attacks while he kept his message mostly upbeat.
WASHINGTON, 10:00 p.m. Oct. 9 (REUTERS)
POLL-Obama opens 5-point lead on McCain: Democrat Barack Obama has opened a 5-point lead over Republican rival John McCain in the White House race and expanded his support among women voters, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released Friday.
DALLAS, 10:00 p.m. Oct. 9 (REUTERS)
Iraq war fades from U.S. election: Many Americans seem to have forgotten the Iraq war in this election cycle. Joe Luccioni is not one of them.
NEW YORK, 9:19 p.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Elections officials deny illegally purging voters: A newspaper report Thursday said tens of thousands of eligible voters have been removed from rolls or blocked from registering in at least six swing states. Election officials lined up to defend their registration procedures and said they had done nothing wrong.
EAST COUNTY, 10:43 p.m. Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)El Cajon council candidates debate economic future: Candidates for the El Cajon City Council agree that the city's leaders will have to make some tough decisions with a budget deficit and a declining economy. WASHINGTON, 5:36 p.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Palin suggest wrongly Congress bans oil exports.: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, touted by GOP presidential candidate John McCain as his expert on energy, seemed to have problems Thursday explaining whether the government bans oil exports – especially from her state's North Slope fields. WAUKESHA, Wis., 5:18 p.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
McCain: Obama link to ex-radical is honesty issue: Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Thursday that questions about Democratic rival Barack Obama's association with a former war protester linked to Vietnam-era bombings are part of a broader issue of honesty. DAYTON, Ohio, 5:11 p.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Obama calls McCain mortgage plan ill-advised: Democrat Barack Obama told Ohio voters Thursday that Republican John McCain's mortgage buyout plan would cost them billions of dollars and reward bad behavior by lenders.
Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
2 challengers aim attacks at 2 incumbents at forum:The Grossmont Union High School District board election is turning negative. At a candidates forum in La Mesa this week, challengers Meg Jedynak and Gary Woods verbally attacked the two incumbents in the race, Larry Urdahl and Priscilla Schreiber, before about 100 audience members.
CHULA VISTA, Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Attorney would be elected if plan OK'd: CHULA VISTA –
Chula Vista activists and politicians, who often don't agree on the simplest issues, are aligned on whether to turn the city attorney into a political office.
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Five seek 3 seats as school trustees: SAN DIEGO – Three superintendents have been at the helm of San Diego schools in a little more than three years, while the board steering California's second-largest district has remained the same.
Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Board rivals quizzed about fiscal oversight and goals:The Sweetwater Union High School District has three candidates running for seat No. 2 on the five-member board and four candidates seeking seat No. 4.
Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
2 incumbents, 2 challengers seek seats on college board: Four candidates are running for two seats on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District's governing board in races that lack the drama of the hard-fought 2006 election but still have plenty at stake.
LEMON GROVE, Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
6 hopefuls square off for 2 seats on council: LEMON GROVE
– Redevelopment and civic involvement are among the top issues framing the race for two Lemon Grove City Council seats this year.
SAN MARCOS, Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Opponents of Prop. O far outspend supporters: SAN MARCOS
– A group opposing Proposition O, the growth-management initiative on the ballot next month in San Marcos, has far outspent those supporting the measure.
ESCONDIDO, Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Council race fundraising picking up speed: ESCONDIDO –
The money gap among the front-runners in the Escondido City Council race is closing. Olga Diaz, 32, a coffee shop owner, has raised the most money this reporting period, July 1 to Sept. 30, topping her five rivals with $20,400.
NORTH COUNTY, Oct. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
San Dieguito candidates clash over call for change: NORTH COUNTY – School board candidates for the San Dieguito Union High School District had few sharp words for one another – until the last two minutes – at a forum Wednesday night.
8:58 a.m. Oct. 9 (REUTERS)Scenarios: How candidates are faring in key U.S. states: – The U.S. presidential election hinges on a handful of battleground states where opinion polls show Democrat Barack Obama making significant gains against Republican rival John McCain.
WASHINGTON, 8:39 a.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Bush signs order to ease switch to next president: A piece of paper that President Bush signed Thursday helps ease his way out of the White House when his term ends and clears the way for his successor.
WASHINGTON, 7:51 a.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Today on the presidential campaign trail: Barack Obama spent $3.3 million in TV advertising on Monday. At that rate the Democrat will spend more than $90 million on ads through Election Day – more than all the money Republican rival John McCain has to spend on his entire fall campaign.
WASHINGTON, 6:44 a.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Wednesday's late-night TV wrap-up: Which late-night comedian poked fun at the presidential candidates' debate performance? That one.
SALT LAKE CITY, 2:30 a.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Mormons renew calls for Calif. gay marriage ban: Mormons are being asked by their church leaders to step up their already considerable efforts to pass a ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage in California.
BOSTON, 2:07 a.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
GOP candidate challenges Sen. Kerry on AIG bailout: Sen. John Kerry's GOP challenger called on him to sell any stock he has in insurance giant AIG and donate all campaign contributions from officials at the company to taxpayers.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 1:10 a.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
Todd Palin had unusual access to wife's staff: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin remained in the dark while her husband repeatedly asked top state officials to help get his former brother-in-law kicked off the state police force, Palin's husband and top aides said in affidavits provided to The Associated Press.
RALEIGH, N.C., 12:04 a.m. Oct. 9 (AP)
GOP finds plucking off House Democrats difficult: By all rights, Asheville city councilman Carl Mumpower should be a rare political specimen this year, a Republican with a plausible shot at ousting a Democrat from Congress, Rep. Heath Shuler.
NEW YORK, 10:07 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Report: Voter purges in 6 states may violate law: Tens of thousands of eligible voters have been removed from rolls or blocked from registering in at least six swing states, and the voters' exclusion appears to violate federal law, according to a published report.
WASHINGTON, 10:00 p.m. Oct. 8 (REUTERS)
POLL-Obama has 4-point lead on McCain: Democrat Barack Obama has built a 4-point lead over Republican rival John McCain in the race for the White House, aided by growing support from women and independent voters, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released Thursday.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 7:22 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)Todd Palin: Contacts with wife's staff were proper: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's husband defended his role as a close adviser to his wife Wednesday but was adamant that he didn't meddle in her administration to try to settle a family dispute. WASHINGTON, 6:04 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Obama says McCain camp trying to score points: Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said Wednesday that Republicans are highlighting his association with a former 1960s radical in an effort to “score cheap political points” in the final weeks before the election. STERLING, Colo., 5:49 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Obama campaign on 3-day tour to woo rural voters: Former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer rolled through the Eastern Plains on an RV wrapped in logos for Barack Obama's presidential campaign Wednesday, launching a three-day tour to talk to voters about the Democrat's policies for rural America. NEW YORK, 5:42 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
A Fey-Palin comedy summit? Stay tuned: It seems like the inevitable comedic summit of this fall's presidential campaign: the real Sarah Palin coming on “Saturday Night Live” to meet her look-alike impersonator, Tina Fey. INDIANAPOLIS, 5:09 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Obama rejects McCain's plan to buy mortgages: Democrat Barack Obama's campaign criticized John McCain's mortgage bailout plan Wednesday, saying it would cause the government to lose money by paying too much for bad loans. WASHINGTON, 5:07 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Report: Both candidates would increase health coverage: John McCain's health plan would reduce the ranks of the uninsured by about 21.1 million people if fully put in place by 2010, while Barack Obama's would reduce the number by 26.6 million, an analysis predicts. WASHINGTON, 5:04 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Candidates competing for voters' trust on economy: With the deepening U.S. economic crisis rippling around the globe, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain seem to agree the question facing anxious voters is: Who do you trust? WASHINGTON, 5:00 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
NRA ad uses Clinton's words against Obama on guns: The National Rifle Association is turning to Hillary Rodham Clinton to bolster its criticism of Barack Obama's positions on gun issues. TAMPA, Fla., 3:59 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Biden calls McCain a sidekick, not a maverick: Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden called Republican John McCain an angry man making ugly attacks against the Democratic ticket to cover up his support for President Bush. WASHINGTON, 3:25 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Esquire backs Obama in its first endorsement: Esquire is backing Democrat Barack Obama for president – its first endorsement in the magazine's 75-year history.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., 12:06 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Post-debate polling favors Obama over McCain: John McCain dismissively called rival Barack Obama “that one,” Obama mocked McCain's “Straight Talk Express,” and both left the debate stage to return to the campaign trail Wednesday.
BETHLEHEM, Pa., 1:24 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)McCain renews harsh criticism of Obama over policy: Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin questioned on Wednesday whether Barack Obama's record matched his rhetoric as they sought to sow doubt about the Democratic presidential candidate. NEW YORK, 1:39 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Foo Fighters tell McCain to stop using song: Yet another band is complaining about John McCain's use of their song to promote his campaign. This time, it's the Foo Fighters. NEW YORK, 2:04 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
So far, debates lack the memorable lines of past: Late in their debate, Sarah Palin looked over at Joe Biden and channeled the memory of Ronald Reagan's famed putdown of Jimmy Carter in 1980. “There you go again,” she said. JASPER, Ind., 2:34 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Polygraphs proposed for Ind. congressional debate: Two challengers for an Indiana congressional seat have agreed to be hooked up to lie detectors during a debate, but an official with the incumbent's party dismisses the idea as “bizarre.” SALT LAKE CITY, 2:50 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Mormons recruit out-of-state for gay marriage ban: Mormons living outside California have been asked to volunteer for a telephone campaign to help pass a ballot initiative on marriage there.
MADISON, Wis., 10:08 a.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Study: Nearly all recent McCain ads were negative: Nearly every TV ad Republican John McCain ran last week was negative, compared to just 34 percent of those by Democrat Barack Obama, according to an analysis released Wednesday.
BETHLEHEM, Pa., 12:33 p.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
McCain rally speaker refers to Obama's middle name: For the second time in three days, a rally for the Republican presidential ticket invoked Democrat Barack Obama's middle name, Hussein, in an attempt to add to doubts about his background, faith and campaign.
WASHINGTON, 11:46 a.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
McCain would buy bad homeowner mortgages: John McCain's proposal to buy up bad home mortgages would use nearly half the $700 billion from the recent Wall Street bailout package to assist Americans directly, instead of indirectly by rescuing the nation's financial markets.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., 11:34 a.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Son of Tenn. Democrat indicted in Palin hacking: The son of a Democratic Tennessee state lawmaker pleaded not guilty Wednesday to hacking the e-mail account of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
11:18 a.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Poll: Obama up by 10 points in Wisconsin: Results of a Research 2000 poll done for WISC-TV in Madison, Wis., which asked likely voters in Wisconsin for their views on the presidential race.
7:02 a.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
McCain and Obama support cut in interest rates: Statements by presidential candidates Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on the Federal Reserve's action Wednesday to cut interest rates.
LOS ANGELES, 6:01 a.m. Oct. 8 (AP)
Campaign Comedy: Tuesday's late-night TV wrap-up: Political debates inform voters – and provide material for late-night TV show hosts.
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 8 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Prop. C is praised, panned:
San Diego collects about $27 million a year from hotel and business leases in Mission Bay Park, but the city spends less than 10 percent of that on the 4,235-acre playground. That disparity has led supporters of the park, which attracts approximately 15 million visitors a year, to put a measure on the city's Nov. 4 ballot that would dedicate a bigger chunk of lease revenue to maintaining it.
9:50 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)Debate watchers divided over Obama, McCain: Some praised Barack Obama's “vision” while others were impressed with John McCain's promise of victory in Iraq, but Americans watching the second presidential debate, whether in a crowded tavern in McCain Country in Arizona or a quiet Midwestern living room, said they saw no knockout punch. NEW YORK, 9:40 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Town hall debate keeps Brokaw busy: After Gwen Ifill seemed frustrated at losing control of last week's vice presidential debate, Tom Brokaw seemed determined not to let that happen Tuesday with John McCain and Barack Obama. NASHVILLE, Tenn., 9:44 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Gore toasts Obama at fundraiser: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama switched from debater to fundraiser Tuesday night, making a brief appearance at a late-night gathering at Al Gore's Tennessee home. WASHINGTON, 9:02 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
McCain would buy bad homeowner mortgages: Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced Tuesday he would order the federal government to spend $300 billion in federal funds to buy up bad home mortgages and allow financially troubled homeowners to keep their houses. WASHINGTON, 8:57 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Fact check: Obama, McCain twist records: Republican John McCain expressed incredulity in the presidential debate Tuesday that Democrat Barack Obama would tip off the enemy by saying publicly that he'd attack al-Qaeda in Pakistan under certain conditions. “Remarkable,” McCain said during the presidential debate, meaning remarkably irresponsible. WASHINGTON, 8:46 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Analysis: Obama gains, McCain seeks game-changer: Barack Obama made strides toward easing voters' concerns about his candidacy in Tuesday night's debate. John McCain, despite raising pointed questions about his rival's readiness, didn't create the game-changing moment he'll need between now and Election Day.
SACRAMENTO, Updated with new figures: 10:40 a.m.
Personal beliefs fuel Prop. 8 fundraising: California ballot measure campaigns are usually money magnets, drawing huge sums from special interests that often have a financial stake in the outcome.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., 4:44 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)Palin stretches truth in campaign speeches: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin tells audiences the election is about the “truthfulness and judgment” needed to be president. But the Alaska governor often stretches the truth herself. SAN FRANCISCO, 2:56 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Schwarzenegger to candidates: Get back to issues: Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that the presidential candidates should end the smear campaigns and get back to the issues. NEW YORK, 4:10 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Obama wishes he had more time for staying fit: Barack Obama says he wishes he had more time for staying fit. And the Democratic presidential candidate admits that he still occasionally smokes a cigarette. ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 4:26 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
State reviewing per diem payments to Palin: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's practice of charging the state when she stays in her home must be reviewed to determine if she should pay taxes on the payments, state Finance Director Kim Garnero said Tuesday. WASHINGTON, 4:52 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
McCain linked to group in Iran-Contra affair: Barack Obama has his William Ayers connection. Now John McCain may have an Iran-Contra connection. In the 1980s, McCain served on the advisory board to the U.S. chapter of an international group linked to ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. 12:16 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Palin pledges of Alaska sunshine marred by secrets: Sarah Palin's promise for a new era of government openness as the reform governor of Alaska started to crack even before Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign built a wall of protectiveness around her. 12:54 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Gay candidates anticipate breakthroughs on Nov. 4: In his liberal Colorado district, it's no big deal that Jared Polis is gay. Yet his expected victory Nov. 4 in a congressional race would be a historic milestone and, he hopes, send an encouraging message to gay and lesbian young people nationwide. WASHINGTON, 1:50 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Analysis: McCain's contrition ends over Keating: Nearly 20 years of John McCain's contrition over his role in a 1980s banking scandal vanished this week in 17 minutes and 30 seconds. NEW YORK, 1:39 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
NYC mayor's try for 3rd term goes to City Council: Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid to change the term-limits law so that he can campaign for another four years rests in the hands of the City Council, where two competing bills were introduced Tuesday. SAN FRANCISCO, 12:44 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Cindy Sheehan, the 'Peace Mom,' now a candidate: The audience at San Francisco State University clapped generously – and no one booed.
HARRISBURG, Pa., 8:46 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Record Pa. voter registration pads Democrats' edge: Democratic registration has surged by 13 percent and Republican ranks have shrunk by 1 percent as a record 8.6 million people registered to vote in battleground Pennsylvania in the 2008 presidential election.
WASHINGTON, 1:49 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Debate stakes higher for McCain: Running short on time, John McCain has the most riding on the second presidential debate, though Barack Obama will be out of his scripted comfort zone in the town hall-style confrontation. It could be ugly if Monday's tussling is any indication.
RICHMOND, Va., 8:08 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Hagel's wife to back Obama: The wife of Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel plans to endorse Democrat Barack Obama. Lilibet Hagel has scheduled a 10 a.m. news conference in Alexandria, Va., on Tuesday with Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of Republican President Eisenhower. Susan Eisenhower also is an Obama supporter.
8:03 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Polls: Obama leads in Ohio and Wis., tied in Ind.: THE POLL: Washington Post-ABC News poll of 772 likely Ohio voters (20 electoral votes). THE NUMBERS: Barack Obama, 51 percent; John McCain, 45 percent.
NEW YORK, 5:56 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Campaign Comedy: Monday's late-night TV wrap-up: You'd hardly know the Democrats have even chosen a presidential candidate, judging from late-night comedy monologues. It was Republican John McCain and – oh, by the way – his vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, who claimed most of the jokesters' attention.
SANTA FE, N.M., 2:52 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Officials find, fix glitch in NM voting machine: A glitch that would have kept votes from being counted in the presidential and other top-of-the-ticket races was discovered during a pre-election check of a voting machine in Santa Fe County, officials said.
HELENA, Mont., 1:44 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Montana governor's race features old foes: Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and his Republican challenger have both called for increased energy development, lower taxes and a more open state government.
BOSTON, 12:21 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Tax-cutting questions appear on ballots next month: For years, Massachusetts was known derisively as “Taxachusetts.” But voters could help shed that label in November by completely eliminating the state's income tax in a single stroke.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., 10:00 p.m. Oct. 6 (REUTERS)
POLL-Obama has 3-point national lead on McCain: Democrat Barack Obama has a narrow 3-point lead in the U.S. presidential race on Republican John McCain less than a month before the election, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released Tuesday.
CLEARWATER, Fla., 9:34 p.m. Oct. 6 (REUTERS)
Palin warns Florida voters of 'rough' campaigning: Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin told Florida's voters Monday to expect “rough” campaigning as she seeks to halt a slide in opinion polls in a state that could make or break Sen. John McCain's White House bid.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, 12:13 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
McCain's stance against pork a balancing act: It's one of Republican presidential candidate John McCain's most surefire applause lines, a vow to veto pork barrel spending like the road and bridge projects that lawmakers hold dear.
ASHLAND, Va., 12:12 a.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Ex-DNC chief stumps for Obama but eyes Va. race: Barnstorming Virginia to fire up Democrats for Barack Obama's presidential bid is something Terry McAuliffe says comes naturally for him.
NEW YORK, 8:17 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
NYC council takes up term limit change this week: Mayor Michael Bloomberg's crusade to change term limits law so he can run again gets its first official test this week with a bill in the City Council, where it will compete with legislation intended to stop him.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., 8:06 p.m. Oct. 6 (REUTERS)
U.S. candidates advisers debate approach on energy: John McCain and Barack Obama both believe the United States should reduce carbon emissions and cut its oil dependence, but differ on how active a role the government should play in energy policy, their advisors said Monday.
Oct. 7 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Eager voters cast ballots: In 2000, with an out-of-country trip planned on Election Day, Terry and Christi McCabe headed to the Registrar of Voters Office a week before the election to cast their ballots early for president. When they arrived, the line of voters stretched several hundred yards all the way to the street. They didn't have the time to wait and never got to vote in the election between Al Gore and George W. Bush – a huge regret for them.
Oct. 7 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Whether for it or against it, donors are from all walks of life:Not everybody has deep pockets. But deep commitments? That's another story. The vast majority of people donating money to support or defeat Proposition 8 – the Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California – aren't like San Diego hotel owner Doug Manchester (he's for it) or Hollywood star Brad Pitt (he's against it).
Oct. 7 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Candidate: City officials abused credit cards:
Carlsbad City Council candidate Glenn Bernard alleged at a candidates forum yesterday that a former councilwoman resigned last year because she feared a brewing credit-card scandal, and she had wanted to see a new council member on the panel.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., 5:00 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)McCain calls Obama a liar: Behind in the polls, Republican John McCain on Monday called Democratic rival Barack Obama a liar as he leveled his harshest criticism yet, and said the campaign boils down to one basic question: Who is Obama really? WASHINGTON, 5:14 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
T-shirt story gets a stretch in McCain hands: Republican John McCain on Monday raised the specter of illegal foreign contributions to rival Democrat Barack Obama by suggesting that a bulk purchase of T-shirts was sinister. WASHINGTON, 5:15 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
GOP files FEC complaint about Obama's fundraising: The Republican National Committee filed a complaint Monday alleging that Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign has received illegal contributions from foreigners and donations that exceed federal limits. SPRINGFIELD, Ill., 5:38 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Obama awarded Illinois grants to relative's group: As a state senator, Democrat Barack Obama awarded $75,000 in government grants to a Chicago social service organization led by a rabbi who is also his wife's cousin, records show. ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 6:12 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Palin ethics probes beset by secrecy and lawsuit: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says she's an open book regarding an abuse-of-power investigation. Apparently her staff doesn't feel the same way.
ASHEVILLE, N.C., 4:38 a.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Old events fuel new campaign attacks: The McCain and Obama presidential campaigns traded accusations of mudslinging Monday in the wake of new ads dredging up infamous events from 20, 30, even 40 years ago.
ASHEVILLE, N.C., 2:47 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)Character attacks emerge in McCain-Obama race: The two men who supposedly exemplified a different kind of politics are engaged in an increasingly bitter campaign as character attacks are emerging to compete with issues like the troubled economy. CLEARWATER, Fla., 2:09 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Palin criticizes Obama's ties to Wright, Ayers: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin expanded her attack on Democrat Barack Obama's character Monday to include his relationship with an incendiary former pastor as well as his ties to 1960s-era radical Bill Ayers. WASHINGTON, 2:15 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
McCain, Obama promise federal money to fight crime: Both presidential candidates are promising federal dollars to help local governments fight crime and a review panel to examine the nation's crime-fighting priorities. Democrat Barack Obama would increase federal spending on programs popular with local law enforcement to put more cops on the beat and hire additional officers. COLUMBUS, Ohio, 2:49 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Turnout light in Ohio early voting window: A weeklong period in which Ohioans could register to vote and immediately cast a ballot ended Monday with turnout that didn't quite match the expectations of election officials – or the campaign predictions that preceded it.
ASHEVILLE, N.C., 10:04 p.m. Oct. 5 (REUTERS)
Obama accuses McCain of smear campaign: Democrat Barack Obama counterattacked Sunday against a new Republican tactic by saying rival John McCain was more interested in a smear campaign than fixing the U.S. economy.
ASHEVILLE, N.C., 11:14 a.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Today on the presidential campaign trail: Barack Obama said Monday that John McCain is trying to shift attention from the troubled economy because the issue is bad for the Republican presidential nominee's campaign.
7:20 a.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
McCain, Obama on the issues: A look at where Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain stand on a selection of issues:
ANCHORAGE, 4:28 p.m. Oct. 5 (AP)
Employees will testify in Palin probe: Seven Alaska state employees have reversed course and agreed to testify in an abuse-of-power investigation against Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
WILMINGTON, Del, 3:08 p.m. Oct. 5 (REUTERS)
Biden cancels campaign events for another two days: With a month to go before the U.S. election on Nov. 4, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden canceled campaign events for another two days Sunday after the death of his mother-in-law.
BURLINGAME, 1:16 p.m. Oct. 5 (AP)
Palin defends terrorist comment against Obama: Sarah Palin defended her claim that Barack Obama “pals around with terrorists,” saying the Democratic presidential nominee's association with a 1960s radical is an issue that is “fair to talk about.”
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 6 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Two energy initiatives in California under fire: Californians will vote on two ballot initiatives this fall that at first glance would seem shoo-ins for approval in a state long associated with environmental activism.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Democrats see opening in 3 states on GOP turf: Once a virtually impenetrable Republican fortress in presidential elections, the Rocky Mountain West is one of the top targets in the nation for Democrats as they seek to reclaim the White House next month.
ASHEVILLE, N.C., 12:33 p.m. Oct. 5 (AP)Obama allies warn GOP to back off attacks.: Barack Obama's allies warn that John McCain's attacks on the Democrat's character will lead to the political equivalent of mutual assured destruction: fire your big weapon at your own peril. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 8:07 a.m. Oct. 5 (AP)
Pakistanis eye U.S. presidential candidates: A Pakistani wish list for the next U.S. president might read something like this: an end to cross-border strikes on militants, more aid for the country's battered economy and greater support for its elected government.
Oct. 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Attorneys make their case: San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre is seeking a second four-year term. He is being challenged by Superior Court Judge Jan Goldsmith. Each man sat down separately recently to speak with the Union-Tribune editorial board. Below are edited transcripts of those interviews.
Oct. 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)Palin: Obama 'pals' with terrorists: “This is not a man who sees America as you and I see America. We see America as a force for good in this world,” the Alaska governor said in her first California campaign appearance. “We see an America of exceptionalism. “Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country.” WASHINGTON, 8:49 a.m. Oct. 5 (AP)
McCain's brother says N. Va. 'Communist country': Republican presidential candidate John McCain's brother made an apparent joke at a campaign rally this weekend that might not play well in parts of newly competitive Virginia.
WASHINGTON, 4:12 p.m. Oct. 4 (AP)
Onus on McCain to turn race around: One month before Election Day, Barack Obama sits atop battleground polls in a shrinking playing field, the economic crisis is breaking his way and he has made progress toward winning the White House.
Oct. 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Challenges, controversy stir real interest in races:Campaigns for community college board elections aren't known for getting the pulse racing. They usually draw about as much excitement as water district races. Until now.
Oct. 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Road to White House: Where they stand:
Oct. 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Populist label isn't for everyone in Congress:Rep. Darrell Issa didn't care that he was bucking his own president and party leadership when he led a rump group of back-bench Republicans against the financial bailout package last week.
Oct. 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Improving Escondido is focus of the race:In Escondido, where median income is the lowest of any North County city, candidates vying for two City Council seats are promising a better quality of life even as the nation faces a financial crisis.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., 12:42 p.m. Oct. 4 (AP)
Obama assails McCain over health care proposal: Democrat Barack Obama sharply criticized Republican John McCain's health care proposals Saturday, saying they could force millions of Americans to struggle to buy medical insurance.
SEDONA, Ariz., 10:22 a.m. Oct. 4 (AP)
McCain preps for debate at resort hotel in Ariz.: Republican presidential candidate John McCain is spending Saturday at a resort hotel in Sedona, Ariz., preparing for his second debate with Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
WASILLA, Alaska, 9:17 a.m. Oct. 4 (AP)
Back home, Palin lives model life in Last Frontier: To people in this hard-scrabble region tucked between two soaring mountain ranges, Gov. Sarah Palin is a working-class heroine. As the Republican vice presidential candidate's star rises nationally, she's increasingly held up as the model for life in the Last Frontier.
Oct. 4 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Candidates, propositions to be focus of four forums: Several forums are scheduled in East County next week to educate voters about political candidates and propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Oct. 4 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Views vary vastly for two candidates vying for same seat: CHULA VISTA – Pamela Bensoussan and Russ Hall have about the same amount of civic experience to qualify them for a seat on the City Council. But the two are near opposites in their ideologies.
Oct. 4 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Citing heavy workload, candidate Kratcoski has dropped out of race: OCEANSIDE – The first candidate to sign up to run for Oceanside City Council in the Nov. 4 election has bowed out of the race.
Oct. 4 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Parent, two incumbents squaring off over two positions: San Dieguito Union High School District is one of the highest performing in the state, but the next school board will be focusing on several areas of improvement.
Oct. 4 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Trustees pose questions on La Costa land proposal: NORTH COUNTY – San Dieguito Union High School District trustees have gotten their first look at a proposal from La Costa Valley residents to restrict how the district uses vacant land off Calle Barcelona.
Oct. 4 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Democrat, Republican vie for District 1 council seat: San Diego's most affluent City Council district, where growth pains top the community agenda, is facing a choice between a Republican entrepreneur making a second run for office and a grass-roots Democrat who says she is surprised to find herself in politics.
RICHMOND, Va., 7:28 a.m. Oct. 4 (AP)
Push to register felons to vote could aid Obama: Undaunted by the heat, James Bailey spent his late-summer afternoons walking Virginia's bleakest neighborhoods on the hunt for ex-cons – each a potential voter who might cast the decisive ballot in this hotly contested state.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 2:14 a.m. Oct. 4 (AP)
Alaska Supreme Court takes up 'Troopergate' case: The Alaska Supreme Court will decide whether to block the findings of an abuse-of-power investigation due to be released next week that could be potentially damaging to Gov. Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy.
HARRISBURG, Pa., 1:42 a.m. Oct. 4 (AP)
GOP, Democrats battle in Pa. over voter dress code: Sue Nace thought election volunteers were joking when they told her she would have to remove her T-shirt to vote in the presidential primary last spring.
3:11 p.m. Oct. 3Most local reps opposed financial bailout bill: WASHINGTON – Members of the House from San Diego County held firm in their positions on the financial bailout bill that was approved Friday, four days after its defeat triggered a steep stock market decline.
11:14 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Palin says debate went well as polls favor Biden: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin defended John McCain as a reform-minded maverick while Democratic rival Joe Biden sought to tie his longtime Senate colleague to unpopular Bush administration policies during their first face-to-face encounter and only debate.
DALLAS, 1:21 p.m. Oct. 3 (REUTERS)
Republicans seek 'Palin Power' revival after debate: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's confident debate performance, following a series of widely ridiculed television interviews, is stoking Republican hopes that “Palin Power” is back.
ST. LOUIS, 10:39 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Officer in Palin motorcade injured: A St. Louis police officer in the motorcade escorting Sarah Palin to the airport has been injured in an accident.
NEW YORK, 10:40 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Big audience for Joe Biden-Sarah Palin TV debate: Who's running for president, anyway? Far more people watched Thursday's vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin on television than watched the first presidential debate.
DOVER, Del., 9:58 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Biden sends son, Delaware troops off for Iraq: Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden told his son and other Delaware National Guardsmen “my heart is full of love and pride” as their unit prepared Friday to leave for an assignment in Iraq.
ABINGTON, Pa., 8:40 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Obama turns bad job news on McCain: Democrat Barack Obama is trying to turn bad news about new job losses against presidential rival John McCain.
ST. LOUIS, 10:47 a.m. Oct. 3 (REUTERS)
McCain's path to White House narrows as Obama gains: With one month left in the campaign, Republican John McCain's path to the White House has become perilously narrow as Democratic rival Barack Obama gains momentum in crucial battleground states.
6:38 a.m. Oct. 3 (REUTERS)
FACTBOX-McCain, Obama reaction to jobless data: – U.S. employers cut payrolls at the steepest rate in 5-1/2 years in September, slashing 159,000 jobs as employment contracted for a ninth straight month.
6:36 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
In statements, McCain and Obama decry job losses: Statements by Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on Friday's jobs report from the Labor Department. In a sign that the economy is hurtling toward a deep recession, employers slashed payrolls by 159,000 in September, the most in more than five years.
LOS ANGELES, 5:48 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Campaign Comedy: Thursday's late-night TV wrap-up: The vice presidential debate was the toast – make that roast – of late-night television, and that was before the event was held.
ST. LOUIS, 5:24 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Analysis: Palin eases the hurt in McCain-land: John McCain's campaign aches needed a tonic. On a day when he abandoned the fight with rival Barack Obama in one battleground state and national polls showed him trailing overall, running mate Sarah Palin put on a debate performance that soothed the pain.
WASHINGTON, 4:58 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Some facts adrift in veep debate: Republican Sarah Palin criticized a version of a Barack Obama health care plan that doesn't exist and Democrat Joe Biden clung to a misleading charge about Republicans and big oil when the two clashed in the vice presidential debate Thursday.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 2:02 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Palin Troopergate probe goes on after suit tossed: An investigator hired by Alaskan lawmakers to probe abuse-of-power allegations against Gov. Sarah Palin was free to finish his work by a deadline set for a week from Friday after a state judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block the probe.
ST. LOUIS, 12:04 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
Today on the presidential campaign trail: Under intense scrutiny, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin stood her ground against a vastly more experienced Joe Biden, debating the economy, energy and global warming, then challenging him on Iraq, “especially with your son in the National Guard.”
NEW YORK, 10:13 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Folksy Palin, disciplined Biden get the job done: Even before she reached the podium, the first words out of Sarah Palin's mouth set the tone for her debate night: “Hey, can I call ya Joe?”
FEDERAL COURT, Oct. 3 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Probation for minor figure in bribe case:
A peripheral figure in the bribery scandal that ensnared former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham was sentenced to five years' probation by a San Diego federal judge yesterday, bringing the three-year-old case closer to finality.
WARNER SPRINGS, Oct. 3 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Incumbent, 3 challengers are vying for two seats on rural district school board: WARNER SPRINGS
–
Four people are seeking two Warner Unified school board seats.
Warner Unified, a small district in rural northeast San Diego County, has about 250 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Oct. 3 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
10 contending for 8 spots on Valley Center planning group:Ten candidates, including three incumbents, are vying for eight seats on the Valley Center planning group.
Issues in the election include the quality of planning; high-density development in the semirural community, retaining Valley Center's character, designing a fair community plan, and the proposed Road 3-A and a 3,000-unit development that had been associated with it.
9:15 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)For many, Palin exceeded expectations, but by enough?: From a bowling alley called the Lucky Strike in Miami Beach to a smoky barroom in Wasilla, Alaska, many Americans watching the vice presidential candidates' debate agreed that Gov. Sarah Palin's performance exceeded their generally low expectations. Whether she did well enough against Sen. Joe Biden is another matter. 8:49 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Vice presidential debate quotes from Biden, Palin: Quotes from Democratic Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Republican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska during their vice presidential debate Thursday at Washington University in St. Louis: WASHINGTON, 8:34 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Some facts adrift in veep debate: Facts went adrift on taxes, deregulation and more Thursday when Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden clashed in the vice presidential debate. WASHINGTON, 7:59 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Analysis: Stakes high, Palin tops expectations: Joe Biden's task was to attack. Sarah Palin's was to attack, connect and stick to her folksy script. ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 8:10 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Judge refuses to block Alaska Troopergate probe: An Alaska judge on Thursday refused to block a state investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer.
WASHINGTON, 2:39 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
For GOP, a grim week in D.C., elsewhere: A month before Election Day, things are hardly grand for the Grand Old Party. Presidential nominee John McCain is lagging in key polls. Party officials are bracing for likely losses of House and Senate seats, which would put them even deeper into minority status. And the economy, for which voters trust Democrats more than Republicans, is by far the top campaign issue.
DENVER, 6:21 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)McCain struggles with support for bailout bill: Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who insists he would veto any pork barrel bills to come across his desk as president, is struggling to explain his vote for the revised financial bailout plan that contained a number of those pet projects. WASHINGTON, 3:36 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
McCain campaign writes off Michigan: Republican presidential candidate John McCain conceded battleground Michigan to Democrat Barack Obama on Thursday, a major retreat as he struggles to regain his footing in a campaign increasingly dominated by economic issues. EAST LANSING, Mich., 4:14 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Obama says McCain out of touch on jobs: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that his rival John McCain is out of touch with the economic struggles of Americans and doesn't understand that there's nothing more fundamental than a job. NEW YORK, 2:39 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
NYC mayor: City challenges inspired 3rd-term push: Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Thursday that he's pushing for changes that would allow him to seek a third term leading the nation's largest city, saying he wants to handle unfinished business including the “unprecedented challenges” brought on by the recent financial crisis. WASHINGTON, 2:23 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Pelosi paying thousands to husband's firm: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that it's “just foolish” to suggest that her husband is benefiting from tens of thousands of dollars one of her political committees is paying a firm he owns.
BOSTON, 6:34 a.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
October remains the month for political surprises: Heading into the final weekend of the 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry was feeling good about his chances of winning the White House.
12:13 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Mason-Dixon poll: Close race in Va.: THE POLL: Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc., survey of 625 registered voters in Virginia. (13 electoral votes.)
WASHINGTON, 10:37 a.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Today on the presidential campaign trail: Asked why he has been falling in polls since the financial crisis, Republican John McCain sums it up this way: “Cause life isn't fair.”
WASHINGTON, 7:54 a.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Campaign Comedy: Wednesday's late-night TV wrap-up: Shooting a donkey, debating a tree stump and checking out Mexico from across the Arizona border were just some of the ways comedians suggested Sarah Palin was preparing for the vice presidential debate.
9:51 a.m. Oct. 2 (REUTERS)
FACTBOX-Main states in U.S. presidential race: – The U.S. presidential race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama ultimately will be decided in about 10 battleground states where both candidates have struggled to gain a substantial lead.
WASHINGTON, 8:28 a.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Obama adviser suggests Gates as possible holdover: A senior adviser to Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday that the Democrat might see Defense Secretary Robert Gates as a candidate to remain at the Pentagon if Obama wins the White House.
WASHINGTON, 8:15 p.m. Oct. 1 (AP)
Obama, McCain vote for bailout bill: The Republican presidential candidate who took the economic bailout so seriously that he suspended many campaign activities last week stayed quiet in the Senate when it came time to vote on it.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., 12:15 a.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Palin draws skepticism even in conservative South: John Thomas has lots of reasons to support John McCain for president. Like McCain, Thomas is a former Navy officer. They're about the same age, and Thomas considers himself a political independent with a conservative bent.
WASILLA, Alaska, 12:14 a.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Estimates show Palin assets top $1 million: Sarah Palin and her husband have pieced together a uniquely Alaskan income that reached comfortably into six figures even before she became governor, capitalizing on valuable fishing rights, a series of land deals and a patchwork of other ventures to build an above-average lifestyle.
NEW YORK, 11:47 p.m. Oct. 1 (AP)
Today on the presidential campaign trail: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin enters her debate Thursday with Joe Biden needing to make a strong positive impression on voters, many of whom are expressing serious doubts about her readiness.
2:03 a.m. Oct. 2 (REUTERS)
FACTBOX-Sarah Palin, Republican vice presidential candidate: – Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin debates her Democratic rival, Joe Biden, Thursday in their only face-off before the Nov. 4 presidential election.
2:02 a.m. Oct. 2 (REUTERS)
FACTBOX-Joe Biden, Democratic vice presidential candidate: – Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden debates his Republican rival Sarah Palin Thursday in their sole face-to-face confrontation before the Nov. 4 election.
10:01 p.m. Oct. 1 (REUTERS)
SCENARIOS-How the Palin-Biden debate could play out: – The showdown Thursday between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden is the only vice presidential debate of the White House race, and it has attracted more attenti