Obama Rolling Out National Security Team
Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be holding a 10:40 a.m. ET press conference today in Chicago, where Obama will be rolling out his foreign-policy team: Hillary Clinton as Sec. of State, current Sec. of Defense Robert Gates staying on, and retired Marine Gen. James Jones as National Security Adviser. Obama could also be naming Janet Napolitano as Sec. of Homeland Security, Susan Rice as Ambassador to the UN, and Eric Holder as Attorney General.

Obama To Address Rick Warren's AIDS Forum, Meeting With Dem Governors
Barack Obama will also be addressing Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health in Washington, held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, via videotaped remarks. Later tonight, Obama will be meeting with members of the Democratic Governors Association in Philadelphia.

Biden Attending Event Honoring Ted Kennedy
Joe Biden will be in attendance at a special convocation ceremony tonight at Harvard, at which Ted Kennedy will be given an honorary degree.

Sarah Palin Criss-Crossing Georgia Today
Sarah Palin is touring through Georgia today, hoping to fire up the GOP base to come out for Sen. Saxby Chambliss in tomorrow's runoff election. Palin has an 8:30 a.m. ET rally in Augusta, an 11 a.m. ET rally in Savannah, a 1:30 p.m. ET rally in Perry, and a 4 p.m. ET rally in the northern metro Atlanta area.

WaPo: Senate Dems Expect Crossover Votes From GOP Moderate -- But GOP Expects Dem Division
The Washington Post reports that even though Senate Democrats have fallen just short of a 60-seat supermajority, they still think they can pick up votes from Republicans such as Arlen Specter -- and oddly enough, John McCain -- on an issue-by-issue basis. On the other hand, Republicans expect the Dems' newfound position of power to reveal their own internal divisions, with a caucus that ranges from die-hard liberals to a couple genuine conservatives.

NYT: Susan Rice A Strong Voice Against Genocide
The New York Times points out that Susan Rice, expected to be named as Barack Obama's Ambassador to the UN, could end up being a strong advocate for intervention against genocide, and has previously called for strong action in Darfur. The Times quotes Rice from a 2001 interview with the Atlantic, describing her visit to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide: "I swore to myself that if I ever faced such a crisis again, I would come down on the side of dramatic action, going down in flames if that was required."

Iran: "Nothing Has Changed" With Obama
Barack Obama's election doesn't seem to have warmed up Iran to better diplomatic relations with the United States, Reuters reports. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Sheikhuleslam bluntly told the ISNA news agency, "nothing has changed with the coming of Obama."

This Morning: Another Obama Press Conference
Barack Obama is holding a press conference today at 10:45 a.m. ET -- his third presser in three days -- centered around the economy. As we posited yesterday, Obama appears to be trying to quasi-assume the presidency early, in order to provide the image of competent national leadership and calm down the uncertainty of the financial markets during the interregnum.

Report: Obama Taps Volcker For New Economic Board
Barack Obama will reportedly appoint former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker to head up a new President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, which will give economic briefings to the president and serve as a means for Obama to get advice outside of the usual federal agencies. Volcker is widely credited with bringing the inflationary spiral of the 70s and early 80s to an end during his tenure as Fed chairman, so this appointment might go a long way in reassuring the markets.

Minnesota Sec. of State To Candidates: Stop The Frivolous Challenges
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (D) says he is concerned about the huge number of ballot challenges in the Senate recount -- over 3,600 of them so far -- and has called on both campaigns to crack down on it. "The more challenges there are, the more work that the local officials has to do, our office has to do and the candidate representatives have to do to withdraw or back away from those challenges, so this is a cause for concern," Ritchie told Minnesota Public Radio.

Obama Trying To Keep BlackBerry
Barack Obama said during an interview with Barbara Walters that he is trying to keep his BlackBerry, and is negotiating with his staff on how he can stay connected while also satisfying the need to stay secure and keep detailed records. "Because, one of the worst things I think that could happen to a president is losing touch with what people are going through day to day," said Obama -- a stark contrast with George W. Bush's well-known habit of not reading newspapers or seeking outside information.

NYT: No Portfolio Yet For Biden, But Instead The Role Of Adviser
The New York Times reports that the Obama transition is still working out an exact role for Joe Biden in the administration. "I'm sure that there will be discrete assignments over time," said David Axelrod. "But I think his fundamental role is as a trusted counselor. I think that when Obama selected him, he selected him to be a counselor and an adviser on a broad range of issues."

Lieberman: Obama's Cabinet Picks And Other Decisions "Just About Perfect"
Barack Obama's post-election decisions are getting a thumbs-up from none other than Joe Lieberman. "Everything that President-elect Obama has done since election night has been just about perfect, both in terms of a tone and also in terms of the strength of the names that have either been announced or are being discussed to fill his administration," Lieberman said yesterday during a visit back home to Connecticut.

Report: Bill Clinton Has Agreed To Major Concessions With Obama Team
Bill Clinton has reportedly agreed with the Obama transition team to disclose the list of donors to his charitable foundation to allow the White House to vet his future overseas trips and speaking engagements, in order to smooth the road to Hillary being nominated for Secretary of State. The potential for a conflict of interest from Bill's foreign dealings has been the major roadblock to a Hillary nomination, and Bill's apparent new agreements could go a long way in fixing the situation.

Obama In Chicago; Biden Celebrating His Birthday In Delaware; Rahm Meeting With GOP On The Hill
Barack Obama is holding private meetings today in Chicago while Joe Biden will spend today -- his birthday -- in Delaware, with neither having any scheduled public events. Meanwhile, Rahm Emanuel is headed to Capitol Hill to meet with House and Senate Republicans, in order to discuss how the new Democratic White House might be able to work together with the GOP minority.

Napolitano Could Be Tapped For Homeland Security
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano's office is not commenting on the story that she will be picked for Secretary of Homeland Security, and reportedly no formal offer has yet been made, but multiple reports say an offer is likely and that she would accept. Napolitano's résumé does seem to fit the bill: She is a governor from along the Mexican border and previously served as a U.S. Attorney, and on top of that she was an Obama surrogate during a time when his campaign was on the ropes.

NYT: Daschle's Private-Sector Work Could Conflict With Health And Human Services Post
The New York Times points out that Tom Daschle's selection to be Secretary of Health and Human Services could create a conflict with Barack Obama's promises about lobbyist influence, as Daschle has served on the board of the Mayo Clinic and also advised a major legal/lobbying firm: "Although Mr. Daschle's work might not preclude his appointment, it could raise the possibility that the administration could require him to recuse himself from any matter related to either the Mayo Clinic or some of the clients he advised at Alston & Bird -- a potentially broad swath of the health secretary's portfolio."

Kerry Poised To Claim Foreign Relations Chairmanship
John Kerry will reportedly win the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- the same committee where he shot to fame when he testified against the Vietnam War over 35 years ago -- as a result of Joe Biden vacating the chair to become vice president. The Boston Globe reports that Kerry is already working on an ambitious agenda for the committee, including oversight of plans to withdraw from Iraq, dealing with nuclear proliferation and the spread of other weapons, and focusing on the fight against terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Big DC Suburbs County Could Cancel School Day For Inauguration
A school board member in Montgomery County, Maryland (the DC suburbs), has proposed making Inauguration Day a school holiday so that students can watch the historic event that will be Barack Obama's swearing-in. The school superintendent has recommended against it, citing the limited number of allowed snow days on the calendar, but the school board president believes the motion will have majority support when brought up at the meeting in three weeks.

The Minnesota Recount Goes On
Today is the second day of the Minnesota Senate recount, as we find out whether or not Al Franken can overcome GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's paper-thin lead from the original totals. The major thing to keep in mind while watching this story develop is to not get too shaken up by the results as they come in, as there will be numerous small swings going in either direction -- instead, pay attention to the overall pattern.

The Big Story: Hillary For Sec. of State?
The press is buzzing with reports that Barack Obama is considering Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State. The latest wrinkle: Reuters reports that Hillary travelled to Chicago yesterday, though her office says it was for personal business.

Obama Switching Weekly Dem Address From Radio To YouTube
Barack Obama today will record the weekly Democratic address on video, to be posted on YouTube -- a first for this mode of party communication. Obama's transition office has announced that he will continue to record the weekly address as online video during his presidency, with the audio track also released for radio uses as has been done before.

K Street Becoming A Democratic Neighborhood
The Washington Post reports that lobbying firms are quickly reconfiguring themselves for the new Democratic dominance in Washington, and are recruiting Dem staffers at a rapid clip. "In this climate, Democratic backgrounds are attractive to people," said Laura Sheehan, a former policy director for the DCCC who recently became vice president of marketing and communications for the American Gas Association.

Biden Speaks With World Leaders
The Obama transition office announced that Joe Biden has spoken to several world leaders this week: Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni; Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak; Israeli Likud Leader Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu; Polish President Lech Kaczynski; British Prime Minister Gordon Brown; Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Romney Courting The National Review Cruise
Mitt Romney is meeting with a group of top GOPers: The National Review post-election Caribbean cruise. National Review's 2007 cruise, which went to Alaska, was the venue where Sarah Palin introduced herself to the right-wing media elite, leading to her being placed on the 2008 GOP ticket.

Steele Officially Running For RNC Chair
Michael Steele, the former Maryland Lt. Governor and unsuccessful nominee for Senate in 2006, has officially thrown his hat in the ring in the race to be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee -- and he'll be running firmly from the right. "The core values of our party should not change," Steele told the Washington Post. "We are the conservative voice in America."

Report: Barbour Turns Down Run For RNC Chair
Jonathan Martin reports that a group of Republican governors approached Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour at the Republican Governors Association Conference, asking him to run for RNC chairman. Barbour, who served as RNC chair in the 90s, turned down the offer.

Poll Closings
Here are the closing times in some of the key states: Most of Indiana closes at 6 p.m. ET, with the remainder closing at 7 p.m. ET; all of Virginia, most of Florida and most of New Hampshire close at 7 p.m. ET, with Florida panhandle and the remainder of New Hampshire closing at 8 p.m. ET; North Carolina and Ohio close at 7:30 p.m. ET; Missouri and Pennsylvania close at 8 p.m. ET; Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico close at 9 p.m. ET; and Nevada closes at 10 p.m. ET.

Obama Has Voted
Barack Obama has just finished voting, and was met by applause from other voters at his polling station.

Obama Greeting Voters In Indiana, Biden In Virginia, Then Off to Chicago
Barack Obama will be getting in his last bit of hand-shaking today, meeting and greeting voters in the Indianapolis area. Joe Biden will be meeting voters around Richmond, Virginia, and then going off to Chicago -- meaning that both members of the Dem ticket will be doing their final campaign activities in states that haven't gone Democratic in 44 years.

McCain Holds One More Rally, Palin Back In Alaska
John McCain is holding an Election Day rally -- a rare event -- at 2:15 p.m. ET in Grand Junction, Colorado. He will then greet voters in New Mexico, then spend Election Night in Phoenix. Sarah Palin will vote this morning in Alaska, and is then off to Phoenix.

Zogby: Final State Polls Paint Good Picture For Obama
The final round of Zogby swing-state polls gives Barack Obama the lead in several of the biggest swing states: Obama is up 49%-48% in Florida, 53%-42% in Nevada, 49%-47% in Ohio, 52%-45% in Virginia, and 51%-41% in Pennsylvania. McCain has a 50%-49% edge in North Carolina, a 50%-45% lead in Indiana, and the two are tied 49%-49% in Missouri.

Obama's Final Rally Gets Over 85,000 People
Barack Obama's final rally last night, held in Manassas, Virginia, had a strong turnout of more than 85,000 people. It's quite possible that the whole election could turn on tonight's result in Virginia.

McCain Held Home-State Rally Last Night
John McCain spoke to a crowd last night in Prescott, Arizona, winning last-minute votes in his home state. "We're closing in the polls," McCain said. "All we've got to do is get out the vote."

This Is It
If you are eligible but have not yet done so, please get out there and vote.

Quinnipiac: Obama Ahead in Big Three
The final Quinnipiac polls of the largest three swing states give Barack Obama stable leads of various margins: Obama ahead by two points in Florida, 47%-45%, unchanged from a week ago; Obama ahead by seven points in Ohio, 50%-43, compared to a 51%-42% lead a week ago; and Obama up by ten points in Pennsylvania, 52%-42%, compared to a 53%-41% lead a week ago. The poll of Florida has a ±2.3% margin of error, and the polls of Ohio and Pennsylvania have a ±2.5% margin of error.

PPP Also Shows Obama Ahead In Big Three
The new state polls from Public Policy Polling also paint a cautiously optimistic picture for Obama in the Big Three: Obama ahead by two points in Florida, 50%-48%, compared to a 48%-47% Obama edge two weeks ago; Obama ahead two points in Ohio, 50%-48%, compared to a 51%-44% Obama lead a week and a half ago; and Obama up by eight points in Pennsylvania, 53%-45%, with no prior PPP survey for comparison. The margins of error are ±2.4% in Florida, ±2.8% in Ohio, and ±2.5%.

Barack Obama In Florida, North Carolina And Virginia; Michelle In Nevada And Colorado
Barack Obama has a morning rally in Jacksonville, Florida, a 5:30 p.m. ET rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will then finish out the campaign with a 9 p.m. ET rally in Manassas, Virginia. Michelle Obama will hold a 2:30 p.m. ET rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a 6 p.m. ET rally in Littleton, Colorado.

Biden In Missouri, Ohio -- And Pennsylvania
Joe Biden is holding a 10:30 a.m. ET rally in Lee's Summit, Missouri, a 3:45 p.m. ET rally in Zanesville, Ohio, a 7:30 p.m. ET rally in Copley, Ohio, and finally a 10 p.m. ET rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

McCain In Six States Today
John McCain has a very busy schedule for the final day of the campaign: An 8:55 a.m. ET rally in Tampa, Florida, an 11:45 a.m. rally in Blountville, Tennessee; a 1:50 p.m. ET rally in Moon Township, Pennsylvania; a 4 p.m. ET rally in Indianapolis; an 8 p.m. ET rally in Roswell, New Mexico; and a 10:45 p.m. ET rally in Henderson, Nevada. The inclusion of Tennessee seems rather curious -- this one is widely viewed as a safe state, and he could probably spend his time more usefully in other states.

Palin Doing Six Events In Five States
Sarah Palin also has a very big day ahead of her: A 9:15 a.m. ET rally in Lakewood, Ohio; a 1 p.m. ET rally in Jefferson City, Missouri; a 4 p.m. ET rally in Dubuque, Iowa; a 7:45 p.m. ET rally in Colorado Springs; an 11:30 p.m. ET rally in Reno, Nevada; and a 1:30 a.m. ET rally in Elko, Nevada.

Roughly 27 Million Votes Already Cast
The Associated Press reports that over 27 million ballots were already cast up through Saturday night, the most recent time for which the data is available. Polling data suggests that Barack Obama has carried the early vote handily this year, meaning that John McCain will need to win the votes cast on Election Day by a strong margin.

McCain: Tuesday We "Take America In A New Direction"
John McCain declared at a midnight rally in Miami, "There's just one day left until we take America in a new direction." The heckling opportunities on this one are just too obvious.

When the history of this campaign is written, a bunch of people will have to bust their butts to make sure that John McCain's non-stop lying and epic dishonesty aren't disappeared down the memory hole.

Case in point: On the trail just now in Pennsylvania, McCain again repeated a lie about Joe Biden, even though it was debunked as false days ago. He said:

"But this week, Senator Joe the Biden said tax relief should only go to middle class people making under $150,000 a year. And remember when he equated patriotism to paying taxes?"

But this claim was exposed as false by CNN days ago. Biden simply never said that people making less than $150,000 are the "only" people who should get tax relief.

Apologies for being so earnest about this. But the fact that McCain lied to the American people nonstop for months on end, in the firm belief that he could get away with it because the American people would be too stupid to know the difference, is, perversely, one for the history books. Let's not let the amnesia kick in when the inevitable effort to rehabilitate McCain's reputation and honor gets underway after this campaign is over.

An Obama aide emails to say that Joe Biden will make a stop in Pennsylvania tomorrow, a sign that the Obama campaign is taking McCain-Palin's big push in the state somewhat seriously, contrary to some conjecture.

Biden's planned trip to the state -- the only stop that either Dem is making in a Kerry state today or tomorrow -- comes as a new SurveyUSA poll has Obama's lead shrinking: He's now up seven points, 51%-44%, compared to a 12-point lead, 53%-41%, a week ago. Meanwhile, today's daily tracking poll from Muhlenberg has Obama up seven points, 52%-45%, compared to an 11-point lead, 52%-41%, a week ago.

Obama is still favored to win Pennsylvania. But it will probably be a much closer margin than the double-digit leads that Obama had racked up just a few weeks ago. Biden's job will partly be to keep any Obama soft-supporters right where they are.

Separately, Ben Smith and Avi Zenilman have a good piece this morning on the racial aspects of the unions' massive efforts to win over blue-collar whites in the Rust Belt states, something that we've been obsessed with here and in our view has gotten far too little attention.

Poll: Tight Race In Virginia
A new Mason-Dixon poll of Virginia gives Barack Obama a lead of 47% to John McCain's 44%, with a ±4% margin of error, not significantly changed from a 47%-45% Obama lead a week ago. The poll also shows that white voters are disproportionately undecided, which if true could mean a late break in John McCain's direction -- the question is whether this pattern in Virginia politics repeats again, and whether it's enough of a break to overcome Obama's lead.

Bellwether Poll: Obama Ahead By Six In Ohio
The new Columbus Dispatch poll of Ohio, conducted by mail, has Barack Obama ahead of John McCain by a 52%-46% margin, with a ±2% margin of error, compared to a 49%-42% Obama lead a month ago. Historically, the leader in the Dispatch's final Ohio poll has consistently carried the state.

Obama In Ohio, Biden In Florida
Barack Obama is campaigning through Ohio today, with a 1 p.m. ET rally in Columbus with Michelle Obama, a 3:45 p.m. ET rally in Cleveland with Michelle and Bruce Springsteen, and a solo rally at 9 p.m. ET in Cincinnati. Joe Biden is swinging through Florida, with a 10:45 a.m. ET rally in Tallahassee, a 4 p.m. ET rally in Gainesville, and a 7:15 p.m. ET rally in Daytona Beach.

McCain In Pennsylvania, New Hampshire And Florida; Palin In Ohio
John McCain is making a final attempt to win over two Kerry states today, with an 11:45 a.m. ET rally in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, a 2 p.m. ET rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a 6:15 p.m. ET town hall-style event in Peterborough, New Hampshire, followed by a rally after midnight in Miami, Florida, his one red state for the day. Sarah Palin is touring through the Bush state of Ohio today, with a 12 p.m. ET rally in Canton, a 2:30 p.m. ET rally in Marietta, a 5 p.m. ET rally in Columbus, and an 8 p.m. ET rally in Batavia.

Hillary Campaigning For Obama In Virginia
Hillary Clinton is holding a rally at 4:30 p.m. ET in Fairfax, Virginia, on behalf of Barack Obama. Earlier in the day she will also be campaigning in Kentucky for Bruce Lunsford, the Dem candidate against Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell.

Poll: Obama Way Up In New Mexico Early Vote
A new SurveyUSA poll of New Mexico, which narrowly voted for George W. Bush in 2004, shows Barack Obama with a 58%-39% lead among those who have already voted, with an estimated 60% of the total ballots already cast. If these estimates are all accurate, John McCain would need to win the remaining likely voters by nearly two to one in order to carry the state -- but he's only ahead 54%-41% with this subset, for an overall top-line result of Obama 52%, McCain 45%, with a ±3.9% margin of error.

Gibbs: We Screen Obama's Calls
Obama adviser and surrogate Robert Gibbs had this to say about Sarah Palin's phone call with a Canadian prank-call comedian saying he was the President of France: "I'm glad we check out our calls before we hand the phone to Barack Obama."

The remaining schedules for all the candidates are pretty revealing.

Today, John McCain is in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Sarah Palin is hitting Florida, North Carolina And Virginia.

On Monday, the final day of campaigning, McCain will hit Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and finally, his home state of Arizona, according to a McCain campaign memo blasted out last night. Palin will visit Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Nevada and Alaska.

As you can see, this means that with the sole exception of McCain's visit to Pennsylvania, McCain and Palin are devoting their time to a dozen states that are either battlegrounds carried by Bush or were previously reliable red states. (No word on tomorrow's schedule yet.)

What about Barack Obama and Joe Biden? According to what we have of their schedules (we've got all of them from today through Monday except Biden tomorrow) neither man is spending a single second in a Kerry state -- save perhaps when they make flight transfers.

Instead, both are campaigning in Bush states from here on out: Nevada, Colorado, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.

McCain Playing Defense In Home Stretch -- Including Arizona
John McCain is spending the final days of the election by almost entirely playing defense in states won by George W. Bush in 2004. And perhaps most ominously for him, his final Election Eve rally will be held at midnight in his home state of Arizona, where the polls are close and the Obama campaign has just announced a new wave of advertising.

Obama In Nevada, Colorado And Missouri; Biden in Indiana And Ohio
Barack Obama is holding a 10 a.m. ET rally in Henderson, Nevada, a a 5 p.m. ET rally in Pueblo, Colorado, and a late-evening rally in Springfield, Missouri, with the latter two also featuring Michelle Obama. Joe Biden is holding an 11 a.m. ET rally in Evansville, Indiana, a 4:15 p.m. ET rally in Marion, Ohio, and a 6:30 p.m. ET rally in Bowling Green, Ohio;

McCain In Virginia And Pennsylvania; Palin In Florida, North Carolina And Virginia
John McCain has a 9 a.m. ET rally in Newport News, Virginia, a 12 p.m. ET rally in Springfield, Virginia, and a 3 p.m. ET rally in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. Sarah Palin has a very busy day ahead of her: A 9 a.m. ET rally in New Port Richey, Florida; an 11:45 a.m. ET rally in Polk City, Florida; a 2 p.m. ET rally in Ocala, Florida; a 7 p.m. ET rally in Raleigh, North Carolina; and a 9:30 p.m. ET rally in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Poll: Possible Tightening In Pennsylvania
A new Rasmussen poll of Pennsylvania gives Barack Obama a lead of four points, narrower than other pollsters out there have shown. The numbers: Obama 51%, McCain 47%, with a ±4.5% margin of error, compared to a 53%-46% Obama lead from a few days ago.

Former Bush Speechwriter: We're Already Seeing The GOP "Circular Firing Squad"
Former George W. Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson has predicted that the post-election Republican Party, assuming it suffers a massive defeat as many people expect, will not be a pretty sight. "Usually a loss results in a circular firing squad of recrimination and anger, not a healthy discussion of the directions of the future," said Gerson. "And the reality is we're already beginning to see that right now."

Obama Does Radio Ads For Down-Ticket Dems
Barack Obama has taped two radio ads for Dem House candidates running against moderate GOP incumbents. Here are the ads for Dan Seals of Illinois and Jim Himes of Connecticut:

The incumbent Reps. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) are both in districts that Obama is likely to carry by landslides, and Obama's coattails might be enough to carry Seals and Himes over the finish line against incumbents who probably would have won under more normal circumstances.

New McCain Ad: Obama Endorses McCain -- And Lieberman
The new McCain ad, set to air in key states, features footage of Barack Obama in a Senate hearing from January 2007, praising the McCain-Lieberman plan on global warming:

"I want to thank Senator Lieberman, as well as Senator McCain, for the outstanding leadership that they've shown," Obama says. This ad might have been more effective if Joe Lieberman had been McCain's running mate, instead of somebody who denies man-made global warming. And furthermore, the environment isn't even one of the big issues in this campaign.

Obama In Iowa And Indiana; Biden In Ohio -- And Delaware
Barack Obama has a 12:30 p.m. ET rally in Des Moines, Iowa, and a 7:30 p.m. ET rally in Highland, Indiana. Joe Biden is curiously starting the day with a 10:30 a.m. ET rally in Newark, Delaware -- in his home state, which is a virtual lock to vote Democratic -- followed by a 2 p.m. ET rally in Kettering, Ohio, and a 4 p.m. ET rally in Lima, Ohio.

McCain Touring Ohio; Palin In Pennsylvania
John McCain is campaigning through Ohio today, with a 10 a.m. ET rally in Hanoverton, a smaller 12:15 p.m. ET event in Steubenville and another such event at 1:30 p.m. ET in New Philadelphia, and a 5:50 p.m. ET event alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Columbus. Sarah Palin is continuing on the campaign's much-derided attempt to win Pennsylvania, with a 9 a.m. ET rally in Latrobe, and a 4 p.m. ET rally in York.

Obama Camp Downplays Report Of Rahm As Chief Of Staff
The Obama camp moved last night to talk down an AP report that the candidate approached Rahm Emanuel about being chief of staff -- though they didn't quite deny it, either. Obama told the Chicago Sun-Times, "I'm trying to win an election," and David Axelrod said, "Don't believe everything you read."

Poll: Obama Up Ten Points In Colorado
A new survey of Colorado from Public Policy Polling (D) confirms the general consensus that Barack Obama is on his way to winning the two-time Bush state of Colorado. The numbers: Obama 54%, McCain 44%, with a ±2.2% margin of error.

McCain To Appear On Saturday Night Live
John McCain will make a special guest appearance tomorrow night on Saturday Night Live. Whether he moves anybody's votes with the appearance will be anybody's guess, but at least it shows he's a good sport about all those recent sketches in which Darrell Hammond has torn him to pieces.

McCain: Joe The Plumber Is "My Role Model"
At a rally last night in Ohio, John McCain referred to Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher as "an American hero, a great citizen of Ohio and my role model." And no, this is not from The Onion.

Polls: Obama Ahead In The Battlegrounds -- And Running Close In Arizona
The new CNN state polls: Obama is up 55%-43% in Pennsylvania; up 52%-46% in North Carolina; up 52%-45% in Nevada; up 51%-47% in Ohio; and is trailing McCain 53%-46% in McCain's home state of Arizona. McCain will probably win Arizona in the end -- but as for the rest of those states, it's looking more and more likely that this election will be an Electoral College landslide for Obama.

Obama In Florida, Virginia And Missouri; Biden In Missouri And Pennsylvania
Barack Obama is campaigning in three swing states today: An 11 a.m. ET rally in Sarasota, Florida; a 5:45 p.m. ET rally in Virginia Beach, Virginia; and a 10:30 p.m. ET rally in Columbia, Missouri. Joe Biden has an 8:30 a.m. ET rally in Arnold, Missouri, and will then go to Pennsylvania for a rally in Williamsport and a rally later at night in Allentown.

McCain In Ohio; Palin In Missouri And Pennsylvania
John McCain is campaigning through Ohio today: Rallying his supporters at 10 a.m. ET in the aptly-named town of Defiance, Ohio; A 3:10 a.m. ET rally in Elyria; and a 6 p.m. ET rally in Mentor. Sarah Palin has a 10:30 a.m. ET rally in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, then goes on to Pennsylvania for a 4:15 p.m. ET rally in Erie and a 7:30 p.m. ET rally in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

McCain: Okay, Obama Isn't A Socialist, But He's Still A Radical
In an interview with Larry King last night, John McCain had this to say when asked bluntly whether Barack Obama is a socialist: "No, but I do believe that he has been in the far left of American politics, and stated time after time that he believes in spreading the wealth around."

NYT: Early Voting Is A Hit
The New York Times reviews the latest early-voting stats, showing that early voting has now earned itself a major place in American politics. It's now expected that a full third of the total votes across the country will have been cast early, relieving congestion at the polls on Election Day as voters whose minds were made up get in their say beforehand -- for example, I mailed my absentee ballot this morning.

RNC Ad: Can You Wait While Obama Learns To Be President?
Here's the RNC's new attack ad, airing in targeted states, hitting Barack Obama on inexperience:

"Would you get on a plane with a pilot who has never flown?" the announcer asks. "Would you trust your child with someone who has never cared for children? Would you go under with a surgeon who has never operated?"

Obama To Air TV Special Tonight
Barack Obama is set to air his half-hour TV special on most of the major networks tonight, an experiment in long-form TV advertising that hasn't been attempted since Ross Perot -- and not by any major-party nominee in many decades. This is in many ways a tribute to the massive fundraising ability of the Obama campaign that they could even think to attempt this, in contrast to Perot's self-financing.

McCain Ad: Obama Isn't Ready To Be President "Yet"
The new McCain ad, set to air nationally in order to pre-rebut Barack Obama's TV special tonight, rolls many of the campaign's attacks against Obama into one single spot for the home stretch -- that Obama is a vapid celebrity who will raise your taxes and isn't ready to lead the country in tumultuous times:

"The fact is Barack Obama's not ready -- yet," the announcer says. The use of the word "yet" seems rather odd here. The campaign seems to have hit a wall in their efforts to paint Obama as an extremist who shouldn't be trusted with the presidency at all, and are now saying that voters should wait a few more years if they really want to elect him president.

Obama Ad Hits McCain On The Economy -- And Palin
This new Obama ad, targeted at key states, uses text (but not an announcer) to remind viewers of all those quotes from John McCain where he admits he doesn't know much about the economy -- then proceeds to hammer him for picking an unqualified joke of a running mate to give him advice on these issues:

"I might have to rely on a vice president that I select," McCain is quoted in the on-screen text. "His choice?" we are then asked, followed by video of a winking Sarah Palin from the veep debate.

Obama In North Carolina, Then Campaign In Florida With Biden -- And Bill Clinton
Barack Obama is holding a 12 p.m. ET rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, a joint rally with Joe Biden at 4:30 p.m. ET in Sunrise, Florida, and then an 8:30 p.m. ET rally with none other than Bill Clinton in Kissimmee, Florida. This will be the first joint appearance by former president and the current nominee. Joe Biden is also holding a 10:15 a.m. ET solo rally in Jupiter, Florida. Michelle Obama is in North Carolina, with an early-afternoon speech before the North Carolina Baptist Convention, and a 3:30 p.m. ET rally in Rocky Mount.

McCain In Florida, Palin In Ohio
John McCain is campaigning today in Florida, with a 10:15 a.m. rally in Miami, a 1:15 p.m. ET national security summit in Tampa, a 5:15 p.m. ET rally in Palm Beach, and will be appearing as a guest tonight on Larry King Live. Sarah Palin is campaigning in Ohio, with a 9:30 a.m. ET speech in Toledo on energy policy, an 11:15 a.m. ET rally in Bowling Green, and a 3:30 p.m. ET rally in Chillicothe.

Report: Senate Dems Reviewing Plan To Oust Lieberman From Chairmanship
The Hill reports that the Senate Democrats are forming plans for committee assignments in what is expected to be a well-expanded majority -- and a notable change would be to kick Joe Lieberman from his chairmanship as punishment for campaigning against the Democratic Party this year. Such a decision would have a built-in tradeoff, though, as Lieberman would be less likely to vote with Dems on crucial cloture votes.

New McCain Ad: He's For "Workin' Joes"
The new McCain ad, set to air in targeted states, contrasts the two candidates and attacks Obama on the McCain campaign's apparent closing issue of wealth redistribution:

"For higher taxes," the announcer says of Obama, then declaring that McCain is "for workin' Joes." That's right -- the McCain campaign is dropping the G's in its slogans, including in the on-screen text.

The GOP's Bizarre Spending
The Huffington Post does a comprehensive review of the RNC and McCain campaign's finance reports and finds a bunch of expenditures every bit as odd as the spending on Sarah Palin's wardrobe. The GOP laid out for everything from art restoration to elephant-shaped shrubbery to lunches for Karl Rove.

Obama In Pennsylvania and Virginia; Biden In Florida; Michelle In Colorado
Barack Obama is holding a morning rally in Chester, Pennsylvania, a 5:15 p.m. ET rally in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and a 9:30 p.m. ET rally in Norfolk, Virginia. Joe Biden is campaigning in Florida, with an 11 a.m. ET rally in Ocala and a 4:30 p.m. ET rally in Melbourne. Michelle Obama is holding a 6:30 p.m. ET rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

GOP Ticket Focused On Pennsylvania Today; McCain Also In North Carolina
John McCain and Sarah Palin are spending a lot of time today in Pennsylvania, the state that has become the linchpin of their new strategy -- but where the polls still show them far behind. The two of them have a joint rally at 10 a.m. ET in Hershey, then a joint rally at 1:15 p.m. ET in Quakertown, followed by Palin solo rallies at 5:15 p.m. ET in Shippensburg and at 9 p.m. ET in University Park. John McCain also has a solo rally at 5:30 p.m. ET in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Poll: Obama Ahead in Ohio, Way Up On Early Votes
A new SurveyUSA poll gives Barack Obama a 49%-45% lead in Ohio, with a ±3.9% margin of error. The key number from the internals is that 22% of the likely electorate has already voted, and they've gone for Obama by a 56%-39% margin, with the two candidates tied 47%-47% among the remaining 78%.

Obama Ad: In A Crisis, "He's Got Steel In His Spine"
The Obama campaign has this new ad running under the radar, firing back on the controversy surrounding Joe Biden's remarks that the next president will be tested in a crisis, and accusing the McCain campaign of selectively editing the tape:

"But here's what Biden actually said about Barack Obama," the announcer said, followed by audio of Biden: "They're gonna find out this guy's got steel in his spine."

New NRA Ad Stars Chuck Norris
This new NRA ad, targeted at ten battleground states, features the one and only Chuck Norris warning voters that certain politicians just say they're for gun rights, but they're really just protecting criminals:

"If some thug breaks into my home, I could use my roundhouse kick," the World's Greatest Human says. "But I'd prefer he look down the barrel of my gun."

Obama To Deliver "Closing Argument" Speech
Barack Obama is rolling out his "closing argument" speech today, with the rhetorical points he will stress for the remainder of the campaign. There won't be any great substantive change, but this line from the prepared remarks, condemning Republican culture-war politics, jumps out in the way it hearkens back to his 2004 convention speech: "In one week, you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries to pit region against region, city against town, Republican against Democrat; that asks us to fear at a time when we need hope."

Obama In Ohio And Pennsylvania; Biden In North Carolina And Florida
Barack Obama is holding a 12:30 p.m. ET rally in Canton, Ohio, at which he will roll out his "closing argument" stump speech, followed by a 3 p.m. ET rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joe Biden is holding a 10 a.m. ET rally in Greenville, North Carolina, a 2:15 p.m. ET rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, and a 7:30 p.m. ET rally in New Port Richey, Florida.

Michelle Obama On The Tonight Show, And Rallying In Nevada
Michelle Obama is taping an appearance for tonight on The Tonight Show, and will then be holding a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning at at 9:15 p.m. local time (that is, a quarter after midnight ET).

McCain In Ohio And Pennsylvania; Palin In Virginia
John McCain is holding a 2:30 p.m. ET rally in Dayton, Ohio, and a 6:30 p.m. ET rally in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Sarah Palin is touring through Virginia today, with a 10 a.m. ET rally in Leesburg, a 1 p.m. ET rally in Fredericksburg, and a 6:45 p.m. ET rally in Salem.

GOP Sen. Kyl: Unfortunately, McCain Will Probably Lose
Sen. Jon Kyl, John McCain's fellow Republican Senator from Arizona, is openly voicing pessimism about McCain's chances next Tuesday. "Unfortunately, I think John McCain might be added to that long list of Arizonans who ran for president but were never elected," Kyl told the Arizona Daily Star.

Poll: Obama Ahead By Eight In Virginia
A new Washington Post poll gives Barack Obama a 52%-44% lead in Virginia, up from a 49%-46% lead a month ago. There now seems to be a strong consensus in the polls that Obama has a solid lead in a state that hasn't voted Democratic since the 1964 LBJ landslide.

Palin: The Clothes Are Like The Stage And Lighting
At a rally yesterday in Tampa, Sarah Palin explained that the story about her expensive campaign wardrobe was "ridiculous," saying the clothes are not her property and are like the stage and the lighting -- after the rally is over, it all goes back to the RNC to dispose of. This does invite an interesting question: How much else about Palin is just so much stagecraft?

RNC Ad Hits Obama's Inexperience, Warns That Things Could Get Worse
The new RNC ad, which will run in targeted states, continues an odd theme we've noticed in their advertising. The announcer admits things are bad, but warns that it could get even worse under Barack Obama:

"Some now say this storm cannot get worse -- our nation is so off course that Barack Obama's quick rise to power and inexperience should not matter," the announcer says. "But what if the storm does get worse, with someone who's untested at the helm?"

Obama Out West; Biden In Virginia
Barack Obama is back on the campaign trail today, with a 10:30 a.m. ET rally in Reno, Nevada, a 3 p.m. ET rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a 9 p.m. ET rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Joe Biden is campaigning in Virginia, with an 11 a.m. ET rally in Suffolk.

McCain In New Mexico; Palin In Iowa And Indiana
John McCain is campaigning today in New Mexico, with a 12 p.m. ET rally in Albuquerque and a 6 p.m. ET rally in Mesilla. Sarah Palin has a 12 p.m. ET rally in Sioux City, Iowa, a 3:30 p.m. ET rally in Des Moines, Iowa, and a 7:15 p.m. ET rally in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Lieberman: I've Been Respectful To Obama!
In a sign that he's looking to patch things up with the Dems after this election is over, Joe Lieberman told a group of Connecticut reporters that he's always been respectful of Barack Obama: "When I go out, I say, 'I have a lot of respect for Sen. Obama. He's bright. He's eloquent.'" This seems rather odd in light of the documented occasions where Lieberman has done precisely the opposite, like when he said Obama doesn't put his country first.

Lieberman: "Thank God" Palin Won't Have To Be President On Day One
During the same conference call with Connecticut reporters, Lieberman also offered this strong defense of Sarah Palin: "Thank God she's not going to have to be president from day one. McCain's going to be alive and well."

NYT: Florida Emblematic Of McCain's Troubles
The New York Times reports this morning on the problems that John McCain has had in Florida, a state that he once took for granted but where he has now fallen behind Barack Obama in most polls. "Mr. McCain is in this spot today in part because of the conclusion by his campaign this summer that Florida, if competitive, was not as tough as it once was, and that there were more pressing states," the Times says. Oops.

Poll: Obama Narrowly Ahead In Ohio
The new University of Cincinnati poll gives Barack Obama a 49%-46% lead in Ohio, with a ±3.3% margin of error. Their previous poll from two weeks ago gave McCain a 48%-46% lead.

McCain Ad: An Obama Crisis "Doesn't Have To Happen"
The new McCain ad, which will air in key states, uses Joe Biden's gaffe about how Barack Obama will be tested in an international crisis, so as to warn voters that Obama is too much of a risk -- with some truly incredible imagery:

Images flash across the screen of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chavez, crowds of chanting Arabs, tanks, and gun-toting militia-men. To which the announcer replies: "It doesn't have to happen. Vote McCain."

The Highest-Paid McCain Staffer: Palin's Makeup Artist!
The New York Times reports that Amy Strozzi, the traveling makeup artist for Sarah Palin, is in fact the top-paid staffer on the campaign. Strozzi was paid $22,800 during just the first two weeks of October, compared to only $12,500 for top foreign-policy adviser Randy Scheunemann.

Obama Off The Trail; Michelle In Ohio; Biden In Virginia And West Virginia
Barack Obama is off the campaign trail today, visiting his ailing grandmother in Hawaii. Instead, Michelle Obama is campaigning on his behalf in Ohio, with an 11:30 a.m. ET rally in Columbus and a 3:30 p.m. ET rally in Akron. Joe Biden is holding a 10:30 a.m. ET rally in Charleston, West Virginia, a 3:45 p.m. ET rally in Danville, Virginia, and a 6:45 p.m. ET rally in Martinsville, Virginia.

Hillary Campaigning For Obama In Colorado
Hillary Clinton is also campaigning on Barack Obama's behalf today, with a 5:30 p.m. ET rally in Aurora, Colorado.

McCain In Colorado, Palin In Pennsylvania And Missouri
John McCain is campaigning today in Colorado, with a 12 p.m. ET rally in Denver, a small-business event at 4:30 p.m. ET in Colorado Springs, and an 8 p.m. ET rally in Durango. Sarah Palin is delivering a policy speech on special-needs children at 9 a.m. ET at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, and will then hold a 1 p.m. ET rally in Springfield, Missouri. Then at 7:30 p.m. ET, she's scheduled to drop the ceremonial first puck at a hockey game in St. Louis.

Poll: Obama Ahead In Indiana
A new SurveyUSA poll gives Barack Obama a 49%-45% in Indiana, with a ±4% margin of error, compared to a 48%-45% McCain lead from three weeks ago. The most recent three polls of this race now give Obama the lead in a state that hasn't gone Democratic since the 1964 LBJ landslide.

Palin Denies The $150K Clothing Story
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Sarah Palin denied the story that the RNC had paid $150,000 for her campaign wardrobe -- contrary to the RNC's own admission of it, and their line that the clothes will be donated to charity. "That whole thing is just, bad!" said Palin. "Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are."

Polls: Obama Ahead In Florida, Ohio And Pennsylvania
A new round of Quinnipiac polls gives Barack Obama the lead in the three largest swing states. Obama is ahead 49%-44% in Florida, 52%-38% in Ohio, and 53%-40% in Pennsylvania. The Ohio result seems like an outlier compared to other recent polls showing a tight race, but the others are not unreasonable.

Obama In Indiana, Then Off To Hawaii; Biden In North Carolina
Barack Obama is holding a rally at 11 a.m. ET this morning in Indianapolis, before leaving the campaign trail to visit his ailing grandmother in Hawaii. Joe Biden is campaigning in North Carolina, with a 10:30 a.m. ET rally in Charlotte, a 2:15 p.m. ET rally in Winston-Salem, and a 7 p.m. ET rally in Raleigh.

McCain In Florida; Palin In Ohio And Pennsylvania
John McCain is kicking off his officially-themed "Joe The Plumber" rallies, with a 9 a.m. ET rally in Osmond Beach, Florida, and a 6 p.m. ET rally in Sarasota, Florida. Sarah Palin is holding a 1 p.m. ET rally in Troy, Ohio, and a 7:15 p.m. ET rally in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

Mellencamp In New Radio Ad: Obama Is The One For Small-Town Voters
The Obama campaign has a radio ad in Indiana featuring the state's favorite son John Mellencamp, whose famous "I was born in a small town" lyrics puts him in a good position to subtly rebut any objections to Obama's own "small town" gaffe from April:

Click To Play

"But now I'm seeing small towns across America dying," Mellencamp says. "Folks losing their jobs and their homes. Eight years of George Bush have really hurt. And John McCain is just more of the same."

Another Poll Shows Narrow Obama Lead In North Carolina
A new poll from North Carolina-based Marshall Marketing gives Barack Obama a 48%-46% in this newly-minted swing state, within the ±4.5% margin of error. In their previous poll from two weeks ago, McCain had a 48%-46% edge.

Obama At Rally: "This Looks Like The Real Virginia To Me"
At a rally yesterday in Leesburg, Virginia, Barack Obama rebutted the "Real Virginia" comments of McCain surrogate Nancy Pfotenhauer. "I know some folks may not think so, but this looks like the real Virginia to me," Obama said. "This looks like authentic Virginia and y'all look like a bunch of Virginians."

Schwarzenegger: Palin Will Be Ready By Inauguration Day
In an interview aired yesterday evening on CNN, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did his best to defend Sarah Palin's qualifications. When asked whether Palin is ready and qualified, the Terminator answered: "By the time that she is sworn in I think she will be ready."

New McCain Ad: "I'm Joe The Plumber"
The new TV ad from John McCain, set to air in key states, features everyday people proclaiming their solidarity with Joe The Plumber against Barack Obama's tax policies:

One man reacts indignantly: "Obama wants my sweat to pay for his trillion dollars in new spending?" The effort here is to make it seem as if Obama would raise taxes on everyone, not just the top earners.

Obama In Virginia, Biden In Colorado, Michelle In Florida
Barack Obama is campaigning in Virginia today, with a 12:15 p.m. ET rally in Richmond and a 5:30 p.m. ET rally in Leesburg. Michelle Obama is campaigning in Florida, holding an 11:30 a.m. ET rally in Jacksonville and a 2:30 p.m. ET rally in Gainesville. Joe Biden is in Colorado, with a morning event in Colorado Springs and a 4:15 p.m. ET rally in Pueblo.

McCain In New Hampshire, Then Campaigning With Palin In Ohio
John McCain is holding a 9 a.m. ET rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, while Sarah Palin starts her day with a 9 a.m. ET rally in Findlay, Ohio. The two will then meet for a pair of joint rallies in Ohio, one at 3:30 p.m. ET in Green, and one at 6:30 p.m. ET in Cincinnati.

Woman Quits Call-Center Job After Refusing To Read Obama-Ayers Script
It turns out a good number of anti-Obama calls coming from the McCain campaign are being made by hired callers, not volunteers or pre-recorded robocalls. We know this because a woman quit her job at a West Virginia call center when she refused to read the stock script associating Obama with Bill Ayers.

African-Americans Making Up Large Portion Of Early Votes
The Wall St. Journal reports that black voters are making up a disproportionately high number of early votes cast so far, a development that could have real ramifications in swing Southern states like Florida and North Carolina. If the Obama campaign can bank votes from minority communities, their field operations can concentrate on turning out other voters on Election Day.

Palin: "Only Our Side Has A Woman On The Ticket."
Campaigning yesterday in Nevada, Sarah Palin played the gender card against Democrats efforts to win women voters. "Our opponents think that they have the women's vote all locked up, which is a little presumptuous," Palin said. "Little presumptuous, since only our side has a woman on the ticket."

RNC: We'll Give Palin's Campaign Wardrobe To Charity
The RNC says they will donate the $150,000 in clothing they've bought for Sarah Palin to charity after the election. Working women might lack health care and jobs, but at least they'll get a designer label.

Some must-watch video: Joe Biden positively erupts on the campaign trail in Colorado today, hammering away at John McCain over robo-slime-gate and demanding that McCain "bring down those robocalls!"...

"If he's really serious when he said this morning on one of the shows that this election is all about the economy, then I say, `John, stop your ads. Bring down those robocalls,'" Biden bellowed. "If it's about the economy, argue the economy!"

Biden built to his climax: "John, stop these calls!"

Thus using McCain's robo-slime to reinforce the Obama camp's chosen frame for the final month of the race: Anytime McCain steers the discussion towards Obama's bio or character, it's only because he's afraid to debate the economy. It's a frame that shows no signs of cracking or weakening.

Obama Cancels Campaign Events To Visit Ill Grandmother
Barack Obama is canceling his campaign events on Thursday and Friday, in order to visit his ailing grandmother in Hawaii. Madelyn Dunham's health has taken a turn for the worse, and the situation serious enough to merit the candidate canceling two days of campaigning during the final two weeks of the campaign.

Obama In Florida, Biden In Colorado
Barack Obama is campaigning in Florida today, with a 10:30 a.m. ET policy summit on jobs in Lake Worth, and a 5:45 p.m. ET rally in Miami alongside Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama is also holding an 11:45 a.m. ET rally in Pensacola. Joe Biden is swinging through Colorado today, with a 12:30 p.m. ET rally in Greeley and a 4:30 p.m. ET rally in Commerce City.

McCain In Pennsylvania, Palin In Nevada
John McCain is campaigning today in Pennsylvania, a state where he hopes to overcome a serious gap in the polls and take 21 electoral votes away from the Democratic column. First McCain has a 10 a.m. ET rally in Bensalem, followed by a 2 p.m. ET rally in Harrisburg, and a 5:30 p.m. ET rally in Moon Township. Sarah Palin is campaigning in Nevada, with a 12:30 p.m. ET rally in Reno and a 4:45 p.m. ET rally in Henderson.

McCain Banking On Pennsylvania
CNN reports that the McCain campaign is increasingly viewing Colorado as a goner for them -- even as they dispatched Sarah Palin there yesterday for a full day of campaigning -- and are looking at a way to win the Electoral College by snatching a Kerry state away from Obama. The strategy is now relying heavily on Pennsylvania, where Obama is ahead in the polls by around ten points.

McCain Campaign Making Appeal For Divided Government
The McCain is falling back on a new argument for the home stretch of the campaign: That a Republican should be elected president as a check on what is expected to be a large Democratic majority in Congress. "That argument is a bank shot," McCain strategist Charlie Black told the Boston Globe. "We're reminding them that by considering Obama they're delivering a monopoly to liberal Democrats."

McCain: My Robocalls Are True, Obama's Ads Are Lies
Appearing this morning on CBS's The Early Show, John McCain defended his robocall saying that Barack Obama has "worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers." "That robocall is absolutely accurate," McCain said. "And, by the way, Sen. Obama's campaign is running robocalls as we speak. He's running an ad that distorts -- that's untrue about my immigration position, about stem cell research, and about several other issues."

DNC Raises Nearly $50 Million In September
The DNC announced this morning that they raised $49.9 million in September, and had $27.4 million cash on hand at the end of the month. Together with the Obama campaign's haul of more than $150 million, the combined Democratic fundraising total for September was an astonishing $200 million, far ahead of the RNC's $66 million and the McCain campaign's $85 million in one-time federal grant money.

Obama In North Carolina, Biden In Washington State
Barack Obama is holding a rally at 1:30 p.m. ET in Fayetteville, Norah Carolina. Joe Biden is holding a rally at 5 p.m. ET in Tacoma, Washington.

McCain In Ohio, Palin In New Mexico
John McCain is holding a rally at 1 p.m. ET in Westerville, Ohio, and a rally at 4:15 p.m. ET in Toledo, Ohio. Sarah Palin is holding a 5:30 p.m. ET rally in Roswell, New Mexico. Cindy McCain is holding a 3 p.m. ET rally in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

McCain: Powell's Support Of Obam