CNN

CNN: McCain faces uphill climb in campaign's final weeks
Sen. John McCain likes to say he enjoys being the underdog. After all, this is the relentless candidate who somehow managed to capture his party's nomination after the political world left him for dead in the summer of 2007.

CNN: GOP launches calls attacking Obama on Ayers, national security
Republicans launched an enormous wave of phone calls Thursday blasting Sen. Barack Obama for "having worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers," party sources said.

CNN: Battleground roundup: Can Obama win in the South?
Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, has a chance of doing something this year that neither of his predecessors could during the past two elections. The Illinois senator has a shot at winning a state in the South.

CNN: 'I screwed up,' McCain tells Letterman
John McCain has learned his lesson: Don't ever cancel on David Letterman.

CNN confirms: Sarah Palin to appear on SNL
Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin plans to appear on Saturday Night Live this weekend, multiple sources told CNN Thursday.

CNN Radio: A star is born…Joe the Plumber ignites the airwaves
As Joe goes, will America go as well? Also, Sen. Obama warns against getting cocky. Bob Costantini has today's CNN Radio Political Ticker.

CNN: Fact Check: Did Obama vote against care for children born during abortions?
During an October 15 presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain attacked Democratic opponent Sen. Barack Obama for his stance on abortion.

CNN: McCain camp to Obama: Release more information about ACORN
In the wake of an Associated Press report that the FBI is reviewing the results of several state inquiries into the conduct of ACORN, Sen. John McCain’s campaign called Thursday for Sen. Barack Obama to release additional information about the relationship between the embattled community organizing group and the Obama campaign.

Bangor Daily News: Palin rallies 5,000 in Bangor
Alaskan maverick delivers folksy GOP message

Washington Post: As McCain's Road Gets Steeper, Obama Warns of Overconfidence
Republican John McCain may have stayed on the offensive during his final debate with Democrat Barack Obama, but for the last 19 days of the presidential campaign he will be playing nothing but defense.

WSJ: Two Families Named McCain
Candidate's Kin Share a History With Descendants of Slaves

NYT: Rise in Voting by Mail Transforms Race in Colorado
The presidential debate had barely ended Wednesday night when Kristin Marshall had her ballot on her lap, pen in hand, ready to vote. Three friends, all supporters of Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, had their ballots, too.

Detroit News: Low-key Senate race near finish line
Michigan voters are about to issue a six-year membership card to the most exclusive club in the country: The 100-member U.S. Senate. But with less than three weeks until Election Day, and the airwaves crammed with political ads, Michiganians have yet to see a single TV ad from either of the major party candidates running for the post.

Washington Post: McCain Forced to Fight for Virginia
Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain will take different messages to different audiences in different parts of Virginia over the next two days, but they will have the same goal in mind: to urge their supporters to spend the final stretch of the campaign fighting for every vote they can find.

Omaha World-Herald: Decision '08: Joes have their say
Enough already about Joe the Plumber from Toledo. What about Joe the Barber from Omaha? Or Joe the Mechanic in Bellevue. Joe the Insurance Agent in Kearney. Joe the Mower in Iowa. And then there's Jody the Real Estate Appraiser from Omaha. What would a McCain or Obama presidency do for — or to — her life?

Denver Post: DNC financing give and take
Almost three-quarters of the $60 million in donations for the Democratic National Convention came from labor unions and large health care, telecommunications and energy corporations, making the four-day Denver political romp an expense mostly for out-of-state entities.

NYT: The Boss, the Piano Man and the Candidate
Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel were well into their act – playing at the same time, the same stage – when Senator Barack Obama arrived late Thursday night at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Mr. Obama waited in the wings for nearly an hour before taking the stage.

Miami Herald: Obama favors Florida Everglades restoration
Candidate Barack Obama promised increased funding for the Everglades, a Tamiami Trail bridge, and cleaner rivers and beaches - but no money details.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: States urged to have backup plans to head off Election Day problems
Texas, Virginia and eight other states are poorly prepared to deal with potential Election Day problems of long lines of voters or broken voting machines, according to a report released Thursday by three nonpartisan groups advocating better contingency plans for problems at the polls.