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Election News

McCain, Obama Scrutinize Bailout Plan

Republican John McCain has called for greater oversight of the Bush administration's proposed $700 billion bailout of the U.S. financial markets. His Democratic rival, Barack Obama, said the bailout plan is forcing a renewed look at federal spending.

McCain Holds Lead With Rural Voters: Is It Enough?

A new survey of rural voters shows Republican presidential nominee John McCain with a 10-point lead among this key group. But this may not be enough to overcome Democrat Barack Obama's expected margins in the nation's cities.

Bailout Looms Large Over Fall Campaign

With the first presidential debate coming Friday, the candidates are walking a tightrope on the new economic bailout plan. And VP candidate Sarah Palin will visit the United Nations this week.

How Will Politics Play In Bailout Passage?

News of the Bush administration plan to rescue Wall Street is dominating the political headlines. Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will be among the lawmakers voting on the $700 billion package. Later this week, the two will meet face-to-face in the first debate of the presidential campaign.

Health Care And The Campaigns: A Discussion

Carrie Staton is an uninsured mother of two; her husband has multiple sclerosis and she's coping with diabetes. Ralph Smith is a small business owner struggling to pay for his employees' health benefits. Smith and Staton both live in the swing state of Virginia. Host Andrea Seabrook asks representatives of both presidential nominees to explain how their health care plans would help Smith and Staton.

Wisconsin Officials Fight Over Voter Registrations

Wisconsin's Attorney General has sued the state election's board, accusing it of failing to act to prevent voter fraud. He wants to force the state to use a new database to check the voter identification of those who have registered since January of 2006, reports Wisconsin Public Radio's Shawn Johnson. The lawsuit could cast doubt on election results in a swing state that was decided by a combined 17,000 votes in the past two presidential contests.

Rivals Point Finger At Each Other On Economic Mess

John McCain and Barack Obama are trying to convince voters they can lead the nation back to sound financial footing. Both say they want to see the details of the Bush administration's $700 billion bailout plan, but each is also blaming the other for the mess.

Many Voters In Northern Va. Remain Undecided

Northern Virginia has exploded in population, especially in the counties surrounding Washington D.C.; it is now home to one-third of the swing state's population. Scott Simon talks with voters from the area, many of whom have yet to choose between Barack Obama and John McCain for president.

How To Watch The Presidential Debates

James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic, recently watched the entire set of presidential primary debates — all 47 — in a row. Fallows talks with Scott Simon about what viewers should watch out for in the next round of debates, coming up on Friday.

All Eyes On Candidates For Reaction To Economy

NPR's Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr weighs in on the economic meltdown, which dominated the headlines this week. Economists are calling the current financial crisis the nation's worst since the 1930s, and Congressional leaders are busy drawing up a rescue plan.

McCain, Obama Turn To Spanish Attack Ads

The competition for Hispanic voters has opened in a new front in the long-running ad war between the parties and candidates. Now they need Spanish attack ads, too.

McCain, Palin ignore Obama's jabs at rally (AFP)

AFP - John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin made no mention of a deepening brawl with Democratic rival Barack Obama Wednesday, sticking instead to their standard stump speech at a rally in Virginia.

Obama accuses McCain of lying over lipstick 'smear' (AFP)

AFP - The White House race plumbed new toxic depths Wednesday as Barack Obama raged against John McCain for stooping to "lies and phony outrage" in response to the Democrat's mocking talk of "lipstick on a pig."

McCain and Palin castigate the earmarks she seeks (AP)

AP - Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, equated lawmakers' requests for funding for special projects with corruption on Wednesday even though Palin herself has requested nearly $200 million in so-called "earmarks" this year.

Paul says he turned down appeal to endorse McCain (AP)

AP - Republican Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas lawmaker who attracted a devoted following in the GOP primaries, said Wednesday he rejected an appeal to endorse John McCain's presidential bid.

Election News

Obama says he expects to be judged by results (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is tying his political fate to his succes

Some rejected Minn. Senate ballots to be counted (AP)

AP - The judges in the Minnesota Senate trial have identified the firs

Obama appeals for bipartisan help on economy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama hailed the Senate's passage of a massive e

Geithner pledges forceful attack on banking crisis (AP)

AP - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Tuesday the new administrati

WHO GETS WHAT: Stimulus to pad pockets of jobless (AP)

AP - More jobless workers would get fatter unemployment

Senate passes stimulus; Treasury unveils bank help (AP)

AP - The Senate approved President Barack Obama's giant economic stimulu

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