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- The indictment of Republican Senator Ted Stevens today certainly makes the job for challenger Mark Begich easier (although I would dismiss talk that it "virtually guarantees" a Democratic pickup) although the timely entry of Republican primary challenger Vic Vickers and his anti-corruption message complicates things. Meanwhile, Baron Young Smith smartly observes that Stevens' departure from the political scene is like losing Al Swearingen, a "dying breed of primordial American, laid low by the encroachment of ethics, rules, and civilization."
- Politico reports on the GOP's plans to tie Barack Obama to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid but I'm skeptical much will come of this. It's safe to assume that the same voters who are familiar with Reid and Pelosi are not undecided voters -- presumably the minds the GOP thinks it can change with the association to Obama. Or perhaps they are trying to capitalize on Democratic disapproval of Congress. Even then, is it reasonable to expect Democrats are going to vote for John McCain because of their disappointment in the Democratic majority in Congress? The strategy does not appear to have been very well-thought out.
- Obama's presidential campaign is unleashing a massive $20 million GOTV drive for Latinos (who prefer him to John McCain 3-1).
- The AFL-CIO has launched a campaign to correct the viral myths about Barack Obama that have circled his presidential campaign from the beginning. The canvassing will target union members in key swing states.
- John McCain "reminds us" that he said "we would have an easy victory [in Iraq]. We did." Does that mean we can leave now? In other news, a "top Russian diplomat" opines that "We’re not interested in what McCain has to say. Let him become president first, then we’ll listen to him." Good advice.
- Sam Stein reports that Barack Obama's organizing efforts in Florida are "months ahead organizationally of Gore/Kerry."
- Josh Patashnik takes a critical look at "most liberal senator" rankings and concludes that voteview.com is probably the most accurate, ranking Obama at number 11. What I want to know is why no one is concerned -- or even brings up as worrisome -- the fact that John McCain is the ninth most conservative member of the Senate, just behind the likes of Wayne Allard, James Inhofe and Tom Coburn.
- Public Policy Polling [PDF] gives John McCain a three point lead in North Carolina, 47-44, with Bob Barr getting 3 percent. And Strategic Vision has Obama up by nine points in Pennsylvania, 49-40
- Do yourself a favor: avoid reading Mark Penn and Richard Cohen's columns today and read instead Jonathan Cohn's "The Political Virtues of Mitt Romney's Shamelessness." It's intentionally amusing, and won't make you want to punch the screen.
--Mori Dinauer
