Talking Heads Vow Restraint ... Sort of

Diminishing snowcap, shrinking reservoirs could 'wipe out' states

(NEWSER) - Officials out West are worried about water, the New York Times reports, and not just for the short-term. In what the Times calls the "other water problem" caused by global warming, snowcaps that feed the the Colorado River—which quenches the thirst of 30 million people in seven states—are at their lowest levels in 20 years. The "most optimistic" climate models suggest that 30% to 70% will be gone the second half of this century. More»

North Carolina, Virginia key to 2012 strategy

(NEWSER) - It's not just about Ohio and Florida anymore. President Obama heads to North Carolina today then continues on to Virginia, hoping he can once again capture the longtime Republican strongholds in 2012; next week, it's off to the Mountain West, where he'll look for victory in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. "As Democrats, we can never go back to the 2000/2004 map," says a strategist. Those years required wins in either Ohio or Florida, but Democrats took neither state, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

OK, fire not being caused by illegal immigrants, admits John McCain

(NEWSER) - Six states are ablaze in a searing summer that's breaking records for wildfires. More than 1.2 million acres have already burned and some 10,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as flames devour land in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Colorado, as well as Georgia and Texas. Some 3,500 firefighters have battled Arizona's Wallow fire that has consumed some 500,000 acres, and 700 smoke-eaters are wrestling the Monument fire near Sierra Vista in the state. "I feared for my husband, my animals and for the air quality," one fleeing Arizonan told ABC News . Also hardest hit is Texas, suffering its worst drought in history, where some 15,000 acres have burned in temperatures topping 100 degrees. More»

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

(NEWSER) - The South is gaining population and power at the expense of the Northeast and Midwest, according to Census Bureau estimates released yesterday. If House seats were distributed based on the estimates, which are believed to be a strong predictor of the 2010 census results, Texas would be the big winner, gaining three seats, with Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington each adding one. More»

Davis predicts McCain surprise win

(NEWSER) - McCain campaign manager Rick Davis told Fox News Sunday that the Republicans will seize Pennsylvania and the Southwestern states for a come-from-behind finish on Tuesday, the Hill reports. “John McCain may be the greatest closer politician of all time,” he said. Other highlights from the talk shows:

• An anti-Obama statement from Hillary Clinton dating back to the Democratic primary races is now being used in GOP robo-calls, CNN’s Late Edition reports. Clinton says: “Sen. McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the campaign, and Sen. Obama will bring a speech he gave in 2002,” Politico reports.