Barack Bounces Back From Pastor Flap

Oil companies would be winners in plan that fails 'Economics 101'

(NEWSER) - Economists and a leading House Democrat are blasting the gas-tax cut proposed by both John McCain and Hillary Clinton, the Washington Post reports. Economists say most of the savings would flow right to the oil companies' bottom line, rather than into voters’ pockets. That's because the tax vacation would raise demand at a time that demand is already high—which would lead directly to even higher prices. More»

Senator calls on New Yorkers to support her former rival

(NEWSER) - It’s time to make a clean break from the "disastrous policies" of the past eight years, and the man to “chart a new course” is Barack Obama, writes Hillary Clinton of her one-time rival in a column in the New York Daily News. “We find ourselves in an economic crisis born and bred by the failed policies of Washington Republicans. And the fact is, President Bush has practiced what John McCain has preached," she notes. More»

Independents, however, appear to be losing interest in the election altogether

(NEWSER) - A new AP/Yahoo poll shows a bounty of enthusiasm for Barack Obama and a deficit for John McCain, the Boston Globe reports. Some key stats:

• 38% of the Democrat’s supporters are excited by the election, while only 9% of the Republican's are.
• Among Obama supporters, 16% say they could still change their pick, while 24% of McCain-backers say so.

Party's newly crafted policy backs renewable energy—plus drilling

(NEWSER) - An elite group of Republican senators met yesterday to craft an energy policy which the GOP claims is greener than the Democrats' plan, and more likely to control gas prices. Republicans will emphasize conservation—along with more nuclear plants and oil drilling—and have dubbed Barack Obama's opposition to increased drilling "Obamanomics," reports the Hill. More»

Says he's not nominee yet, calls VP talk 'presumptuous'

(NEWSER) - Just about every political bigwig is calling the race for Barack Obama—but not the Democrat himself. "We've still got some work to do," he told CNN today, making sure to heap praise on Hillary Clinton. Asked whether she could be his running mate, he said it would be "presumptuous" to answer but noted, "Obviously, she'd be on anybody's short list." More»