Rudy Nabs Primetime RNC Speech

(NEWSER) - Sen. Joe Lieberman turned tail on his former party tonight and said John McCain is clearly the "best choice" for president, NBC reports. "Country matters more than party," he told the Republican National Convention, urging Democrats to cross party lines. Lieberman said Barack Obama might one day be ready to lead the nation, but for now, "eloquence is no substitute for a record." By contrast, he said, McCain is a proven man of principle. More»

(NEWSER) - President Bush tonight praised the "courage and vision" of John McCain and invoked the "lessons" of the 9/11 attacks as he asked Americans to vote for him, CNN reports. Bush, who addressed the Republican convention via satellite, also praised McCain for backing the US military surge in Iraq when it was politically unpopular. The president said McCain's "independence and character helped change history." More»

Campaign lays out anti-RNC programs

(NEWSER) - All's fair in the war between conventions, and the Democrats are readying their spoiling machine ahead of the GOP gathering next week, the Swamp reports. An Obama campaign operative’s email lays out the attack Dems will launch from their war room literally across the street from the RNC:

• A mobile billboard (pictured) showing McCain hugging Bush that will follow McCain campaign stops on his way to St. Paul.

Former Democrat a strong prospect for McCain VP

(AP) - Joe Lieberman will speak at the Republican National Convention after all, a party official tells the AP. The former Democratic VP candidate who's become one of John McCain's most avid supporters (and is reputed to be the person he'd really like to have as his own VP) will deliver a speech to the GOP faithful in St. Paul, Minn. More»

Up in the polls, Rubio gets party blessing

(NEWSER) - The Republican Party is making a none-too-subtle push to get onetime golden boy Charlie Crist out of Florida's Senate race. “We believe there is zero chance Gov. Crist continues running in the Republican primary,” says the executive director of the National Republican Senate Committee. The group once tried to push Marco Rubio aside for Crist, but that was before Rubio opened a 20-point lead in the polls, reports the Miami Herald . More»