McCain Guarantees 'Close' Victory

Cites partisanship, waste; Pelosi, Schumer say it's bipartisan

(NEWSER) - John McCain told Fox News Sunday that he wouldn’t back the stimulus bill as written by House Dems because it’s full of wasteful spending and includes little GOP input, Politico reports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on ABC’s This Week, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, also on Fox, disagreed, saying the bill had bipartisan backing, the Hill reports. Also: More»

Talk show, news commentator, even reality program among possible post-politics offers

(NEWSER) - Even if she doesn't end up in Washington, Sarah Palin could still find a presence in the lower 48, the Hollywood Reporter notes. Media higher-ups, salivating at the thought of ratings bumps that Palin appearances gave Saturday Night Live and CBS News, would love to offer her a backup career—with talk shows, news commentary or even a reality gig among the possible pitches. More»

(AP) - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, describing the Dem as a "transformational figure." Powell says both Obama and John McCain are qualified to be commander in chief. But, in an interview today on NBC's Meet the Press, he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation's economic problems, as well as help improve its standing in the world. More»

GOP candidate once sat on board of far-right group linked to "anti-Semites"

(NEWSER) - With the election campaign in its last month, the Sunday talk shows turned to John McCain’s substantial slide in the polls, Politico reports. The highlights:

• Vice-presidential debate moderator and soon-to-be author Gwen Ifill suggested on Meet the Press that hype over her alleged pro-Obama bias came from a twitchy Sarah Palin camp: “It was also interesting to realize that if changing the subject from the stakes of the vice-presidential debate, then talking about the moderator, instead of talking about the candidate, they would do that.”
• Sarah Palin’s attempt to tie Barack Obama to a radical leftist is a “strategic mistake,” ex-Clintonite Paul Begala told Meet the Press, arguing that McCain himself once sat on the board of a far-right group Begala termed “a point of contact for extremists, racists, and anti-Semites.”

Mac draws sharp contrast between his pick and Obama

(NEWSER) - Calling Sarah Palin “a partner and a soul mate,” John McCain gave his first televised interview this morning since dropping the Alaskan bombshell on the nation as his pick for running mate. He highlighted her experience—a single visit to Kuwait and her role as commander-in-chief of the Alaska National Guard—before painting her as a maverick, who’s held her own party leaders to the flame, Politico reports. More»