At 11th Hour, Obama Keeps His Poker Face

Obama gets Clintons, Gore; McCain counters with Schwarzenegger, Giuliani

(NEWSER) - In the final days of the presidential campaign, the candidates are ramping up their schedules and bringing in their parties’ big names to motivate voters, the New York Times reports. John McCain, in addition to sending running mate Sarah Palin on a grueling two-day sprint across the country, has enlisted the help of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rudolph Giuliani. More»

Obama strategist calls claim "little bit of fiction"

(NEWSER) - Both Barack Obama and John McCain claimed credit on the Sunday talk shows for ushering through the bipartisan bailout plan, Politico reports. The highlights:

• “What Senator McCain was able to do was to help bring all the parties to the table, including the House Republicans,” GOP strategist Steve Schmidt said on Meet the Press.

Centrist ex-prez has common ground with Republican, and his win sets up Hillary in '12

(NEWSER) - If Bill Clinton seems to be sabotaging Barack Obama's campaign, it may not only be for Hillary's presumed 2012 run, but because he prefers John McCain, Roger Simon writes in Pajamas Media. Since "showing up" Obama with his convention speech, Clinton has been "lavishing praise" on McCain and defending his desire to delay tonight’s debate—perhaps because he “wants Obama to lose.” More»

Time for innovative policy proposals, not rote party positions

(NEWSER) - In facing an extraordinary economic crisis, the presidential nominees are falling back on party orthodoxy instead of staking out bold new positions, Michael Gerson writes with regret in the Washington Post. Both candidates, earlier in the campaign, proved they are capable of provocative ideas, but now they're singing the old standards: Barack Obama wants to redistribute wealth despite the clearly deepening recession; John McCain wants to slash taxes despite the ballooning deficit. More»

Aides didn't defend Obama on McCain's 'race card' accusation

(NEWSER) - The Democratic primary battle ended months ago, but many in both Hillary and Bill Clinton’s circles still harbor a grudge over the way her campaign was painted as racist, Ben Smith writes in Politico. This ill will is coming back to haunt presumptive nominee Barack Obama as he grapples with the McCain campaign's suggestion he is now playing the race card. More»