memeorandum: Israel's post-tsunami work in Sri Lanka bears fruit (Shelly Paz/Jerusalem Post)

For McCain, It Could Be State of Resurgence — Wide-Open Caucuses Offer Hope To a Candidate Who Has Lagged — A jet carrying Sen. John McCain of Arizona touched down Wednesday evening on Iowa's western border, marking a remarkable comeback for the veteran politician and opening another intriguing narrative …

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker, Boston Globe, The Caucus and Los Angeles Times

Robert D. Novak / Washington Post:

Is This McCain's Moment? — Sen. John McCain, given up for dead a few weeks ago as he ran a cash-starved, disorganized campaign, today is viewed by canny Republican professionals as the best bet to win the party's presidential nomination. What's more, they consider him their most realistic prospect …

David Espo / Associated Press:

Jabs Sharpen in Final Week Before Voting — MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) - The most wide-open presidential race in a half century pushed unpredictably into a decisive new phase Wednesday, the rhetoric a bit more pointed and the appeals a tad more urgent in the final run-up to the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

Discussion: Dr. Sanity, New York Sun, Associated Press, Des Moines Register and Roger L. Simon

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:

Holiday Cheer Gives Way to Final Primary Push in Iowa — DES MOINES — After a 48-hour lull for Christmas, the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns roared back to life on Wednesday with a barrage of new advertisements, closing campaign arguments and more than a few attacks …

Michael Levenson / Boston Globe:
McCain and Huckabee form alliance against Romney

Discussion: Political Machine, CBS News and Redstate

CNN:

Report: Bhutto killed in attack — RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) — Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has died after a suicide attack, according to media reports. — Geo TV quoted her husband saying the politician had died following a bullet wound in the neck.

Discussion: Washington Post, JammieWearingFool and Scared Monkeys

Andrew DeMillo / Associated Press:

Huckabee adopts new tone on immigration — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Hispanic activists who viewed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as a voice of moderation on illegal immigration say they've been taken aback by the hard-line stance he's adopted as a presidential candidate.

Ron Claiborne / ABCNEWS:

McCain Still Dogged by Immigration Issue — Arizona Senator Faces Questions on Campaign Trail About His Immigration Position — When Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., campaigns in Iowa this week, sooner or later, he will surely be asked at a town hall event about one issue that has bedeviled him for months: illegal immigration.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Lonewacko

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:
Bridging 4 Decades, a Large, Close-Knit Brood

Discussion: Washington Times

Robert Pear / New York Times:

U.S. Ruling Backs Benefit Cut at 65 in Retiree Plans — WASHINGTON — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday that employers could reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. — The policy, set forth in a new regulation …

Discussion: Firedoglake, naked capitalism, Big Brass Blog, Rox Populi, Seeing the Forest and Booman Tribune

Roger Simon / The Politico:

Biden talks up an Iowa upset — DES MOINES - - Joe Biden is talking. “Barack does a room, Hillary does a room, I do the same room and I win,” he says. “I have absolute confidence in that. The question is: Do I get in enough rooms?" — Biden is sitting at a table in a Starbucks …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters

Wall Street Journal:

Pace of Decline In Home Prices Sets a Record — A closely watched gauge of U.S. home prices shows they are falling sharply across most of the nation, as a deepening slump in the housing market threatens to damp consumer spending. — Home prices in 10 major metropolitan areas in October …

Discussion: Concurring Opinions, Eschaton, SCSUScholars and Calculated Risk

Stephen Bernard / Associated Press: October Home Prices Post Record Decline

David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:

Edwards Campaign May Have Expected Union Group Plan — DES MOINES — In the final days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, John Edwards has stepped up his criticism of outside organizations that spend money to influence elections, repeatedly disavowing a labor group that is blanketing Iowa with commercials supporting his candidacy.

Russell Haythorn / TheDenverChannel.com:

Denver Breaks Record For Snowfall On Christmas Day — DENVER — It certainly made for quite the winter wonderland on this Christmas Day, and provided quite the surprise to residents. — “I think we expected a few flurries and there's probably eight or nine inches now.

Discussion: PoliPundit.com, DBKP and Daily Pundit

Michael Barbaro / New York Times:

Major Retailers Feel the Squeeze From Consumers — As the nation's merchants began poring — or weeping — over holiday sales receipts Wednesday, a surprising pattern emerged: even brands that for years have inspired the undying devotion of shoppers felt the pinch of tightening wallets.

Discussion: Washington Monthly

David S. Broder / Washington Post:

The Speaker's Grand Illusion — Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats Need to Get Real About What They've Accomplished — After one year of Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, public approval ratings for Congress have sunk below their level when Republicans were still in control.

Discussion: Firedoglake and Rising Hegemon

David Roberts / Gristmill:

Solar cheaper than coal and falling — Let me be the last in the greenosphere to note that Nanosolar has shipped its first panels, and it's no exaggeration to say that this moment will likely be seen as a historical turning point. — For a taste of the breathless anticipation around Nanosolar …