Romney, McCain's ‘Logical’ Choice, Must Overcome Primary Animus  —  The prerequisites for John McCain's running mate are clear: a Washington outsider with solid economic credentials who isn't associated with President George W. Bush, can fill the vice-presidential attack-dog role …

McCain promises to balance budget  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to promise on Monday that he will balance the federal budget by the end of his first term by curbing wasteful spending and overhauling entitlement programs, including Social Security, his advisers told Politico.

So Where's Murphy?  —  From the gun clubs of Northern Virginia to the sports bars of Capitol Hill — wherever D.C.-area Republicans gather — you hear the question:  —  “Where's Murphy?”  —  “Murphy” is Mike Murphy, the 46-year-old G.O.P. strategist who masterminded John McCain's 2000 primary race …

Conservatives Ready To Battle McCain on Convention Platform  —  Conservative activists are preparing to do battle with allies of Sen. John McCain in advance of September's Republican National Convention, hoping to prevent his views on global warming, immigration, stem cell research …

Zogby Poll: Building Mo-bama!  Democrat Leads McCain in Electoral College Tally, 273-158...  The Democrat also leads 44% to 38% in the nationwide horserace test as Libertarian Bob Barr wins 6%  —  UTICA, New York - As the race for President passes the Independence Day holiday and heads toward …

Obama Faces Resistance From Top Supporters of Clinton  —  Sen. Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, faces dissent from dozens of top fund-raisers and other supporters of former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, who are angry over how she was treated during their bruising primary battle …

Sunday Talkers Not Kind  —  There was much discussion this Sunday over whether Barack Obama is shifting ground.  Over at This Week, Mark Halperin, Ted Koppel and host George Stephanopoulos were not shy about pointing out the divergence between the old and new Obama.

An agenda for a ‘politics of aspiration’  —  The GOP might want to keep it handy after the coming debacle  —  Steven Greenhut  —  Syndicated columnist Bob Novak, writing about the surprising number of conservatives who are backing Democrat Barack Obama rather than Republican John McCain …

Old guy vs change: McCain, Obama images take shape  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Now more than ever, it's the old guy against the agent of change.  —  Ask people to blurt out their first words about the two presidential candidates and one in five say “change” or “outsider” for Barack Obama and …

UAE to cancel Iraq's $7 billion debt  —  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Dubai has forgiven the nearly $7 billion Baghdad owes it, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced Sunday.  —  UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan promised to “put out these debts,” …

Radical Islam stirs in China's remote west  —  KASHGAR, China (Reuters) - In a backstreet of the old Silk Road city of Kashgar, the Chinese government has been spray-painting signs on dusty mud brick walls to warn against what it says is a new enemy — the Islamic Liberation Party.

Economy's Move to the Fore Poses Problems for Both Candidates  —  WASHINGTON — Not since at least 1980, when the United States was reeling from the oil shocks, inflation and slow growth of the previous decade, has the economy been in worse shape heading into the heart of a presidential campaign.

The Facebooker Who Friended Obama  —  Last November, Mark Penn, then the chief strategist for Hillary Rodham Clinton, derisively said Barack Obama's supporters “look like Facebook.”  —  Chris Hughes takes that as a compliment.  —  Mr. Hughes, 24, was one of four founders of Facebook.

Ancient Tablet Ignites Debate on Messiah and Resurrection  —  JERUSALEM — A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak …