Palin Links Iraq to 9/11, A View Discarded by Bush  —  Gov. Sarah Palin linked the war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, telling an Iraq-bound brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would “defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans.”

EXCERPTS: Charlie Gibson Interviews Sarah Palin  —  Republican VP Candidate Speaks with ABC News' Charlie Gibson in Exclusive Interview … GIBSON: Governor, let me start by asking you a question that I asked John McCain about you, and it is really the central question.

Palin, McCain, and the Bush Doctrine  —  As we know, George W. Bush has outlined a doctrine that he calls “preemption” but that's really prevention or “anticipatory self-defense.”  It holds that we should attack other countries that might attack us at some future point even if we have no particular evidence …

Obama Plans Sharper Tone as Party Frets  —  Senator Barack Obama will intensify his assault against Senator John McCain, with new television advertisements and more forceful attacks by the candidate and surrogates beginning Friday morning, as he confronts an invigorated Republican presidential ticket …

Belittling Palin?  —  A McCain-Palin TV ad accuses Obama of being “disrespectful” of Palin, but it distorts quotes to make the case.  —  The McCain-Palin campaign has released a new TV ad that distorts quotes from the Obama campaign.  It takes words out of context to make it sound as though the Democratic ticket is belittling Palin:

Blizzard of Lies  —  Did you hear about how Barack Obama wants to have sex education in kindergarten, and called Sarah Palin a pig?  Did you hear about how Ms. Palin told Congress, “Thanks, but no thanks” when it wanted to buy Alaska a Bridge to Nowhere?  —  These stories have two things in common …

Battle for Congress Suddenly Looks Competitive  —  Democrats' double-digit lead on the “generic ballot” slips to 3 points  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A potential shift in fortunes for the Republicans in Congress is seen in the latest USA Today/Gallup survey, with the Democrats now leading …

Analysis: McCain's claims skirt facts, test voters  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The “Straight Talk Express” has detoured into doublespeak.  —  Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a self-proclaimed tell-it-like-it-is maverick, keeps saying his running mate, Sarah Palin …

Former GOP senator calls Palin a ‘cocky wacko’  —  (CNN) - Former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee was known for keeping a low-key profile on Capitol Hill, but the Republican -turned -Independent is making waves with his exceedingly blunt comments on newly-minted Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin:

Weather service warns of ‘certain death’ in face of Ike  —  (CNN) — Residents living in single-family homes in some parts of coastal Texas face “certain death” if they do not heed orders to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike's arrival, the National Weather Service said Thursday night.

Election 2008: Washington Presidential Election  —  McCain Closes to Within Two Points of Obama in Washington  —  Washington is the latest state to show a strong western surge for John McCain since he added Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to the Republican ticket.