In Fla., Palin Goes for the Rough Stuff as Audience Boos Obama  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gestures during a campaign speech on Oct. 6, 2008 in Clearwater, Fla. (Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — “Okay, so Florida, you know that you're going to have to hang onto your hats …

CBS Poll: Presidential Race Tightens  —  Survey Shows Obama Leading McCain 47 Percent To 43 Percent Among Registered Voters Nationwide Following V.P. Debate  —  (CBS) In a sign that the race for president has returned to about where it was before the first presidential debate …

The missing SNL bailout skit — and the Soros connection  —  Over the weekend, I watched a hilarious, dead-on, and surprisingly honest skit on Saturday Night Live about the craptastic bailout and its Democrat roots.  The skit called out Fannie/Freddie and featured Nancy Pelosi dragging out various sob-story …

Post-Debate: Palin Still Seen as Unqualified, a Bump for Biden  —  Continued Doubts About Financial Bailout  —  While last week's vice-presidential debate had a larger audience than any other in history, voters' impressions of Sarah Palin have changed little.

McCain's Monday Remarks in Albuquerque  —  All: Please see excerpt from John McCain's remarks as prepared for delivery today in Albuquerque, New Mexico:  —  My opponent has invited serious questioning by announcing a few weeks ago that he would quote — “take off the gloves.”

More Bogus Obama Donors Surface  —  Donations Made Between July and Early August  —  (CBS) CBS News Investigative Producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com with additional reporting from Sarah Fitzpatrick and Ariel Bashi.  —  CBS News has learned that two donors …

Press kept under a watchful eye  —  CLEARWATER — Constantly under the watchful eyes of security, the media wasn't permitted to wander around inside Coachman Park to talk to Sarah Palin supporters.  When reporters tried to leave the designated press area and head toward the bleachers …

Poll: 60% say depression ‘likely’  —  Poll finds 6 of 10 believe a depression is somewhat or very likely - seeing 25% unemployed and millions homeless and hungry.  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Nearly six out of ten Americans believe another economic depression is likely, according to a poll released Monday.

Keating Inquiry Appears Different, 17 Years Later  —  Sometimes in politics, memories fail.  —  In a conference call with reporters, attorney John Dowd was asked about a specific part of the Keating Five inquiry, the fact that Cindy McCain and her father had invested in a Keating strip mall.

McCain, Obama deal puts limits on “town hall” debate  —  WASHINGTON — Barack Obama and John McCain meet for a second debate Tuesday night with a “town hall” format, but a deal made between the camps limits the interaction the candidates will have with the undecided voters in the pool of questioners.

FEC Queries McCain Campaign on ‘Excessive Contributions’  —  While the Republican Party is pushing the Federal Election Commission to investigate the possibility that Democrat Barack Obama collected excessive contributions, its own candidate is facing scrutiny on the same subject.

Obama offers best way out of economic disarray  —  From Hugh McColl Jr., former chairman and CEO of Bank of America:  —  In 49 years of living in Charlotte, I've seldom offered my opinion in writing and never submitted a piece such as this.  The condition of our country compels me.

Obama awarded Illinois grants to relative's group  —  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - As a state senator, Democrat Barack Obama awarded $75,000 in government grants to a Chicago social service organization led by a rabbi who is also his wife's cousin, records show.  —  In 1999, Obama arranged for $50,000 …

As Lehman Collapsed, Execs Were Rewarded  —  Failed Bank's Managers Received Bonuses While Pleading For Federal Aid, Documents Reveal  —  (CBS/ AP) Days from becoming the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history, Lehman Brothers steered millions to departing executives even while pleading for a federal rescue, Congress was told Monday.

Hypocrisy Doesn't Begin To Describe It  —  Ross Douthat writes: … But this is true of Obama's entire circle of comrades and associates, of course.  He didn't know who they were, or wasn't all that close to them, or never happened to be there when their life-long habit of excoriating evil America was demonstrated.

The Ayers Question  —  Very soon after she was picked to be McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin was attacked by Obama campaign spokesmen and a Democratic member of Congress for once being seen wearing a Pat Buchanan button.  She had an answer and the campaign offered it.

Crime passionel  —  From the statement of educators in support of Bill Ayers:  —  All citizens, but particularly teachers and scholars, are called upon to challenge orthodoxy, dogma, and mindless complacency, to be skeptical of authoritative claims, to interrogate and trouble the given and the taken-for-granted.