Romney takes lead over Obama with convention “bounce”: Reuters/Ipsos poll  —  (Reuters) - Mitt Romney has moved into a narrow lead over U.S. President Barack Obama in a small bounce for him from the Republican National Convention, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found on Thursday.

Eastwood surprises GOP convention - maybe in more ways than one  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Romney campaign planned a surprise guest to address the Republican convention here: Hollywood actor and director Clint Eastwood.  —  But it might have been more of a surprise than they bargained for.

Harvard Investigates “Unprecedented” Academic Dishonesty Case  —  Nearly half of more than 250 students in “Introduction to Congress” are under investigation  —  Harvard College's disciplinary board is investigating nearly half of the 279 students who enrolled in Government 1310 …

A not-very-truthful speech in a not-very-truthful campaign  —  Honestly?  I didn't want us to write this piece.  —  The original pitch was for “the five biggest lies in Paul Ryan's speech.”  I said no. It's not that the speech didn't include some lies.  It's that I wanted us to bend …

David Koch breaks from GOP on gay marriage, taxes, defense cuts  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Billionaire industrialist David Koch, who is helping steer millions of dollars to elect Mitt Romney and congressional Republicans, on Thursday told POLITICO he disagrees with the GOP's stance on gay marriage …

Priest Defends Sex Abusers, Apologizes  —  A well-known Catholic priest who hosts a weekly religious television show said in an interview this week that child sex abusers are often seduced by teenage boys and should not go to jail on a first offense.  But the comments were removed by the website …

Very Quick Take  —  As we watch the Romneys and Ryans in the traditional balloon drop, a few really quick takes.  —  On balance, I thought the first half to 2/3 of the speech were really weak, disjointed, kind of rambling.  (The protest disruptions probably added to that impression.)

Okay, That's the Stupidest Thing I Ever Heard  —  I like Chuck Todd.  He's one of the more knowledgable and sensible people in political journalism.  But this has to rank as one of the stupidest things I've ever heard anyone say.  From this morning on Morning Joe, Todd explains that Democrats wish …

Reagan hologram is real, was planned for RNC debut  —  Despite some conflicting reports, Yahoo News has learned that a holographic projection of former President Ronald Reagan is in the works and was originally intended to debut outside the halls of the Republican National Convention this week.

Michael Moore: Mitt Romney Will Win In November (VIDEO) … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Mitt Romney, Michael Moore, Video, HuffPost Live, Josh Zepps, Shadow Conventions 2012, Money In Politics, Shadow Conventions 2012, Politics News  —  Filmmaker Michael Moore joined HuffPost Live Thursday …

Breaking News: Federal Court Holds Texas Voter ID Law Violates Voting Rights Act [Now Updated with Analysis]  —  You can read the unanimous 56-page opinion by Judge Tatel at this link.  —  The court has put in a scheduling order to address at a later date whether section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional.

Romney Vows to Deliver Country From Economic Travails  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday by making a direct appeal to Americans who were captivated by President Obama's hopeful promises of change, pledging that he could deliver …

Revealed: Paul Ryan's cheerleader ‘college sweetheart’ who made him the victim of ‘racist views’ from his supposed friends  — Deneeta Pope, 40, dated Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan after they met at college  — Pope, now a Barack Obama supporter …

Exclusive: Marco Rubio's Republican Convention Address  —  Here are the remarks Marco Rubio plans to deliver this evening at the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida:  —  In 1980, I watched my first Republican Convention with my grandfather.  —  He was born to a farming family in rural Cuba.

Romney: Obama's Reelection Means The Future Will Not Be Better Than The Past  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney's campaign released excerpts of his big address to the Republican National Convention ahead of his address Thursday night.  —  The excerpts in full:

Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on Closure of Investigation into the Interrogation of Certain Detainees  —  The Attorney General announced today the closure of the criminal investigations into the death of two individuals while in United States custody at overseas locations.

RNC Ratings Night Two: Networks Lose 17 Million Viewers Compared To Night Two Of 2008 RNC  —  On night two of the Republican National Convention, Fox News Channel was once again the network more people went to to get their political fix.  That said, every network was down substantially …

CNN Camerawoman “Not Surprised” by Peanut-Throwing  —  “People Think We've Gone Further Than We Have”  —  Yahoo's D.C. Bureau Chief Fired After Romney Remark  —  Hurricane Isaac Destroys Melissa Harris-Perry Home  —  Disconnect Between GOP and Latino Journalists

Daughter of Billionaire GOP Donor Sheldon Adelson Pushes Democracy Now!  Staff, Seizes Camera at RNC … When Democracy Now! senior producer Mike Burke attempted to interview billionaire casino magnate and Republican donor Sheldon Adelson inside the Republican National Convention …

Pentagon threatens lawsuit over Osama bin Laden book  —  The Defense Department is threatening to go after an ex-SEAL author and his publisher over a new book that challenges the administration's official account of last year's raid that killed Osama bin Laden.