Maybe this is Newsweek merely coming back to the pack, but after showing a 15-point lead for Obama last month, the latest Newsweek poll shows a tight race: 44-41. This is hard to believe, but Obama has dropped 14 points among independents since the last poll.
A run on California-based IndyMac makes it the largest American bank to fail in nearly a quarter of a century — and second largest ever.
Late Update: TPM Reader JR express some skepticism:
It’s a big story, no doubt. But the figure that it’s the second largest ever is a bit misleading – it’s not adjusted for inflation. The statistic is pretty much meaningless without that context.
I’d be curious to know if these comparisons are in fact based on inflation-adjusted numbers, or not, as JR suggests. So keep an eye out and let me know.
Sad news this morning, as the former White House press secretary succumbs to cancer.
A donor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign says Barack Obama told her Hillary is under consideration for VP — but Bill’s presence makes things “complicated.” That and other political news in today’s Election Central Saturday Roundup.
When you’ve got John McCain, Phil Gramm and Barry White, it can’t be all bad …
Top McCain surrogate Carly Fiorina covers for Phil Gramm by saying that people don’t really care about what surrogates have to say. That and other political news in today’s Election Central Sunday Roundup
The Bush administration is admitting defeat in its efforts to conclude a status-of-forces agreement with Iraq before the end of Bush’s term of office. Such an agreement would have codified the long-term presence of US troops and military bases in the country. Beneath the gobbledegook, the hang-up seems clear: the Iraqis would not conclude an agreement without a clear timetable for US withdrawal.
Theda Skocpol asks the question: Can Democrats grow up and get behind their candidate for president?
The Obama camp gets in a lather over that satirical New Yorker cover. That and the day’s other political news in the TPM Election Central Morning Roundup.
Dean Baker: “We had to keep Fannie and Freddie in business, but we could have done this by putting conditions on the bailout. The government uses conditions all the time when it offers help to low and moderate income people. … It is only when it comes to giving money to extremely rich people that we find it impossible to impose conditions.”