Gallup's daily tracking poll -- still with no post-debate data, which should aid Obama when it comes -- gives the Democrat his biggest lead of the campaign so far: Obama 52%, McCain 41%. Another Gallup poll finds his being black counts, overall, as a small positive factor (but who knows if people are telling the truth?). Rasmussen's tracking poll is Obama 51%, McCain 45%.
Barack Obama's "known associate" Michelle Obama was on the Daily Show last night, and it was only the 1m30s point when Jon Stewart asked her if her family goes on skiing holidays with Bill Ayers's family... Part one is above; watch part two here. [Daily Show]
Spontaneity-loving John McCain radically alters his exciting new mortgage-buyout plan overnight, "making it more generous to financial institutions and more costly for taxpayers", then claims that was the plan all along. [Politico]
Here's a useful history of October Surprises, which may be the only thing that can save the Magnificent Mavericks at this point. What could they be planning? [New York Observer]
A New York Times investigation finds that tens of thousands of eligible voters in six battleground states have been removed from the rolls, or blocked from registering, in ways that appear illegal. [New York Times]
Yesterday, Cindy McCain added her voice to the negative attacks on Obama, Joe Biden called the McCain campaign's rhetoric "dangerous", and McCain, at a rally, referred to "my fellow prisoners". Yes, it does feel a little like that sometimes, actually. [Talking Points Memo]
A schmaltzy new Obama ad explains that he is an American with an American story and an overwhelming belief in the American dream, who lives in America and speaks American. Got that? Good. [Ben Smith]
Following a long tradition among all modern-era candidates for the presidency, Barack Obama has assembled a large transition team, ready to take over the reins from George Bush if that's how things turn out. And McCain? Ah, well, McCain is being what you might call a maverick on the matter... [Huffington Post]
