The Morning Read: July 2, 2008

“Stunning G.O.P. setbacks” have prompted Congressional Quarterly to move the race for Vito Fossella’s seat, long held by Republicans, two whole categories – from toss-up to “Democrat favored”

John McCain will have about $85 million to spend against Barack Obama this fall. The NRA will pony up about that much to do the same thing.

It sort of looks like Obama has been taking home mortgage advice from Chris Dodd.

Also, Obama is promising to spend $500 million on faith-based charities because there are some problems that “are simply too big for government to solve alone" -- not because he's trying to win Evangelical voters.

The economy will only get worse between now and Election Day – and beyond.

Here’s guessing that Obama will be talking a lot about this news from Afghanistan.

A month after his devastating diagnosis, Ted Kennedy is planning a major push for universal healthcare to coincide with the next president’s inauguration.

Good news: We’ll still have electricity this summer.

Four-day work-weeks for state employees?

The New York Sun reports on the “productive discussion” between Governor Paterson and new Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

Mayor Bloomberg is “disgusted” over that horrific Kings County Hospital death.

In New Jersey, ex-Senator Bob Torricelli is comparing one of the many newspapers that was critical of him to an uncle who kicked dogs and yelled at children.

And, of course, the Politicker joins the rest of America in wishing a happy 69^th birthday to both former White House Chief of Staff John Sununu and to Delaware’s congressman-at-large, Michael Castle.