Harold Ford Jr.

Tim Kaine’s stock as a potential running-mate for Barack Obama has dropped markedly in the last day, with the news that Mark Warner, Kaine’s predecessor as Virginia’s governor, will be the keynote speaker at the convention in Denver.

The thinking, widely repeated in the media yesterday and this morning, is that Warner’s selection effectively excludes Kaine from the V.P. hunt since the Obama campaign wouldn’t want two Virginians occupying the featured speaking roles on two consecutive convention nights. As Keith Olbermann put it on his MSNBC show last night:

Warner's rising star might actually dim the VP chances for Virginia's current governor, Tim Kaine on this simple theory.

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Where The New York Times sees an editorial scolding, the McCain campaign sees an opportunity.

At issue is an editorial, which appeared yesterday on The Times blog "The Board," accusing the McCain campaign of "starting up the same sort of racially tinged attack on Mr. Obama that Republican operatives ran against Harold Ford."

McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb just sent out this statement, attacking The Times as hysterically pro-Obama:

"If the shareholders of the New York Times ever wonder why the paper's ad revenue is plummeting and its share price tanking, they need look no further than the hysterical reaction of the paper's editors to any slight, real or imagined, against their preferred candidate.  read more »

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Local Republicans say the national party didn't help enough this year, suggesting that the seemingly pre-determined outcome tomorrow could have been different if they had.

News of Saddam Hussein's death sentence could help some Republicans at the polls tomorrow.

Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama among New York Democrats, and among black Democrats here.

Obama was in Nashville yesterday campaigning for Harold Ford, Jr.

The fight between Rudy Giuliani and John McCain begins right after the polls close tomorrow.

John Sweeney's lead over Kirsten Gillibrand disappeared after allegations of domestic abuse surfaced recently.

Fred Dicker, who has some suggestions for Eliot Spitzer, says the state Senate race in Westchester will test whether Spitzer has any coat tails.

Republicans here expect to hold onto the state Senate.

The mid-terms elections are a test for Charles Schumer, who said he's "feeling good, but cautious," about Democrats taking over.

Spitzer said, "There was no cover-up," involving the late disclosure of his campaign manager's arrest for drunk driving late last month.

Alan Hevesi's fate is in the hands of Democrats, now that George Pataki seems likely to let his successor to deal with the scandal.

Democrats rally around Vito Fossella's challenger, for a change.

Ben gives out "THE TOM CRUISE EXCELLENCE IN SELF-DESTRUCTION AWARD," and other coveted accolades.

And the Times tips its hat to the winners of "Best Waste of a Good Debate Performance," "Best Campaign Event Heckling," and other notable stand-outs from this campaign season.

-- Azi Paybarah

Stricken with anxiety as the polls continue to indicate a Democratic resurgence, certain Republicans  read more »

Barack Obama, a month after slyly headlining Tom Harkin’s annual Iowa steak fry, finally ackno  read more »

Barack Obama, a month after slyly headlining Tom Harkin’s annual Iowa steak fry, finally acknowled  read more »

"Political fund-raising in New York hasn't been very inclusive," declared Robert Smith, a voluble ba  read more »

Nobody knows whether Nancy Pelosi can prevail where Dick Gephardt failed.  read more »