Daily Tidbits: October 20, 2008

A graphic representation of the new WaPo/ABC Poll

• New WaPo/ABC poll suggests most voters thought McCain’s pick of Palin reflected poorly on his judgment.  They also don’t like McCain’s negative attacks.
• Politico:  Ohio prosecutor Joe Deters, who doubles as a McCain campaign official, has recused himself from a voter fraud case he initiated.
• Here’s a great resource for tracking early voting returns data.
• In NY Times story about both party’s presidential and VP candidates’ health, the buried lede is significant questions about McCain’s health. He’s had melanomas and the current status of his health is unknown.
• NY Times puts Powell’s endorsement of Obama in the context of what it says about the post-W. GOP, and Powell’s own journey in the Republican party.
• WaPo’s story on Colin Powell’s endorsement of Obama.
• New Yorker: McCain’s phony war on progressive tax was driven by FOX News and is an example of his impulsive, reactive and careless campaign.
• Reuters screaming headline:  “McCain says he’ll be OK if he loses the election.”
• WaPo: Outer exurbs, long a GOP stronghold, appear to be swinging Democratic this election due to, among other things, the economic uncertainty.
• Daily Tracking Poll. Gallup moves up for fifth straight day to +11 for Obama, 52-41%.  Research 2000/Daily Kos puts Obama back to a +8 lead, 50-42%. 
• Politico: Florida and Ohio GOP state party leadership are clashing with the McCain campaign.
• Sam the Unlicensed Non-Plumber stood up McCain in Ohio at two events on Sunday, leaving McCain a little grumpy at the lackluster events.
• LA Times: And the first arrest for voter registration fraud turns out to involve… a Republican operative!
• WaPo:  As election nears, “voter anxiety” is spiking.

• Charlotte News Observer reports on Obama’s speech in Fayetteville, NC, in front of an overflow crowd of 10,000.
• NY Times: McCain’s attack on Obama over “spreading the wealth around” puts him in conflict with some of his own policy responses to the economic crisis.
• Richmond Times Dispatch:  “Fake Virginia” or “Communist Country” (McCain campaign euphemisms for Northern Virginia) could decide who wins the state’s electoral votes, and Virginia could decide who wins the election.