From NBC's Mark Murray
A day after his campaign announced it was airing its first positive TV ad in weeks -- even though there were signs that there wasn't much money behind the ad, given the campaign's silence on where it's running -- the McCain camp is back up with a new negative TV ad.

As with the Britney-Paris ad, it calls Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world" (despite McCain's own appearances in "24" and "Wedding Crashers" and a TV movie about him), and it also hits Obama on taxes and spending.

The campaign says the ad be cycled into its buy in CO, IA, MI, MO, NV, NH, NM, OH, PA, VA (NoVA) and WI.

The script:
ANNCR: Is the biggest celebrity in the world ready to help your family?
The real Obama promises higher taxes, more government spending. So, fewer jobs. Renewable energy to transform our economy, create jobs and energy independence, that's John McCain.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

*** UPDATE *** Obama spokesman Bill Burton emails this response to McCain's latest ad: "Is the biggest proponent of George Bush's tired, failed policies ready to bring about change? Another day brings another dishonest attack from John McCain. While Sen. McCain knows that Sen. Obama has proposed cutting taxes for 95% of American families, what he's not telling us is that he wants to give $4 billion in tax breaks to the oil companies, continue giving tax breaks to corporations that ship our job overseas, and provide no direct tax relief for more than 100 million middle-class families. It's time to retire these old policies and bring new energy to America."

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Obama builds on map lead: Obama has expanded his lead over McCain in NBC's latest electoral map. Obama now has 217 electoral votes in his column versus 189 for McCain, building on his 210-189 edge from last month. There are 132 votes in the toss-up category. Here are the changes from last month, all of them moving in Obama's direction: 1) Iowa moves from toss-up to Lean Obama, continuing this trend of the Illinois senator over-performing in the "region" of Illinois; 2) New Jersey moves from Lean Obama to Likely Obama; and 3) Oregon moves from Lean Obama to Likely Obama. In another year, both of those states would not have moved so early, but it's pretty clear the GOP and McCain will not be seriously contesting either one.

Likely Obama: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, OR, RI, VT, WA (190 electoral votes)
Lean Obama: IA, MN, WI (27 votes)
Toss-up: CO, FL, MI, MO, NV, NM, NH, OH, PA, VA (132 votes)
Lean McCain: AK, GA, IN, MT, NC, ND, SD (53 votes)
Likely McCain: AL, AZ, AR, ID, KS, KY, LA, MS, NE, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WV, WY (136 votes)

VIDEO: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd discusses the latest developments in Barack Obama's search for a running mate, NBC's projected electoral map and a celebrity response to John McCain.

*** Not all toss-ups are equal: If this were October 26 instead of August 6, we probably wouldn't have this many toss-ups states on our map. Florida, Missouri, and Nevada would move into the Lean McCain column, while Michigan, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania would move into Obama's. That would give Obama a 260-232 electoral lead over McCain, and it would leave us with four pure toss-ups: Colorado, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Virginia. And under that scenario, McCain would need to win ALL THREE of Colorado, Ohio, and Virginia to win or break a 269-269 tie, which would probably favor Obama.

*** Leaning towers of toss-ups: As for which of the "lean" states could end up in the toss-up category, keep an eye on Wisconsin, Indiana, and North Carolina. The RNC believes all is not lost yet in Wisconsin, and that at some point there will be some snapback and the state will get close again -- possibly after the GOP convention finishes up in neighboring Minnesota. As for the other two, ask yourself this question: If the Dem primary hadn't put Indiana and North Carolina on the map as primary states, would Obama be as competitive? This is a case where the drawn out primary might have helped Obama, even as their campaign still mutters about the lost time. Of the two, GOP strategists we've talked to believe North Carolina will move into the toss-up category before Indiana, but all that could change with a stroke of the VP pen.

*** A big veep day: With 19 days until the Dem convention and 26 days until the GOP one, today is a very big day for veep watchers. Obama stumps with Evan Bayh in Elkhart, IN; Michelle Obama attends a fundraiser with Tim Kaine in Norfolk, VA (after she visits with military families there); Tim Pawlenty already spoke at GOPAC's State and Local Summit in Arlington, VA and later addresses the National Press Club; and Kathleen Sebelius speaks at an Obama fundraiser in Leelanau County, MI. Whew. With the Obamas just days away from their last vacation before the election, one wonders if the most significant meeting between an Obama and a VP candidate is taking place in Virginia and not Indiana. Just suggestin'… As for Pawlenty, many in McCain Land continue to marvel at how good the Minnesota governor has become as a campaign surrogate. Both Romney and Pawlenty have really shown some campaign chops.

*** What was Bill thinking? While Bayh campaigns with Obama today, we found out yesterday that Hillary Clinton will stump for him in Nevada on Friday and in Florida in two weeks. Of course, this news comes after husband Bill gave Obama a very tepid endorsement on whether the Illinois senator is qualified to be president. "You could argue that no one's ever ready to be president," he told ABC. (Somehow, we don't remember him saying that about his wife during the Democratic primary season.) What was Bill Clinton thinking here? No doubt he's still bitter about his wife losing the Dem primary battle, but for someone with his political skills, he should have been able to hit a homerun with that question about Obama. As many a Clinton watcher knows, Bill's very aware of the implications of every sentence he utters. He can't use the "I was taken out of context" excuse on this one. A couple of thoughts here: One, Bill's answer won't help Hillary if Obama loses and the Clintons make another run at the White House in 2012, because the Clintons have to be seen as being fully aboard the Obama Train. And because of this, look for Hillary to be effusive in her praise of Obama in Nevada -- in fact, she may now feel she has to go over the top. Two, would Bill have said what he said if Hillary was actually being vetted for VP? The idea of Bill campaigning throughout the fall was already seen as something of a potential headache to some in Obama Land, merging the two operations seems to get even more complicated by the hour or by the Bill Clinton soundbite. In fact, can the Obama campaign trust having Bill on the stump for him at all in the fall?

*** Shiny metal object time: With so many problems at home and abroad (the poor economy, high gas prices, war in Iraq, escalating violence in Afghanistan), we're loathe to spend another day talking about Paris Hilton, but here we go. While her new Web video takes direct shots at McCain and his age, it seems to only help the Arizona senator. Why? Because it keeps the memory of McCain's initial shot at Obama alive. That's why the McCain campaign seems to be relishing the video release by Hilton more than Team Obama. By the way, speaking of shiny metal objects, it was interesting to see Obama dump the "coolness" or "aloofness' for a day in his pushback on the tire gauge gag. Obviously, the hits have gotten a bit under Obama's skin, but there are probably some Obama supporters who are glad to see he had some fight in him.

*** Downballot round up: It May Be August, but yesterday was a fairly significant day at the polls. In Georgia, the DSCC got the long-shot candidate it wanted in Jim Martin, who beat Vernon Jones in yesterday's Senate run-off for the right to face Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R)… In Missouri, Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R) beat Sarah Steelman in the GOP gubernatorial primary, and he will battle Jay Nixon (D) in the fall. This might be the single most competitive GOV race in the country and the fact that it's taking place in a key toss-up state only adds to its importance… And in Michigan, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D) -- whose son Kwame Kilpatrick has been plagued by scandal -- narrowly won her primary.

*** On the trail: McCain begins his day in Huntington, WV (where he stops by football practice at Marshall University) and later tours a company in Jackson, OH and hits a fundraiser in Dublin, OH. Obama holds a morning town hall in Elkhart, IN before departing for Minneapolis.

Countdown to Dem convention: 19 days
Countdown to GOP convention: 26 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 90 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 167 days
 
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The Washington Post and Boston Globe chronicle yesterday's back-and-forth over energy and nuclear policy.

USA Today examines both candidates' nuclear plans.

McCain has said Obama has said "no" to nuclear energy. But as the Boston Globe points out, "Obama has described nuclear power as 'not optimal' and labeled himself 'not a nuclear energy proponent.' But he has said he would not rule out more nuclear power 'only so far as it is clean and safe.'"

The Los Angeles Times covers Obama's pushback at the McCain campaign over the tire gauge attack -- and it notes he seemed have some life in pushing back. "Often cool on the stump, Obama struck a combative note when he told the 2,700 people who came to see him here that McCain had unfairly characterized his position. Ridiculing him over tire gauges, Obama said, is shallow campaigning -- on the order of McCain's much-publicized TV ad likening Obama to celebrities Britney Spears and Paris Hilton."

The New York Daily News' headline: "McCain goes nuclear; Obama boils over." "Obama hit back at John McCain like never before Tuesday, accusing him of shamefully trying to divide America to conquer the election."

NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports that Obama supporters in 24 states will talk to voters at gas stations this week and distribute copies of Obama's energy plan. In addition, the Obama campaign announced that it will run this ad on a network of TV screens that are affixed atop gas pumps throughout Florida.

Politico: "The Democratic National Committee on Wednesday is launching an 'Exxon McCain '08' campaign, complete with a gas-pump logo and garish red buttons, bumper stickers and yard signs."

On McCain's new ad, the AP writes, "McCain's assertion that 'we're worse off than we were four years ago' differs from his answer in January when he was asked during a debate if the country is better off now than it was eight years ago. His response then: 'I think you could argue that Americans overall are better off because we have had a pretty good prosperous time with low unemployment and low inflation. And, a lot of good things have happened, a lot of jobs have been created." He added: "Things are tough right now,' and cited the housing crisis, a weak economy and a volatile stock market. He made a similar comment during a media interview in April."

A new AP-Ipsos poll has Obama up six points nationally over McCain, 47%-41%.

Want to know why our new NBC News battleground map is so pro-Obama in the agricultural Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin)? The AP takes a look at how McCain's opposition to key farm bill provisions has hurt him in the region.

NORTH CAROLINA: Bloomberg News has an interesting story about an early fight in a small town in NC over the registration of new black voters. "Republican voter Richard Gilbert last year challenged the eligibility of several students at historically black Elizabeth City State University to vote in a municipal election. The local elections board dismissed Gilbert's complaint that students are only temporary residents in the town of about 20,000 people."

"Similar fights over voter qualifications will be waged this year, particularly in Southern states, as Democrat Barack Obama's drive to register hundreds of thousands of new black voters clashes with Republican suspicions that get-out-the-vote efforts recruit people who aren't eligible to cast ballots. 'If the Democrats are to have any chance at all of carrying this state, it will only be because of a much larger-than-normal and completely united black vote,'' said David Rohde, a political science professor at Duke University in Durham."

"The North Carolina NAACP in May asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether the Elizabeth City complaint was aimed at discouraging lawful voting by black students. 'We challenged that because it could have a ripple effect across North Carolina,' said the state NAACP President, Reverend William Barber."

The Washington Post profiles a McCain bundler, and the paper seems to imply he might have reimbursed donors. The bundler is Harry Sargeant, a defense contractor. "Some of the most prolific givers in Sargeant's network live in modest homes in Southern California's Inland Empire. Most had never given a political contribution before being contacted by Sargeant or his associates. Most said they have never voiced much interest in politics. And in several instances, they had never registered to vote. And yet, records show, some families have ponied up as much as $18,400 for various candidates between December and March.

Both Sargeant and the donors were vague when asked to explain how Sargeant persuaded  them to give away so much money. 'I have a lot of Arab business partners. I do a lot of business in the Middle East. I've got a lot of friends,' Sargeant said in a telephone interview yesterday. 'I ask my friends to support candidates that I think are worthy of supporting. They usually come through for me.' Sargeant's business relationships, and the work they perform together, occur away from the public eye. His firm, International Oil Trading Co. (IOTC), holds several lucrative contracts with the Defense Department to carry fuel to the U.S. military in Iraq."

Maureen Dowd skewers McCain in her New York Times column, arguing that his recent actions are due to Obama envy. "McCain could dismiss W. as a lightweight, but he knows Obama's smart. Obama wrote his own books, while McCain's were written by Salter. McCain knows he's the affirmative action scion of admirals who might not have gotten through Annapolis without being a legacy. Obama didn't even tell Harvard Law School that he was black on his application. McCain upbraids Obama for being a poppet, while he's becoming a puppet. His mouth is moving but the words coming out belong to his new hard-boiled strategist, Steve Schmidt, a Rove protégé, nicknamed 'The Bullet' for his bald pate. Schmidt has turned Mr. Straight Talk into Mr. Desperate Straits. It's not a good trade."

It's been a while since manager Rick Davis' business past has created a headline for McCain. Today's Cleveland Plain Dealer welcomes McCain to Ohio with a story about Davis' role with DHL. "When Republican presidential candidate John McCain meets Thursday with citizens and officials in Wilmington, Ohio, he won't need a playbook to understand why they're worried about deep job losses at the local freight airport. Little known to those citizens, McCain and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, played roles in the fate of DHL Express and its Ohio air park as far back as 2003. Back then, however, their actions that helped DHL and its German owner, Deutsche Post World Net, acquire the Wilmington operations resulted in expansion, not retraction."

"In a private meeting Thursday, Wilmington residents will ask McCain for help in stopping DHL's proposal to quit using the airport as a hub, which could cost more than 8,000 jobs. DHL says that it wants to stay in the freight business but that it can stem financial losses if it can put its packages aboard the planes of a rival -- United Parcel Service -- before delivering them in DHL trucks. UPS flies out of Louisville, Ky., so the proposed change would render the Wilmington airport unnecessary."

"None of that was anticipated in 2003, when McCain and Davis, who was a Washington lobbyist before managing the presidential campaign, first got involved. Several Wilmington civic leaders said that what happened in 2003 created an economic gain for their community, lasting several years. But because that gain, and now the prospective loss, came from the decisions of a foreign-owned corporation, look for some Democrats and labor to seek to tie Wilmington's current troubles to McCain." 

McCain goes to 11? The campaign has not only matched Obama's $5 million Olympic TV ad buy, he's upped the ante to $6 million.

The Wall Street Journal wonders if Cindy McCain will have to sell her share in her family's beer fortune if her husband wins the presidency because of so many potential conflicts of interest involving government regulation of the industry.

The New York Times looks at Obama's fundraising network, and the paper focuses on the fact that Obama's fundraising machine isn't just small donors; he's raised more from folks giving $1,000 or more than McCain as well.

Obama is having a hard time figuring out how to reach out to Muslims and Arabs. The person he appointed as his Muslim outreach coordinator had to resign. "Chicago lawyer Mazen Asbahi, who was appointed volunteer national coordinator for Muslim American affairs by the Obama campaign on July 26, stepped down Monday after an Internet newsletter wrote about his brief stint on the fund's board, which also included a fundamentalist imam."

Obama had a very contentious interview with the Las Vegas Sun's Jon Ralston, whose TV show is must-viewing for Nevada's political elite. Here's the back-and-forth between the two.

REPORTER: I guess what the American people want to know though Senator, is what is the real difference between you and John McCain. You are running this ad tying him to the industry saying that he has taken all of these contributions, but as you well know there is a story out today about how you supported the Dick Cheney bill and he opposed it. That bill gave subsidies to the oil and gas companies, John McCain opposed the bill saying those are tax breaks for those companies, Barack Obama favored it.

SEN. OBAMA: Hold on a second John, I thought I was talking to you instead of debating John McCain, but I am happy to let you serve as his proxy. The fact of the matter is that I supported that energy bill saying at the time that those tax breaks were wrong but also recognizing that this was the largest investment in alternative energy in history. And that it was important for us, for the solar industry to get off the ground in places like Nevada, for to get wind kicked off the ground, that that was something that we had to do and I immediately said during that time and subsequently that we should strip out those tax breaks for oil companies. I would point out that in December of last year, we had a vote to strip out those tax breaks for oil companies, there was one Senator that did not vote on that measure, and that was John McCain. And that money would have gone to alternative energy. But look, people aren't interested in this sort of tit for tat, there're interested in figuring out how we actually are going to get something done. And I have consistently supported fuel efficiency standards on cars, John McCain opposed them, I have consistently supported solar power, John McCain opposed them, I have consistently supported wind power, John McCain opposed it, I have consistently supported bio fuel development, John McCain has opposed it. There are some differences, just for example John McCain is in favor of Yucca Mountain, I am opposed to it. There are some clear contrasts here, but the notion that there is somehow no difference between John McCain and myself on energy policy is simply not true."

A little fact-checking on that claim that Obama supported the Bush-Cheney energy bill, however. As FactCheck.org wrote back in April, "[T]he compromise Obama voted for was supported by most Senate Democrats and lacked many of the administration's original proposals. As we've said before, it resulted in a small net tax increase on oil companies."

The Boston Globe front-pages Obama's year at a publishing house. "Obama rarely talks about his year spent within the arcane sphere of global finance as a junior editor for Business International Corp., a publisher based in New York… But in the years since, Obama has demonstrated an economic worldview bearing some common priorities with the first company for which he worked. At some points in his legislative career and presidential campaign, Obama demonstrated a willingness to let markets run their course when some other Democrats had sought a more forceful government hand. He rejects mandates for adults to buy health insurance and encourages the expansion of global exchanges for carbon-emissions credits. He has helped make it easier for private companies to take over public housing projects."

More: "Those who worked at Business International say Obama's brief account contains inaccuracies or misrepresentations about the company. (Obama has acknowledged fictionalizing narrative elements in the book.) They say that while offering consulting functions to clients, Business International was far more a publishing house than a consulting firm."

It's no secret that Obama is popular with younger voters. The AP does some man-on-the-street interviews. "According to these members of Generation Y, Obama, 47, has the 'cool' thing down. He's an avid basketball player, listens to Jay-Z on his iPod and was on the cover of this month's issue of Rolling Stone magazine. McCain, on the other hand, has admitted he's a big fan of the '70s-era Swedish disco band ABBA and an 'illiterate' when it comes to using a computer. He turns 72 next month, and if elected, he'd be the oldest president in American history to begin his first term."

The AP looks at all the Kerry aides now working for Obama.

The Los Angeles Times profiles Carly Fiorina's star turn as a McCain adviser.

It's been a while since we've seen a Hillary Clinton write an op-ed. She has one today in the Wall Street Journal on the issue of corporations finding shelter in the Caymans.

And Clinton's schedule for Obama is starting to leak out. In addition to her campaigning for Obama in Nevada on Friday, she's going to be in Florida for Obama on August 21. 

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli and NBC's Mark Murray
BEREA, OH -- For the last few days, Republicans have ridiculed Obama for saying -- in passing -- that if drivers inflated their tires to proper levels, they'd save as much oil as offshore drilling would produce. The Republican National Committee even sent tire gauges to political reporters to continue to mock Obama on the subject.

At a town hall here today, Obama recalled his initial exchange when an audience member asked for something simple people could do to save energy. "So I told them something simple," he said. "If everybody in America inflated their tires to the proper level, we would actually probably save more oil than all the oil that we'd get from John McCain drilling right below his feet."

He acknowledged that Republicans are now mocking his idea. "This is the kind of thing they do," he said. "They know they're lying about what my energy plan is. But the other thing is they're making fun of a step that every expert says would absolutely reduce our oil consumption by three to four percent. It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant."

Indeed, Time magazine writes that Obama is correct here. "But who's really out of touch? The Bush Administration estimates that expanded offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 bbl. per day by 2030. We use about 20 million bbl. per day, so that would meet about 1% of our demand two decades from now. Meanwhile, efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%. Many drivers already follow their advice, but if everyone did, we could immediately reduce demand several percentage points. In other words: Obama is right."

Nevertheless, Obama's counterattack spurred a counter-counterattack, in which the RNC urged him to call Congress back into session to vote on an energy bill. "Obama is wrong: Inflated tires are no substitute for oil drilling and a comprehensive energy plan," said RNC spokesman Alex Conant.

Obama later was asked about the war of words between campaigns, and he denounced what he called "nasty" politics. "But not just nasty, also cynical and manipulative, right?" he added. "John McCain says 'Barack would rather lose the war to win an election.' He just said something like that, despite the fact that if we had followed my recommendation not to go into the war in Iraq we would have about an extra trillion dollars to rebuild our economy, we would have been on the path of energy independence, we would have finished the job in Afghanistan and gone after Qaeda."

He said he was "happy to have a battle of words."

"Because I've got facts on my side," he said. "I've got truth on my side. I fear no man when I've got truth on my side."

Early in Obama's remarks, there was a notable disruption, when Obama acknowledged someone standing near the press riser in the back of the Baldwin-Wallace College gymnasium here who was shouting about the Pledge of Allegiance. Learning that the pledge was not recited in the pre-program before he arrived, Obama then asked the heckler to lead the crowd in doing so, immediately putting his hand over his heart.

"We usually do an invocation and the pledge before we start," Obama explained. "I don't know what happened. But I'm glad this young man reminded us."

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
NEWPORT, Mich. -- After touring the Enrico Fermi Nuclear facility here this afternoon, McCain stood in the shadows of the plant's cooling towers and gave a brief statement on the need to expand nuclear power. But first he found some time to respond to Obama's newest line of attack.

"I saw that Sen. Obama's latest attack is got to do with oil and campaign contributions," McCain said. "I think he might be a little bit confused because when the energy bill came to the floor of the senate, full of goodies and breaks for the oil companies; I voted against it. Sen. Obama voted for it. People care, not only what you say, but how you vote."

Campaign aides said McCain was responding to charges in the ad released yesterday by the Obama campaign and not to his opponent's latest charge. Today, Obama alleged that McCain's energy plan has helped him raise money from oil companies.

"While Sen. McCain's plan won't save you at the pump any time soon, I have to say this, it sure has raised him a lot of campaign dollars," Obama said today in Youngstown, Ohio. "Sen. McCain raised more than $1 million from the oil industry just last month. Most of it came after he announced his plan for offshore drilling to a room full of oil executives."

In his remarks today, McCain tried to shift the energy argument back towards the Democratic congress and its "refusal" to vote on offshore drilling.

"I noticed that there's confusing now information from Senator Obama as to whether he actually supports offshore drilling or not," McCain said. "The fact is we have to drill here and we have to drill now and we have to drill immediately. And it has to be done as quickly as possible and I believe that it's vital that we move forward with that regardless of what we do on other energy issues."

He then called on congress to end their summer vacation early and reconvene to address the issue of America's dependence on foreign oil. As president, McCain said he would call them back into session and "keep calling them back until they act on behalf of the interests of the American people in this compelling national security issue, and it's time we got serious about energy independence."

Today's tour was scheduled at nuclear facility with a less than stellar safety record, which opened the door for McCain's opponents to poke holes in his argument that nuclear power is completely safe. He said in his remarks that his experience with nuclear energy goes back to his service on the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, "I knew it was safe then, and I know it's safe now."

But as many Democratic groups were quick to point out, one of the Fermi plant's two nuclear reactors suffered a partial fuel meltdown in 1966 and is in the process of being decommissioned. Several years ago, Fermi 2 -- the plant currently in operation -- was also shut down due to a leak, but no evidence of external radiation leakage was found. According to the pool report of McCain's tour, the plant was also shut down last February but has been in operation since.

From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann and NBC's Alex Wall
For all the chatter about the pros and cons of picking a female vice president, a new poll commissioned by Lifetime finds that women are not particularly likely to be influenced by the selection of a lady VP. In the poll, 55% of women say that Obama's selection of a female running mate would make no difference to their voting choice, and 62% said the same of McCain. (A Republican woman VP could actually hurt McCain. A full 20% responded that they would be LESS likely to support the GOP nominee if he selected a female on the ticket.) 

Also in the poll, Obama leads McCain overall among women voters by 11 points, 49%-38%, although it's noteworthy that neither candidate breaks the 50% mark. In addition, Obama beats McCain in every demo except among senior women, who favor McCain by nine points. The presumptive Democratic nominee is also ahead with independent voters, 42% to 30%.

Among Hillary Clinton primary voters, 76% said they were voting for Obama and 18% said were for McCain.

Pollster Celinda Lake (D), who conducted the survey with Kellyanne Conway (R), says that Obama is outpacing John Kerry, who won the female vote by only three points in 2004. But she stressed that the Democratic nominee must pass the 50% mark to "put this election away."

The poll was conducted of 700 women voters nationwide, with an oversampling of African-American and Latina women. And its overall margin of error is +/- 4%.

From NBC's Traci Caldwell
The House remains dark, but Republicans continue to speak in the chamber to bring attention to their efforts for a comprehensive vote on energy.
 
Cody Sears from Del Mar, Calif., visited Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon and spoke about the need for action since California is one of the states that has the highest gas prices in the country. He urged Congress to "turn on the lights and get this thing done."

Republicans also urged people to call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office to pressure her to act. A bystander began shouting at members that they were lying, and after he was escorted away by U.S. Capitol Police, Republicans insisted that this is not a publicity stunt, but a true desire to help the millions of Americans who are struggling right now.

From NBC's Katie Mulhall and Domenico Montanaro
McCain will go after Obama during his visit to a nuclear power plant in Newport, Mich. There, according to prepared remarks, McCain will say:

"Solving our national energy crisis requires an 'all of the above' approach. That will require aggressive development of alternative energies like wind, solar, tidal and bio-fuels. It also requires expanding traditional sources of energy like off shore drilling, clean coal, and nuclear power like the power produced at this plant here in Michigan. Sen. Obama has said that expanding our nuclear power plants 'doesn't make sense for America.' He also says no to nuclear storage and reprocessing. I couldn't disagree more. I have proposed a plan to build additional nuclear plants. That means new jobs, and that means new energy.  If we want to enable the technologies of tomorrow like plug-in electric cars, we need electricity to plug into. 

"Now, nuclear power alone is not enough.  Drilling alone is not enough.  We need to do all this and more.  That is why I am calling for an "all of the above" approach. I am also calling on Congress to come back into session to deal with this pressing energy challenge. I am prepared to take time off the campaign trail and I hope Senator Obama is too. It is time for America to get serious about energy independence.  Our nation is sending $700 billion overseas every year to countries that don't like us very much.  When I'm president that's going to stop.  We're going to achieve energy independence, and we're going to do it by using every resource at our disposal to get the job done."

The McCain campaign also continued its attacks during a conference call that Obama has said "no" to all new sources of domestic energy production, and is only just now putting forth a plan.  

McCain economic adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin hit Obama for now saying he would "go along with a compromise" that included off-shore drilling, adding "going along is what brought us here to begin with," and "caused Obama to vote for Bush-Cheney energy bill in 2005."

On the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: The camp also called Obama's recent proposal to temporarily tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve "ludicrous," and said "the Strategic Petroleum Reserve exists to protect against physical disruptions," and that opening it would only lead to "temporary exposure to more of a terrorist disruption." 

Also on the call, Brecksville, Ohio, mayor Jerry Hruby called McCain's energy policies "a breath of fresh air." He attacked Obama's opposition to new coal-fired power plants, saying he was "rejecting a very good way of promoting new energy sources," and new jobs in Ohio.

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Obama said McCain is taking a page from the "Bush-Cheney playbook" on energy, saying his only solution is to drill anywhere and everywhere for oil.

"That's what he talked about yesterday, 'I want to drill here. I want to drill now,'" Obama said, quoting McCain talking in Sturgis, S.D. "I don't know where he was standing. I think he was in a building somewhere. This plan will not lower prices today; it won't lower prices during the next administration."

He did say that increasing domestic production "has its place," but that oil companies should be forced to use all of the land they currently lease before expanding it. Obama also repeated much of his energy platform announced yesterday, again claiming McCain's support for offshore drilling preceded a boon in contributions from energy executives.

"After one president in the pocket of the oil companies; we can't afford another," he said. "For the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, we have to end the age of oil."

Speaking in the Buckeye State, Obama also treaded carefully when an audience member said he was tired of seeing old lawmakers deciding policy for new generations. The man did not mention McCain, but Obama, now 47 years and one day old, recognized it was a "kind of tricky question for me."

"You know I've got colleagues in the Senate who are doing just outstanding work and they're well into their 70s and they've got incredible energy," he said, specifically mentioning Sen. Ted Kennedy. He also said he thought term limits could shift a balance of power to lobbyists. "And so my attitude is, I'm less concerned about what age folks are than what are they doing. And if they are not looking out for your interests, then it's time to throw the bums out."

From NBC's Mark Murray
In addition to the TV ad on energy the Obama campaign unveiled yesterday, it has been airing yet another ad. Per Politico, it has been running for about a week in battleground states, but the campaign never released the ad to the press.

[Youtube:HHMbwk6CDLE]

The script, per Politico:
John McCain. He's been in Washington for 26 years. And as gas prices soared and dependence on oil exploded, McCain was voting against alternative energy, against higher mileage standards.

Barack Obama. He'll make energy independence an urgent national priority, raise mileage standards, fast-track technology for alternative fuels. A thousand dollar tax cut to help families as we break the grip of foreign oil. A real plan, and new energy.

From NBC's Mark Murray
The Commission on Presidential Debates has announced the moderators for the four presidential/vice presidential debates -- one of whom is NBC's own Tom Brokaw.

First presidential debate
Friday, September 26
The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
Jim Lehrer
Executive Editor and Anchor, The NewsHour, PBS

Vice presidential debate
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
Gwen Ifill
Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator and Managing Editor,
Washington Week, PBS

Second presidential debate (town meeting)
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.
Tom Brokaw
Special Correspondent, NBC News

Third presidential debate
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
Bob Schieffer
CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Host, Face the Nation

Below is the press release...

Commission on Presidential Debates Announces Moderators PRN0000020080805e4850053m
461 Words
5 August 2008
15:01 GMT
PR Newswire (U.S.)
English
Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairmen of the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), today announced the moderators for the 2008 general election presidential and vice presidential debates. The moderators, and the schedule and locations for the debates (as announced on November 21, 2007), are as follows:

First presidential debate
Friday, September 26
The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
Jim Lehrer
Executive Editor and Anchor, The NewsHour, PBS

Vice presidential debate
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
Gwen Ifill
Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator and Managing Editor,
Washington Week, PBS

Second presidential debate (town meeting)
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.
Tom Brokaw
Special Correspondent, NBC News

Third presidential debate
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
Bob Schieffer
CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Host, Face the Nation

Each debate will begin at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

Format
The format for the debates, announced on November 21, 2007, will be:

-- Each debate will have a single moderator and last for 90 minutes.

-- In the first and third presidential debates and the vice presidential debate, the candidates will be seated with the moderator at a table.

-- One presidential debate will focus primarily on domestic policy and one presidential debate will focus primarily on foreign policy. The second presidential debate will be held as a town meeting in which citizens will pose questions to the candidates. The vice presidential debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics.

-- During the first and third presidential debates, and the vice presidential debate, the time will be divided into eight, ten-minute segments. The moderator will introduce each segment with an issue on which each candidate will comment, after which the moderator will facilitate further discussion of the issue, including direct exchange between the candidates for the balance of that segment.

-- The participants in the town meeting will pose their questions to the candidates after reviewing their questions with the moderator for the sole purpose of avoiding duplication. The participants will be chosen by the Gallup Organization and will be undecided voters from the Nashville, Tenn. standard metropolitan statistical area. During the town meeting, the moderator has discretion to use questions submitted by Internet.

-- Time at the end of the final presidential debate will be reserved for closing statements.

Participants

The CPD 2008 Candidate Selection Criteria, announced on November 21, 2007, will be the exclusive means of determining the candidates to be invited to participate in the debates.

For more information, please visit http://www.debates.org.

From NBC's Mark Murray
After airing four-consecutive negative ads (hitting Obama on Afghanistan and Iraq; gas prices; the Landstuhl controversy; and Britney-Paris), the McCain campaign is running a new, positive TV ad that calls McCain "the original maverick."

[Youtube:ylJkmMR8Fek]

The script:
ANNCR: Washington's broken. John McCain knows it. We're worse off than we were four years ago.
Only McCain has taken on big tobacco, drug companies, fought corruption in both parties. He'll reform Wall Street, battle Big Oil, make America prosper again.
He's the original maverick.
One is ready to lead -- McCain.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

*** UPDATE *** Obama spokesman Bill Burton issues this statement responding to the McCain ad: "Sen. McCain wants Americans to forget that during the Republican primary, he said that Americans were better off than we were eight years ago, and that he thinks we've made 'great progress economically.' He wants us to forget that he's fully embraced the Bush policies he once opposed, and bragged about supporting those policies 'more than 90 percent of time.' The truth is, being a maverick isn't practicing the same kind of politics we have seen from Washington for decades, it isn't having a campaign run by Washington lobbyists, and it's certainly not promoting the same policies that have led America down the wrong path these past eight years."

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Iraq is back: A new book on Iraq by Ron Suskind is going to give Obama quite a few new talking points as the White House (and maybe McCain?) is put on the defensive. As NBC's David Gregory recounted on TODAY, Suskind reports that in early 2003, in secret meetings with British intelligence, Saddam Hussein's intelligence chief Tahir Jahil Habbush revealed that Iraq DID NOT have weapons of mass destruction, and that information was passed on to the CIA.

VIDEO: NBC's David Gregory reports on the new book by Ron Suskind claiming the White House deliberately misled the public on Iraq by ordering a CIA forgery.

The most explosive charge, Gregory says: "In order to bolster the connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq, the White House ordered the CIA to write a fake letter from the Iraqi intelligence chief Habbush, claiming that 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta trained in Iraq prior to September 11th." The White House has pushed back hard against Suskind, who has written previous critical accounts of the Bush White House. "Ron Suskind makes a living from gutter journalism. He is about selling books and making wild allegations that no one can verify, including the numerous bipartisan commissions that have reported on pre-war intelligence," White House spokesman Tony Fratto told Politico.

VIDEO: Ron Suskind defends claims made in his book to TODAY's Meredith Vieira.

*** The energy debate continues: Today, expect a repeat of yesterday's back-and-forth over energy. Obama stumps in Ohio -- with Gov. Ted Strickland (D) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) -- where he will once again rap McCain for his contributions from the oil industry. "He's offering a plan with no significant investments in alternative energy," Obama will say, according to excerpts of his remarks. "He's offering a gas tax holiday that will pad oil company profits and save you, at best, half a tank of gas over the course of an entire summer. And he's offering $4 billion more in tax breaks to the biggest oil companies in America, including $1.2 billion to Exxon-Mobil… We can choose four years more of the same failed policies that have gotten us where we are. Four years more of oil companies calling the shots while hard working families are struggling. That's what Senator McCain is offering."

Â

VIDEO: Political Director Chuck Todd gives his first read on the debate between the candidates on energy policy and Bill Clinton's recent statement on Obama's qualifications to be president.

Meanwhile, McCain will most likely discuss his plan to build 45 new nuclear plans when he visits one in Michigan today. Yesterday, McCain emphasized his call for offshore drilling when he said, "We have to drill here and drill now." With both candidates staying on the energy message, they are actually doing each other a favor.

*** Drilling a divide: Meanwhile, it's worth noting that the drilling debate is starting to divide Democrats -- and not just Obama, who on Friday signaled a willingness for the first time to accept offshore drilling as part of a compromise for a larger energy package. Politico reports that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is encouraging vulnerable House Dems to back offshore drilling if it helps their political prospects, even though she's opposed to the action. "Pelosi's gambit rests on one big assumption: that Democrats will own Washington after the election and will be able to craft a sweeping energy policy that is heavy on conservation and fuel alternatives while allowing for some new oil drilling. Democrats see no need to make major concessions on energy policy with a party poised to lose seats in both chambers in just three months — even if recess-averse Republicans continue to pound away on the issue." This is the type of compromise that the base isn't going to like, and it'll be interesting to watch the liberal blogosphere respond to this dilemma: Is it more important for Pelosi to WIN the drilling debate or SURVIVE it? Looks like she and Obama want to do both. It may be the political expedient thing to do, but it goes against what they've been promising.

*** Bikers, Kid Rock, and John McCain: Will Obama no longer have to answer for some of the hip-hop references he's made after McCain yesterday visited the biker rally/festival in Sturgis, SD, which also featured scantily-clad women and concerts by Kid Rock and KISS? From the Los Angeles Times' coverage of the event: "It was almost as if McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was a celebrity -- a dirty word in his lexicon since his campaign last week ran ads mocking rival Barack Obama for his celebrity status, comparing him to Britney Spears." More: "McCain joked that he had encouraged his wife to enter the annual Sturgis beauty contest, one in which nudity is not uncommon. The engines roared again. 'I told her with a little luck she could be the only lady to serve as first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip,' he said with a broad grin."

*** The Dems' registration advantage: The New York Times front-pages the big gains that Democrats have made in voter registration over the past few years -- especially in battleground states like Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. This will be a story to watch as voter-registration numbers from the states continue to trickle in. Indeed, we've seen this shift in our polling, which shows more and more people identifying themselves as Democrats and independents and fewer and fewer people identifying themselves as Republicans. While this certainly has implications for the McCain-Obama, the Times also reminds us that it could have a big impact on downballot races, particularly with redistricting on the horizon.

*** A veepstakes question: With Obama campaigning with Evan Bayh tomorrow, fueling tons of veep speculation, what will the liberal blogosphere think about Bayh as a possible running mate when they find out how deep his ties are to Mark Penn? Speaking of Penn, he -- pardon the pun here -- pens a Politico op-ed in which he offers this advice for the Obama campaign: "I suggest making clear that this election is not about who is strong or weak, but about who is right or wrong. Maybe the key will be to emphasize that there will be real policy differences between a Democrat and a Republican in the White House next year and that those differences will — as they did in the past eight years — make all of the difference in the world to the country and the lives of its people."

*** Bob Novak retires: The legendary reporter/columnist arguably pioneered a certain method of political journalism that is thriving today on the Internet. The partisan reporter is something many people believe was invented the day Matt Drudge bought his first modem. But the fact is that Novak, while not the first either, was the trailblazer. Did he get scoops? A lot of them. Did he swing and miss? Yes, but he was always swinging. That's what made Novak's Saturday/Sunday notebook column of political tidbits must-read. He had some very loyal sources; some used him for good, others just used him, but the guy always came to play and was incredibly competitive. His decision to retire to focus on his health battle leaves a big hole in Washington.

*** On the trail: McCain visits the Enrico Fermi nuclear plant in Newport, MI. Obama is in Ohio, where he holds town halls on energy in Youngstown and Berea.
 
Countdown to Dem convention: 20 days
Countdown to GOP convention: 27 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 91 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 168 days
 
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The Washington Post covers Obama's speech on energy yesterday, in which he called for opening up the nation's strategic reserves to lower the price of gasoline -- "the second time in less than a week that he has modified a position on energy issues." More: "The proposal, along with Obama's comments last week that he would consider expanding offshore drilling as part of a comprehensive energy bill, illustrated how both candidates are trying to find quick fixes to $4-a-gallon gas and other rising energy costs. McCain had also opposed additional offshore drilling until reversing his position in June, and he has called for a suspension of the federal gas tax."

"But their proposals reflect a problem both candidates face: There are few ways to dramatically reduce gas prices, even as voters demand solutions."

The New York Times: "The proposals Mr. Obama offered Monday represented an effort to return the campaign's focus to bread-and-butter issues after he found himself repeatedly on the defensive last week against a newly aggressive McCain campaign. 'We should sell 70 million barrels of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve for less expensive crude, which in the past has lowered gas prices within two weeks,' Mr. Obama said. 'Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production, and we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas.'"

Yet: "At the heart of Mr. Obama's proposals is a focus on fostering alternative energy development by investing $150 billion in emerging technologies and renewable fuels. Seeking to put a million fuel-efficient hybrid plug-in automobiles on the road, he said that he would offer a $7,000 tax credit to buyers, the overall cost of which he did not specify. In addition, Mr. Obama said his goal was to have 10 percent of the country's energy needs met by renewable resources by the end of his first term, more than double the current figure."

The Houston Chronicle: "John McCain received prolonged applause from the oil executives who gathered June 17 in Houston to hear the Republican presidential candidate's speech on energy policy. Now it appears that McCain received something else: Lots of campaign contributions."

"John McCain's contributions from energy industry interests happened to spike right around his Houston speech (and a fundraising tour of Texas). Is it a coincidence, the result of aggressive Texas outreach -- or is it a show of gratitude? Let us know what you think."

The Wall Street Journal did a whole story on the GOP's tire gauge gag.

Time fact-checks the tire gauge issue and finds Obama is right. "The RNC is trying to make the tire gauge a symbol of unseriousness, as if only the fatuous believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil without doing the bidding of Big Oil. But the tire gauge is really a symbol of a very serious piece of good news: we can use significantly less energy without significantly changing our lifestyle. The energy guru Amory Lovins has shown that investment in "nega-watts" — reduced electricity use through efficiency improvements — is much more cost-effective than investment in new megawatts, and the same is clearly true of nega-barrels. It might not fit the worldviews of right-wingers who deny the existence of global warming and insist that reducing emissions would destroy our economy, or of left-wing Earth-firsters who insist that maintaining our creature comforts would destroy the world, but there's a lot of simple things we can do on the demand side before we start rushing to ratchet up supply."

The New York Times looks at the problem facing the Republican Party -- and the advantage for the Democrats -- regarding registration. "In several states, including the traditional battlegrounds of Nevada and Iowa, Democrats have surprised their own party officials with significant gains in registration. In both of those states, there are now more registered Democrats than Republicans, a flip from 2004. No states have switched to the Republicans over the same period, according to data from 26 of the 29 states in which voters register by party. (Three of the states did not have complete data.)"

"In six states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, the Democratic piece of the registration pie grew more than three percentage points, while the Republican share declined. In only three states — Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma — did Republican registration rise while Democratic registration fell, but the Republican increase was less than a percentage point in Kentucky and Oklahoma. Louisiana was the only state to register a gain of more than one percentage point for Republicans as Democratic numbers declined."

"Swings in party registration are not uncommon from one year to the next, or even over two years. Registration, moreover, often has no impact on how people actually vote, and people sometimes switch registration to vote in a primary, then flip again come Election Day. But for a shift away from one party to sustain itself — the current registration trend is now in its fourth year — is remarkable, researchers who study voting patterns say. And though comparable data are not available for the 21 states where voters do not register by party, there is evidence that an increasing number of voters in those states are also moving away from the Republican Party based on the results of recent state and Congressional elections, the researchers said."

ALASKA: The Washington Post looks at Obama's chances in the last frontier. "And this year, being a Democrat may not be such a bad thing. Every Republican on the November ballot can expect to suffer from the corruption scandal that has tarred Alaskan politics. Last week's indictment of Ted Stevens, the U.S. Senate's longest-serving Republican, follows the federal convictions of three state GOP lawmakers in cases that featured surveillance videos starring the oil executive who prosecutors say remodeled Stevens's modest Girdwood home."

MASSACHUSETTS: Obama has a 47%-38% lead over McCain in Massachusetts, according to a Suffolk University poll. "Democrat Barack Obama's nine point lead over Republican John McCain in Massachusetts is a sharp fall from the 23-point lead he enjoyed in June. McCain was able to make gains among Western Massachusetts voters, men, middle-aged voters and independents."

MICHIGAN: The Detroit Free Press gives big billing to Obama's plan to offer financial support to the auto industry. The headline: "I'd guarantee $4 billion to retool auto industry."

NEVADA: The Rocky Mountain News tees off on the swing state Nevada. The Silver State's strong libertarian streak, unique political tensions, and passionate defense of gun rights make it a challenge for both McCain -- viewed as too liberal by many vocal conservatives in the state -- and Obama, whose Second Amendment stance (though softened) could get him in trouble. Check out this killer quote from a gun dealer in northern Nevada: "When Hillary Clinton announced she was running, I was swamped. Guns were flying off the shelf." Oh, and then there's this: "Even brothels are offering gas cards now when services -- as they are politely called -- are purchased."

In the Washington Post, Brent Bozell writes under the header: "McCain's Problem Isn't the GOP." "Is McCain running a 'limping, message free' presidential campaign? On a couple of issues (most notably Iraq), that analysis is incorrect. But on too may fronts, it's an accurate assessment. As I argued in The Post in March, McCain cannot win in November unless he has his conservative base energetically working for his election."

And in the Wall Street Journal, William McGurn argues under the header: "McCain's Problem Isn't Bush." More: "Mr. McCain seems intent on reassuring skeptics that he's no George W. Bush. If he loses in November, he'll prove it."

(So what is McCain's problem? Neither candidate is arguing that McCain's problem is with the moderate middle... We're guessing others would ask that, too.)

McCain appeared at the 68th annual Sturgis Rally in Sturgis, SD last night for a short rally, NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy reports. During his brief remarks, he joked about Obama's recent trip to Berlin, saying that he preferred the sound of Harleys to excited Berliners. And he once again called on Congress to reconvene and vote on offshore drilling. Cindy McCain also spoke briefly about being the mother of two active-duty military and called her husband the "only man that can keep us free."

The rally was held at the historic Buffalo Chip campground and concert venue, where thousands of bikers were gathered to drink and see Kid Rock perform later in the evening. This is the place where they don't cheer; they rev their engines instead. There is another stage that is also part of the festival, where KISS performed and where they were holding preliminaries for the Ms. Buffalo Chip beauty pageant -- an often-nude affair.

That information is relevant, Aigner-Treworgy adds, as McCain joked during his remarks that he had encouraged Cindy to participate, so she had a chance at being the only lady to serve as both first lady and Ms. Buffalo Chip.

The Los Angeles Times: "Rather than applause, McCain was greeted again and again by the full-throated roar of scores of gleaming Harley-Davidsons of every shape and color. The stench of burning gasoline and rowdy shouts filled the prairie night air. It was almost as if McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was a celebrity -- a dirty word in his lexicon since his campaign last week ran ads mocking rival Barack Obama for his celebrity status, comparing him to Britney Spears."

Here's something we haven't seen in a while: advice from Mark Penn: "So here is a radical suggestion: Rather than sparring on the Republican playing field to determine the rougher and tougher leader, Democrats should introduce more clearly substantive differences. How about this for a message — ending the war in Iraq now, making an Apollo-like investment in alternative energy and starting a revolution in health care to cover every American. I suggest making clear that this election is not about who is strong or weak, but about who is right or wrong. Maybe the key will be to emphasize that there will be real policy differences between a Democrat and a Republican in the White House next year and that those differences will — as they did in the past eight years — make all of the difference in the world to the country and the lives of its people."

The New York Times' David Brooks has allowed himself to get caught up in summer polls. Brooks argues Obama is struggling to put this race away because voters have yet to get a sense of who he is. "If you grew up in the 1950s, you were inclined to regard your identity as something you were born with. If you grew up in the 1970s, you were more likely to regard your identity as something you created. If Obama is fully a member of any club — and perhaps he isn't — it is the club of smart post-boomer meritocrats. We now have a cohort of rising leaders, Obama's age and younger, who climbed quickly through elite schools and now ascend from job to job. They are conscientious and idealistic while also being coldly clever and self-aware.  It's not clear what the rest of America makes of them."

The New York Daily News: "Bill Clinton refuses to say Barack Obama is 'ready' for White House."

Sounding a humble tone as he celebrated his 47th birthday last night, Obama recalled his disappointing loss in New Hampshire nearly seven months earlier and said that the disappointment and extended primary fight that followed was actually for the best, NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli notes. "This may sound like some Pollyannaish thinking," he told donors in a high rise building overlooking the Boston Harbor. "I said I thought it was a good thing because winning shouldn't be easy. Winning the presidency should not be easy… This had to be earned."
 
He admitted the campaign had a "giddy" feeling after winning Iowa, but that the reality check they faced in the Granite State was a needed one. "Cynicism is a natural response to what people have seen over the past 20, 30 years," he said. "There's no reason why they should buy into a lot of flowery language and nice speeches without lifting the hood and kicking the tires to see if this thing is for real. And so we worked harder, and we worked smarter … and we were able to emerge after an incredibly hard-fought battle as the presumptive nominee. And we're now in the process of bringing the party together so we come out of the convention entirely unified and ready to take on the last leg of this journey."
 
As reflective as Obama was, he also did not spare criticism of his rival. The Illinois senator said that McCain had "rendered extraordinary service" to the country, and deserved credit for showing some independence from his party in his 25 years in Washington. "And he's got I think an image, certainly among the press and in the country that is formidable," he added. "[But] we can't assume that just because we've endured eight years of some of the worst arrogance in our history -- [and] that [because] John McCain has embraced some of those policies -- that we will automatically win."
 
The campaign would not say how much tonight's event raised, but an invitation listed minimum contributions to the Obama/DNC Victory Fund as $1,000, with co-chairmen raising as much as $28,500. Obama also came away with a few gifts, including a Hawaiian-style Red Sox jersey, and a "Happy Birthday" rendition by Harry Connick Jr.
 
Sen. John Kerry, who introduced Obama, joked that what he really wanted for his birthday was "Indiana, Colorado and Virginia." But instead, Kerry offered even harsher criticism of McCain. "The other thing is that John McCain has showed a willingness to shift on almost every issue," he said. "John McCain said America wanted a different kind of campaign; wanted a campaign of big ideas, not insults; wanted a campaign that took us to a different place. Here we are, with a campaign as we've seen in the last weeks, that has taken the lowest road possible according to every major judgment."

The Boston Globe says the fundraiser raked in $5 million.

The DNC has launched a Web site called "The Next Cheney," which provides some Dem research on some of McCain's top VP possibilities.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch looks at the wealth of both Tim Kaine and Eric Cantor.

More compiled by NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger and Carrie Dann…
REPUBLICANS: Sen. John Thune was on hand with McCain Monday at the Buffalo Chip Campground near Sturgis, S.D., home of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Thune said he warned McCain a politician might not get a friendly welcome from the biker contingent. 
 
DEMOCRATS: Ready for the silly veepstakes knee-jerk of the day? Speculation went aflutter after Sen. Evan Bayh's staff softball team cancelled a game tomorrow, citing "too many people out of town." 
 
IndyStar breaks down the numbers in advance of the upcoming Obama-Bayh visit: "Obama opened his 18th campaign office in Indiana on Monday and expects to open 25 to 30. McCain has yet to open an office here. And Obama is running his third campaign commercial here since the primary; McCain has not bought Indiana TV time." 
 
A poll being released today by Lifetime television finds that 55% of women voters think Obama's choice of a female running mate will make no difference to them; 62% said that of McCain. The full poll, which hopes to explain why Sen. Hillary Clinton lost the primary, will be released at 1 pm. 
 
Meanwhile, Clinton will revive her PAC to help congressional candidates. She will also campaign for Obama in Nevada Friday and in Miami on Aug. 21. Obama is not scheduled to appear with her, but there's "a chance" he could show up in Nevada.

The American Spectator reports "Vice President Dick Cheney will not make an appearance at the Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul next month, according to sources in his office. Cheney has not sought a speaking slot at the convention, nor has his staff sought a role for him at the convention. The McCain campaign has not gone out of its way to reach out to Cheney, though a segment of conservative Republicans had been pressing the campaign to include Cheney in the convention agenda." 
 
USA TODAY's David Jackson asked Megan Mitchell, a Cheney spokeswoman, about the Spectator report. "The vice president's schedule has not been set for next week, let alone next month," she said. "The vice president has, as recently as Friday, been out campaigning for Sen. McCain." 
 
Ted Kennedy taped a video message for the Democratic National Convention.

From Matthew Berger and Carrie Dann
THE SHORT LIST: The perfect storm of a long trip to Indiana and the pre-Olympics timing further fuels the veep speculation around Sen. Evan Bayh. A Huffington Post blogger lays out the hints that would point to a decision Wednesday, but later updates to say that Democrats in his universe say they haven't seen any indication that the announcement will come this week.

The first question Rep. Eric Cantor got on a McCain campaign conference call about energy was about his veep aspirations and reports he's been vetted. Cantor refused to take the bait.

Rep. Chet Edwards says thanks for asking, but please stop asking: "I am deeply grateful to Speaker Pelosi for her gracious comments about me and my work in Congress on behalf of veterans and military families," he said in a statement. "Senator Obama has earned the right to manage his own vice presidential selection process, and out of respect to him, any questions about the process should be directed to the Obama campaign."

ON THE RECORD: In case you were wondering, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter confirms that he's not on Obama's short list.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said again to Fox News' Neal Cavuto today that he doesn't have any indication he's on a short list. But he casually pointed out that he COULD be, and just doesn't even know it. "I don't expect it. I never have," he said of veep speculation. "And, frankly, I think if they want to look at me, they could do it in a lot of other ways. I've pretty well been out there on the public stage now for a while having been a candidate. So it probably wouldn't even be necessary."  

WHAT THEY'RE DOING: Bayh joined Obama in signing a letter to the Pentagon, urging increased medical funding for care of Iraq war veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Joe Lieberman signed the letter as well, but Bayh's is on top. 

Clinton is wined and dined tonight at a reception with NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg. 

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will be the featured speaker on Wednesday at a major Democratic fundraiser for Obama in Leelanau County, Mich. (Why Michigan? The local paper notes that she has ties to the area, where "her family has kept a summer home for decades.")

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declares state of emergencies in several coastal parishes ahead of Tropical Storm Edouard. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty speaks to Farmfest 2008, an agricultural trade show, on Tuesday in Morgan, Minn.

CHATTERING CLASS: Jeffrey Goldberg notes that Cantor misspoke and said Obama had called Israel a "constant sore" -- Obama made the comments about the Middle East conflict -- and never apologized. 

The New Republic's Eve Fairbanks assesses that Sebelius is " just more impressive" than Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. 
 
JUST FOR FUN: You too can own a "Mitt for Veep" poster. The signs touting former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for vice president have been seen in Washington, prompting at least one person to think a decision had been made. Turns out its just clever merchandising.

From NBC's Mark Hudspeth and Domenico Montanaro
After Obama mentioned T. Boone Pickens several times in his energy speech today, Pickens -- not kidding -- had praise for the presumptive Democratic nominee.
 
"I'm strongly encouraged by Senator Obama's speech on America's energy future. Foreign oil is killing our economy and putting our nation at risk," wrote Pickens, a billionaire oil man, who proposes ending America's dependence on oil by promoting renewable enegies like wind power and natural gas. Pickens was one of the principal financiers of the Swift Boat ads against John Kerry. "When I started this campaign my goal was to make this the biggest issue in the coming election and the top priority to be addressed in the first hundred days of the next administration.  This issue is clearly moving up in the priority of political debate; Senator Obama's statement is an indication that is what is indeed happening. I will continue to push this as a priority for the rest of the year."  
 
Earlier, in Obama's speech, the Illinois senator said, "We can't simply pretend, as Sen, McCain does, that we can drill our way out of this problem," Obama said. "T. Boone Pickens is right. We need a much bolder and much bigger set of solutions."