My last Sarah Palin post for the night: Her gaffe in San Francisco today, calling Afghanistan "our neigboring country."

Three days after a mostly gaffe-free debate performance, the Alaska governor fumbled during a speech in which she praised U.S. soldiers for “fighting terrorism and protecting us and our democratic values”.

“They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan,” she told several hundred supporters at a fundraising event in San Francisco.

In other election news, a new poll by the Denver Post finds McCain and Obama in a dead heat. I don't think Colorado will matter -- it's going to be about turnout in the big states like Florida, Ohio, PA and MI and Obama's massive voter registration drive seems to be working.

I've got very early court in the morning so let's make this an open thread.

Sen. Barack Obama is fighting back against McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin's personal attacks against him. Sunday night he released a web video to supporters, criticizing his role in the "Keating V" scandal. The difference: Obama's ads and attack are true...and related to Mcain's political record.

The short video, being e-mailed to millions of Obama supporters, summarizes a 13-minute Web "documentary" that the campaign plans to distribute Monday, spokesman Tommy Vietor said. He said McCain's involvement with convicted thrift owner Charles Keating "is a window into McCain's economic past, present and future."

Here's a little history of the Keating V and McCain from an Arizona paper. You can watch the full 13 minute version here beginning at noon ET Monday. [More...]

Via Think Progress, Gwenn Ifill was on Meet the Press today.

During the vice presidential debate on Thursday, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced that she “may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear.” In fact, “On at least 10 occasions, Palin gave answers that were nonspecific, completely generic, pivoted away from the question at hand, or simply ignored it.” On NBC’s Meet The Press today, debate moderator Gwen Ifill said that Palin “more than ignored” her questions. “Blew me off I think is the technical term,” said Ifill.

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg today said seven employees of the office of Gov. Sarah Palin will honor the subpooenas issued by the legislative committee investigating whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in seeking to have then-public safety manager Walt Monegan fire her brother-in-law. Colberg's announcement follows last week's court ruling refusing to toss the legislative probe.

The Legislature's investigator, retired state prosecutor Steve Branchflower, is expected to complete his report by Friday into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power by trying to force the firing of a state trooper involved in a child custody battle with her sister.

What about Todd Palin? He's still resisting the legislative subpoena, agreeing instead to an interview by the personnel board investigator. The personnel board is under control of the Executive branch. [More...]

Joe Biden's mother-in-law died this afternoon.

"The Obama-Biden campaign today canceled Sen. Biden's schedule Monday and Tuesday because of the passing of Jill Biden's mother, Bonny Jean Jacobs, this afternoon after a long illness," Biden spokesman David Wade said in a statement.

Our condolences to the Biden family.

Given Barack Obama's secure position, he doesn't need to describe John McCain as "erratic in crisis."

It is a loaded term and a not-subtle suggestion that the 72-year-old senator's age and temperament might be an issue.

McCain's temperament is an issue, but not one the Obama campaign ads need to address directly. At this point in the campaign, Obama has no reason not to take the high road. Apart from that quotation, the ad nicely links McCain to Bush on the economy while condemning McCain for launching false attacks when he should be proposing economic solutions. Does it work for you?

During the last few months, some site commenters have feared (or gleefully predicted) that an all-out right wing Rove-style assault would swing public opinion against Obama in the closing weeks of the campaign. The assault has commenced. If the best the McCain campaign can muster is a rehash of accusations that the public has already assessed and rejected, there isn't much to fear. The reality of looming economic disaster leaves voters with no time or patience for the politics of distraction.

Campaigns go negative because it works, but the strategy has a cost. Nate Silver analyzes the risk McCain runs of damaging his own image by relying so heavily on negative advertising. Silver's explanation is reassuring:

[more ...]

At the beginning of the year, I changed my residence and voter registration to Florida. I am there most of the time now. I can't say that my decision was driven by the November election, but the thought did cross my mind.

New York is a Democratic lock so my vote is not needed there. Florida is an uphill climb, or rather, it was, as polls now show Obama with a Florida lead. Here's a thought experiment - supposing you had to pick a state where you could vote in November which one would it be? I would have said Ohio, but today's Ohio Dispatch poll has Obama leading by 7. Michigan? McCain pulled out. Virginia? Still fairly close there. Ok, I pick Colorado. Because if Obama wins Colorado, his Western strategy (I figure New Mexico and Nevada come with Colorado and Iowa is in the bag) insures an Obama win no matter what happens elsewhere in the battlegrounds. Where would you vote?

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Another day, another round of tracking polls telling us McCain's goose is cooked. DKos/R2000 has Obama maintaining a 12 point lead, 52-40. Ras ticks Obama up 1 to a 7 point lead, 51-44. I'll add Hotline and Gallup as they post their results during the day.

What can McCain do? I know the personal trashing of Obama will come - Ayers, Wright and whatever else they can find in the kitchen sink will be thrown. Of course, thanks to the extended primary, that is all old news (thank Hillary for the exciting, extended contested primary - Obama is teflon on these things now I think.) Here's a selfish (for me) idea - how about McCain flank Obama with a bold plan to help the middle class and homeowners instead of Wall Street? How about fighting for and promising a new HOLC? Just a thought Sen. McCain.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Forcing John McCain to play defense on a second front, Barack Obama shifted his attack today from the economy to health care, giving a crowd in Newport News, Virginia a detailed comparison between his health care plan and McCain's. Perhaps too detailed.

Obama's speech was more loaded with policy than most, and he seemed to realize that many in the crowd wanted a pep rally more than a detailed examination of health care practices. "You still with me?" he said halfway through.

McCain's campaign responded by trying to associate Obama with the actions of William Ayers, a distraction that Obama defused long ago.

"On a day when new reports have surfaced about Barack Obama's long association with a domestic terrorist, our Democratic opponent had the audacity to call John McCain's health care plan 'radical.' The American people know radical when they hear it, and John McCain is not the candidate in this election they should be concerned about," [McCain spokesman Tucker] Bounds said.

Another example of John McCain's "respectful" campaigning.

Sarah Palin today on the campaign trail:

Palin told a group of donors at a private airport, "Our opponent ... is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." She also said, "This is not a man who sees America as you see America and as I see America."

The Obama campaign called Palin's remarks offensive but not surprising in light of news stories detailing the campaign's come-from-behind offensive. "What's clear is that John McCain and Sarah Palin would rather spend their time tearing down Barack Obama than laying out a plan to build up our economy," Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan said in a statement.

More desperation to come. The New York Times reports McCain said yesterday at a rally in Pueblo, Colorado "the gloves will come off" against Obama Tuesday night. Meaning, during the debate and in the ads to follow.

All polls for the 9/30-10/2 period. Dkos/R2000 has Obama up 12, 52-40. Ras has Obama up 6, 51-45. Gallup has Obama up 8, 50-42. Hotline has Obama up 7, 48-41.

Two of the three days of polling in these polls came the nights after the Biden/Palin debate. It clearly was a nonevent. McCain's last stand comes Tuesday night - in his townhall/debate with Obama. Absent a miracle, this Presidential election is over.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only.