Republican presidential hopeful John McCain falls behind Democratic rival Barack Obama , according to a new raft of polls that look at the race from national and battleground state perspectives. McCain faces Obama tonight in the second presidential debate.
Political Machine: Guilt by Association
Also: McCain Tied to Iran-Contra Case

GOP running mate Sarah Palin broadens her attack on Barack Obama, resurrecting the controversy over his inflammatory former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. And she hammers away at the Democratic presidential nominee's former association with 1960s radical Bill Ayers, although she tones down some of her comments.
Also See: The Gloves Come Off in Presidential Race
Political Machine: McCain Releases the Hounds | Obama Revives Keating Five

The presidential race gets nasty with both campaigns dredging up events from decades ago to smear one another. The campaign of Democrat Barack Obama highlights Republican John McCain's role in the 1990s Keating Five scandal. That move comes after Sarah Palin's charge that Obama "pals around with terrorists" because of his past association with 1960s radical Bill Ayers.
Also See: Rove Predicts Election Winner | Obama Ad Calls McCain 'Erratic'

Karl Rove, the Republican mastermind who helped engineer two successful presidential campaigns, says his calculations indicate Democrat Barack Obama would have enough electoral votes to win the White House if the election were held now. But he cautions that no concrete prediction is possible since the race is still "susceptible to rapid changes."

A day after Sarah Palin says Barack Obama is "palling around with terrorists," the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign comes out with a TV ad calling John McCain "erratic" and "out of touch on the economy."
Also See: It's Up to McCain to Turn Race Around

With presidential rival Barack Obama leading in crucial battleground states at a time of economic crisis, the onus is on John McCain to stanch the bleeding in a challenging political environment. The McCain camp is already planning to aggressively portray Obama as too liberal and risky in the days ahead.
Also: Democrats Could Hit 60 Senate Seats