AP - Housing tracts in farm fields aren't the only odd sights showing up in spreading exurbs like this one north of Columbus. Democrats are venturing out here, too, giving the party hope it can win battleground states by at least diluting these local Republican strongholds they know they can't win outright.

Politico - Vice President Dick Cheney is unlikely to share a stage with McCain anytime soon and may not be called on to play any role at all in the 2008 presidential campaign.

AP - Prodded on the campaign trail to talk about his compelling personal story, John McCain usually demurs. "I'm very reluctant to do so, as you know," the presumed Republican nominee told a donor at a small fundraiser here this week.

AP - Democrat Barack Obama called for tighter restrictions on credit card companies Wednesday and accused Republican presidential rival John McCain of doing too little to help Americans avoid crippling debts.

AP - Avoiding casualties in Iraq is more important than bringing troops home, Republican John McCain said Wednesday, feeding an outcry from Democrats who quickly declared him to be out of touch with the public and the needs of the military.

AP - A leader of Democrat Barack Obama's vice presidential research team has resigned amid criticism over his personal loan deals.

AP - President Bush and European allies on Tuesday threatened tougher sanctions to squeeze Iran's finances and derail its potential pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Bush said the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran would endanger world peace.

AP - Democrats say the nation should be ashamed of its ban on gays serving openly in the military. It discourages qualified people from joining the ranks at a time when the armed forces are stretched by two wars, they say, and is degrading to those willing to serve their country.

AP - Republican John McCain accused Democrat Barack Obama on Tuesday of backing measures that would increase both the costs and the taxes paid by small business, and he told a group of owners, "The federal government shouldn't make your work any harder."

AP - Barack Obama is considering former top Pentagon leaders among his possible running mates, which would address his lack of foreign policy experience and balance the military bonafides of a GOP ticket led by a war hero.

Politico - Barack Obama’s vice presidential vetting team will undoubtedly run across some quirky and potentially troublesome issues as it goes about the business of scouring the backgrounds of possible running mates. But it’s unlikely they’ll find one so curious as Virginia Democratic Sen. Jim Webb’s affinity for the cause of the Confederacy.