AP - Republican presidential nominee John McCain, buoyed by a unifying GOP convention and the spark of running mate Sarah Palin, plunged into a competitive, eight-week struggle with Democrat Barack Obama over which party can best bring change to Washington.

AP - McCain preps for big TV speech at convention as workers rebuild stage ... Obama strategist: Palin looks a lot like Washington politics she seeks to change ... Biden says he'll vigorously challenge Palin but refrain from personal attacks ... Environmentalists say Palin's record on wildlife as harsh as Alaska itself

Bloomberg - Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The site of one of the worst U.S. bridge disasters served as a backdrop yesterday for House Republicans seeking more highway money over the opposition of President George W. Bush and presidential nominee John McCain.

AFP - The economy may be the number one issue in the White House race, but the Republican National Convention has yet to dwell on the troubles of Americans trying to make ends meet.

AFP - Vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin won high marks in the US press Thursday for her performance at the Republican convention, with commentators saying she could no longer be dismissed as a political amateur after electrifying an audience of party faithful.

AP - The Republican National Convention showcased a Native American color guard, a black preacher and video footage of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, all part of its effort to present the GOP as a picture of diversity. What it hasn't offered is many minorities speaking from the podium in prime time, or sitting among the delegates.

AP - John McCain embarks on his final drive for the White House Thursday night, accepting the Republican presidential nomination and addressing the party's national convention from a stage that workers were hastily rebuilding to fit his "town hall" approach.

AP - Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was at federal court Thursday for sentencing in a public corruption case that upended Washington politics and contributed to the Republican loss of Congress in 2006.

AP - Democrats shot back at GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Thursday, saying her convention speech was laden with partisan attacks but devoid of substantive answers about where the Republican ticket would take the nation.