AP - Sarah Palin, cloistered since her surprise pick as the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate, symbolically butted in Wednesday night and answered her first question from a member of the public since joining the ticket.

AP - Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden said Wednesday it took a financial crisis on Wall Street for Republican candidate John McCain to realize the U.S. economy is in trouble.

AP - Alaska's investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power, a potentially damaging distraction for John McCain's presidential campaign, ran into intensified resistance Tuesday from state Republican lawmakers who want to end it or delay it past the election.

AP - Economic crisis suddenly dominates presidential campaign, leaving pigs, lipstick behind ... McCain adviser says GOP ticket doesn't have the business experience to run a major company ... McCain campaign keeps Palin far from prying eyes and reporters' questions ... Women's rights groups back Obama ... Obama taps Barbra Streisand to sing at big-money fundraiser in Beverly Hills

AP - A top congressional Democrat asked the Justice Department Tuesday to block Mississippi's Republican governor from putting a special election for Trent Lott's old Senate seat near the bottom of the November ballot.

AP - GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is effectively turning over questions about her record as Alaska's governor to John McCain's political campaign, part of an ambitious Republican strategy to limit any embarrassing disclosures and carefully shape her image for voters in the rest of the country.