AP - Republican John McCain, buffeted by criticism about his response to Wall Street's financial problems, said Thursday he would fire the SEC chairman and create a special trust to help strengthen weak institutions.

AFP - John McCain's campaign Thursday refused to say whether the Republican candidate would welcome Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero -- the leader of a key NATO ally -- to his White House.

AP - Republican Gov. Haley Barbour agreed Thursday to move a special election for Trent Lott's old Senate seat to near the top of the November ballot, ending a dispute that had threatened to delay the start of absentee voting.

AP - Palin's husband joins witnesses stonewalling probe of charges GOP VP nominee abused power ... First Clinton, now Palin out of NYC rally; organizers say no American politicians coming ... Barack Obama on the ballot in Brazil; Is the Democrat keeping his options open after November? ...

AP - Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said his party's vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, lacks foreign policy experience and called it a "stretch" to say she's qualified to be president.

AP - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Thursday he would fire Securities and Exchange Chairman Christopher Cox if he were president, accusing the former GOP congressman of betraying the public's trust.

Reuters - A general news correspondent with Reuters in the United States, Andy Sullivan has covered hurricanes, executions, elections, scandals and computer hackers. He has been with the company since 2000. In the following story, he describes playing baseball with lawmakers and lobbyists at the Republican event.

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.