Chafee defends use of 'cocky wacko'

Lincoln Chafee became an independent last year.

So much for a respite from personal attacks in the presidential race.

Former senator Lincoln Chafee, the Rhode Island Republican who is backing Democrat Barack Obama, yesterday stood by his remarks calling Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin a "cocky wacko."

Chafee, who turned from Republican to independent last year, told an audience Tuesday at the New America Foundation in Washington that Palin has revived a "lackluster McCain candidacy," but also energized Obama supporters.

Yesterday, Chafee said that he objected to much of Palin's convention speech, particularly her mocking assertion that Obama was too worried with Al Qaeda terrorists getting read their legal rights. That comment "got to the core of everything wrong with the last eight years," he said. "I consider that wacky, and certainly her tone was very, very cocky. So I thought they were appropriate words."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Palin administration may fight subpoenas in court
ANCHORAGE - Governor Sarah Palin's administration is threatening legal action to block any subpoenas by the Alaska Legislature as part of its investigation into whether she abused her authority in trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.

In a letter to lawmakers, an assistant attorney general wrote that the administration was prepared to go to court to quash the subpoenas of Department of Administration staff if they're issued as expected today. However, the letter also suggested that if lawmakers agree that Palin has legal authority to designate staff to review confidential personnel files, the staff members will voluntarily speak with the Legislature's investigator - no subpoenas necessary.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Film shows McCain's release from prison
STOCKHOLM - Swedish broadcaster SVT yesterday released a previously unseen film clip purportedly showing the release of presidential candidate John McCain to the US military in Hanoi in 1973.

A former SVT reporter, Erik Eriksson, said he found the video in the network's archives.

SVT posted the edited 39-second clip on its website yesterday. It shows McCain stepping off a bus with other prisoners. He has a pronounced limp but is not using crutches. It then shows McCain standing in a lineup when his name is called. He walks up to salute and shake hands with US military officers.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Obama, McCain both tied to financial firms
Both John McCain and Barack Obama had ties to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as they grappled with the government takeover announced on Sunday.

Their campaigns also have been the beneficiary of largess from another financial titan that is now teetering - Lehman Brothers - and could seek government help.

Lehman employees have made the Wall Street firm among the biggest contributors to both presidential candidates - $370,524 to Obama and $117,500 to McCain, the Center for Responsive Politics reported yesterday.

Overall, the nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog said it has identified more than $1.9 million in federal contributions to candidates and parties from Lehman's PAC and individuals for the 2008 election.

FOON RHEE

Palin sought guidance from influential pastor
The Rev. Rick Warren is a best-selling author, pastor of a Southern California megachurch, and now a presence in the presidential race.

Last month, he hosted a forum on faith at his Saddleback Church where he interviewed John McCain and Barack Obama back-to-back in their first sort-of joint appearance of the general election.

This week, McCain's running mate Sarah Palin called him, Warren told a Los Angeles radio station.

"The question I asked her was, 'How can I pray for you?' " Warren said, The Hill newspaper reported online yesterday.

Palin then "asked me to send her some Bible verses on how do you deal with the unfair, unjust attacks and the mean-spirited criticism that comes in," Warren said.

FOON RHEE

Shifts seen in latest batch of poll figures
The latest round of swing state polls shows Barack Obama gaining in Ohio, John McCain lengthening his lead in Florida, and a tightening race in Pennsylvania - three states with a combined 68 electoral votes of the 270 needed to win the presidency.

In Ohio, Obama leads McCain 49 percent to 44 percent in the Quinnipiac University survey released this morning. In the same poll last month, they were tied.

In Florida, McCain is ahead 50 percent to 43 percent, up from a 4-percentage-point edge last month, according to Quinnipiac. McCain is getting a boost from his pick of Sarah Palin as running mate - about 60 percent of likely voters say she was a good choice - and from former backers of Hillary Clinton, 25 percent of whom are supporting him, up from 14 percent last month.

And in Pennsylvania, Obama's lead of 48 percent to 45 percent is within the margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Obama had a 49 percent to 42 percent lead last month.

FOON RHEE