In the Headlines

"GOP's celeb-Obama message gains traction" (Carrie Brown, The Politico) - Barack Obama's critics laid down the foundations of the strategy months ago: The Republican National Committee started the "Audacity Watch" back in April, and Karl Rove later fueled the attack by describing the first-term Illinois senator as "coolly arrogant."

"Obama campaigns in Bush strongholds; McCain hammers on Obama" (Stephen Braun and Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times) - Barack Obama campaigned deep in Republican strongholds in southwest Missouri on Wednesday, stressing economic themes to woo fence-sitters and scoffing at rival John McCain for "tired old answers."

"Obama Camp Sees Potential in G.O.P. Discontent" (Patrick Healy, New York Times) - Republican anger over the Iraq war and the economy has left some advisers to Mr. Obama hopeful that they can capture pockets of Republican votes on Election Day in states like Alaska, Indiana, Montana, North Dakota and Virginia. Advisers also said they had recently begun emphasizing Mr. Obama's ties to Republicans as a way to make undecided independent voters more comfortable with him.

"Roles Are Set, as Are the Perils" (Amy Chozick and Laura Meckler, Wall Street Journal) - Presidential rivals Barack Obama and John McCain both appear to be seizing the roles in which they have been cast: Sen. Obama as front-runner and Sen. McCain as underdog. The approach carries perils for both men.

On the Morning Shows

Today - McCain advisor Nicole Wallace on McCain campaign's new ad: “This ad is in some ways a celebration of his celebrity. It makes a serious and sober point. But no one can overlook or obscure the fact that Obama is a celebrity and McCain is a hero."

From Late Night

Stephen Colbert:

(Greg Bobrinskoy contributed to the Morning Report.)