In the Headlines

"Mark Warner's selection as keynote speaker reflects Democrats' hopes for Virginia" (Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times) - But the announcement Wednesday that popular former Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner would give the keynote address to millions of TV viewers on Aug. 26, the second night of this year's convention, signifies Democrats' ambitions for his home state as well as for Warner himself.

"McCain hints at pro-choice running mate" (Stephen Dinan and Ralph Hallow, Washington Times) - Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that he would not rule out naming a pro-choice vice-presidential nominee, saying the abortion issue amounts to "a disagreement" and that he thinks conservatives would accept former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who is pro-choice, as a potential running mate.

"To aid Obama, Kerry takes on an old foe" (Foon Rhee, Boston Globe) - Senator John F. Kerry yesterday rejoined the battle with one of his fiercest antagonists from his 2004 presidential bid, launching a website to combat a new book highly critical of Barack Obama, his party's presumptive nominee this year.

"New Books Aim To Unweave the Obama Narrative" (Eli Saslow, Washington Post) - Two weeks before Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for president, conservative author Jerome R. Corsi has attacked his story with a narrative of his own: The son of an "alcoholic polygamist," Obama deals with his abandonment issues and "black rage" by experimenting with drugs and radical thought. He makes a calculated entrance into politics despite having accomplished little and having developed some "anti-American" sentiments. Once in office, he regularly manipulates the political machine and becomes a liberal who will "divide America."

On the Morning Shows

Fox and Friends - Bill Kristol: "The Obama campaign expects Colin Powell to endorse Barack Obama. They're pretty confident of that. They had hoped he might do it with a big speech at the Democratic Convention and that's what I reported yesterday. Sec. Powell has said he's not going to either convention, so I'm sure he's telling the truth. So there will not be a Powell endorsement at the Democratic Convention, but I know from sources close to the Obama campaign they expect a Colin Powell endorsement."