In the Headlines

"Palin delivers star-turning performance at RNC" (Tom Raum and Liz Sidoti, AP) - Sarah Palin delivered. An embattled vice presidential candidate, a novice on the national stage, the head of a family suffering its "ups and downs," the first-term Alaska governor rocked the GOP convention with a star-turning performance.

"Criticizing McCain, Obama Keeps Focus on Economy" (Shailagh Murray, Washington Post) - Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday dismissed the ongoing Republican National Convention as a substance-free spectacle hiding behind Sen. John McCain's biography and ignoring the economic insecurity that many Americans are facing every day as he continued a swing through working-class towns in the Midwest.

"Clinton aides: Palin treatment sexist" (John Harris and Beth Frerking, The Politico) - Sarah Palin found some unlikely allies Wednesday as leading academics and even former top aides to Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed the Republican charge that John McCain's running mate has been subject to a sexist double standard by the news media and Democrats.

"Razor-close votes keep Midwest up for grabs" (Tim Jones, Chicago Tribune) - Iowa is but one measure of the fierce state-by-state combat in the Midwest, the most politically unsettled region in the nation and, as the actions of the candidates suggest, the place that could well anoint the winner in November. Little wonder the candidates are spending so much time in battleground states such as Ohio and Michigan. Little wonder, as well, the Republicans chose St. Paul for their convention.

On the Morning Shows

Good Morning America - Joe Biden on Sarah Palin's speech: "I thought she had a great night. I thought she had a very skillfully written and delivered political speech. I didn't hear a word about health care or the middle class or how people are going to get their kids through college. The phrase "middle class" was not used once. The thing that amazed me about the speech, they don't want to defend the past and they don't have any clear path for what they want to do in the future. I think it's just kind of sad the way they went after Barack Obama. In the first two years in the Senate, this guy lit the place up. He took on the big issues. Barack's record is real and the fact that he hasn't had the time to do what John and I have is irrelevant."

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis - "Anyone who thought that speech was lacking anything wasn't watching or didn't attend the convention last night. I think McCain's really looking forward to delivering his message and he's really got a great plan to give the delegates, to give the country."

(Greg Bobrinskoy contributed to the Morning Report.)