In the Headlines

"Economic Fears Give Obama Clear Lead Over McCain in Poll" (Dan Balz and Jon Cohen, Washington Post) - Turmoil in the financial industry and growing pessimism about the economy have altered the shape of the presidential race, giving Democratic nominee Barack Obama the first clear lead of the general-election campaign over Republican John McCain, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News national poll.

"Obama Leads McCain in Four Battleground States" (Sara Murray, Wall Street Journal) - Polls from four key swing states show no big national movement after this summer's widely watched party conventions, and they offer signs that the candidates' handling of economic questions in coming debates could be decisive in the presidential election.

"How rivals will seek edge in 1st debate" (Jill Zuckman and John McCormick, Chicago Tribune) - As they meet at the University of Mississippi for the first of the three presidential debates, the two candidates have to do more than demonstrate mastery of the issues that are put to them, analysts say. They have to worry about their demeanor, with McCain avoiding seeming too hot and Obama too cold. They may need to offer their criticism leavened with humor, but they have to show a serious vision for the future too.

"For Palin in New York, a Predebate Introduction to Motorcade Diplomacy" (Michael Cooper and Kate Zernike, New York Times) - Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska met her first head of state on Tuesday as she crisscrossed New York City receiving foreign policy tutorials in advance of her debate next week with Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

On the Morning Shows

Today - Sen. Jim Demint on the bailout proposal: "We really can't trust the information we're getting at this point. We need to realize it was the government who messed this up. I think what we need to forget this bailout and focus on free enterprise solutions. The government broke it, I don't trust it to fix it. I agree we have a problem but the way to fix it is not more government."

Sen. Chuck Schumer: "The plan was basically a blank check. We have to have someone looking over the Treasury secretary's shoulder. We have different ideas but the Secretary has shown an openness to compromise."

(Greg Bobrinskoy contributed to the Morning Report.)