Poll shows Obama with double-digit lead
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama pushed to a double-digit lead over his Republican challenger, the latest Battleground Poll indicates.
The Illinois senator held a 48 percent-to-38 percent lead over Arizona Republican senator John McCain in the Battleground Poll conducted by George Washington University, Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group, The Hill reported Friday.
Obama's favorability rating was 62 percent, while McCain's was 53 percent, poll results released Thursday indicate.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden's favorability rating climbed to 57 percent while GOP vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was viewed favorably by 48 percent of the voters. The two were tied a week ago, the Washington publication said.
The poll also indicated that more than half of people surveyed said McCain is running a more negative campaign, while one in five said Obama's campaign is more negative.
Obama trails McCain 46 percent to 43 percent on the question of who is the stronger leader, the poll indicated.
The Battleground Poll interviewed 800 likely voters and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
State races as fierce as national tilt
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The heated U.S. presidential race is mirrored in several gubernatorial races, with observers saying some state races mirror their national counterpart.
While the national race has trumped many state races, some of this year's 11 gubernatorial tilts have been as fierce in their own right, the Los Angeles Times said.
In Missouri, Democrat state Attorney General Jay Nixon is in a heated race with Republican U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof to succeed the GOP's Matt Blunt in the governor's mansion in Jefferson City.
"What you see nationally are the issues that state candidates here are wrestling with," University of Missouri political scientist David Robertson said. "The economy, education, healthcare -- it's what's important in Missouri."
The debate in Indiana between Republican incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels and former Democratic Rep. Jill Long Thompson is over privatizing state assets and agencies, the Times said.
And in the North Carolina race, Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Republican Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory talk about immigration reforms and stem cell research.
"(We're) talking about small percentages of who wins or who loses," said Nick Ayers, executive director of the Republican Governors Association. "When you're talking about races this close, a victory can make all the difference up and down the ticket."
Lawmakers close meeting on Palin probe
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Alaskan lawmakers looking into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her office met behind closed doors Friday to question their investigator.
Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, Legislative Council chairman, didn't indicate how long the non-public session might last or when investigator Steve Branchflower's report would be made public, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The Legislative Council hired Branchflower in August to investigate whether Republican vice presidential candidate Palin or members of her administration abused their powers by firing Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan because he would not fire a state trooper, Palin's former brother-in-law involved in a child custody dispute with the governor's sister.
During the closed legislative hearing, about 50 supporters of the governor stood on the sidewalk outside the legislative building, waving signs reading "Palin Power," "Sarah's Right" and "Not Guilty," the Daily News reported. The group also chanted "Go, Sarah, Go" and "Who's the best mom in the world -- Sarah."
Ted Stevens allowed 5 character witnesses
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The judge in Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' criminal trial ruled Friday that five character witnesses can be called, about half the number the defense team sought.
"You select the five or I'll select the five," U.S. District Judgte Emmet Sullivan told defense attorneys, The Hill reported.
Stevens, 84, the longest-serving Republican senator, has pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations on his Senate financial disclosure forms.
The character witnesses are a major part of the defense's strategy of showing Stevens is an honest man and would not knowingly lie under oath, the Washington publication reported.
Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, the first defense witness called Thursday, testified that Stevens is an honest man who had a high reputation in the Senate.
Also scheduled to testify is former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It was not known who else would be called, The Hill said.
Buffett tops list of U.S. billionaires
NEW YORK, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A stock surge has again made Berkshire Hathaway Chief Executive Officer Warren Buffett the richest person in the United States, a Forbes Magazine report says.
Buffett, whose wealth is now set at $58 billion, had lost the top spot to Microsoft founder Bill Gates several weeks ago but regained the No. 1 position in an update of the Forbes 400 list, CNBC reported Friday.
A September price gain of 17 percentage points in Berkshire Hathaway shares pushed Buffett back on top, the broadcaster said.
Gates' wealth was listed at $55.5 billion.
