Just when you thought it couldn't get any uglier:

A San Bernardino County Republican group has distributed a newsletter picturing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on a $10 bill adorned with a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken.

A black member of the club said:

"This is what keeps African-Americans from joining the Republican Party," she said. "I'm really hurt. I cried for 45 minutes."

To its credit, the California Republican Party denounced the illustration.

Update: As noted in the comments, the picture is actually of a $10 food stamp.

Add Bon Jovi to the list of musicians who have asked the McCain campaign to stop using their music at campaign appearances.

"We are surprised to hear that our song, Who Says You Can't Go Home, was used by the McCain campaign at rallies yesterday and today," the statement said.

"We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past 25 years. The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the de facto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities.

"Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of Home."

McCain used the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up" last week without the band's permission. The Stones' "It's All Over Now" would have been a more apt choice.

Booman Tribune has this video of a Sarah Palin rally that will make you want to throw up.

?

Does it mean Obama isn't out of the woods yet? I don't think so. There are more of us than them. The radical right fringe exist but not in enough numbers to take over our Government -- if all of us get out and vote.

It's a good reminder though that we can't take anything for granted and everyone has to get out and vote -- early if possible, to avoid the chance something will go awry at your polling station.

This story caught my eye:

Social Security benefits for 50 million people will go up 5.8 percent next year, the largest increase in more than a quarter century.

Juxtaposed with this:

2008 is currently tracking as the 10th worst first half year performance for the Dow with a decline of -14.46% YTD as of Friday's close (7/27).

Since 7/27, the Dow has melted down. But John McCain supported privatizing Social Security:

It seems Joe the Plumber wants 4 more years of the last 8, with social security privatization. [More...]

In the wake of another Presidential debate, we'll follow the polling for the next three nights closely. I think the race is over as I have for some time. In any event, some updated results.

DKos/R2000 has Obama holding a steady 11 point lead, 52-41. Ras has Obama holding a 4 point lead, 50-46. Hotline has Obama up 8, 49-41. Gallup expanded has Obama up 8, 52-44. A slew of big media polls have Obama up big from 9 (LATimes), 10 (WaPo) to 14 (NYTimes).

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Last night, John McCain said:

[E]lections have consequences when presidents are nominated. This is a very important issue we're talking about. . . . I do not believe that someone who has supported Roe v. Wade that would be part of those qualifications [to be on the Supreme Court].

Barack Obama said:

[I]t is true that [choosing Supreme Court justices] is going to be, I think, one of the most consequential decisions of the next president. It is very likely that one of us will be making at least one and probably more than one appointments and Roe versus Wade probably hangs in the balance. Now I would not provide a litmus test. But I am somebody who believes that Roe versus Wade was rightly decided.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Barack Obama had a lot of very good moments last night. On substance, I thought this exchange with McCain (on health care mandates and tax credits for health care for small businesses) was his best, via Josh Marshall:

Transcript on the flip.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Last night:

MCCAIN: Well, thank you, Bob. I just want to get back to this home ownership. During the Depression era, we had a thing called the [H]ome [O]wnership [L]oan [C]orporation. And they went out and bought up these mortgages. And people were able to stay in their homes, and eventually the values of those homes went up, and they actually made money. And, by the way, this was a proposal made by Senator Clinton not too long ago.

So, obviously, if we can start increasing home values, then there will be creation of wealth.

Sounds like an endorsement of a new HOLC. I hope that means Senator McCain will vote for it next year in the Senate.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

So says Democracy Corps, which focus grouped the debate:

John McCain entered tonight’s debate needing to halt Barack Obama’s momentum and fundamentally change the dynamic of the race.Not only did he fail to achieve this goal, McCain dug himself an even deeper hole.Undecided voters watching the debate felt McCain gave a decidedly un-presidential performance, appearing rude, negative, and easily flustered – a stark contrast to Barack Obama’s cool, commanding presence.Obama was seen as the clear victor in the debate, and a group that was much more disposed to support McCain at the outset instead shifted decisively toward Obama (42 to 20 percent) after viewing the debate.

Key word descriptions of John McCain's debate demeanor from Patrick Healy at the New York Times:

tetchy ... increasingly inconsistent and testy ... churlish ... tactics and tone appeared not to help him ... voice turned edgy at times ... frozen smile and wide eyes — which blinked frequently and distractingly at times — seemed a little strange ... [quoting Robert Shrum] "confused, ineffective, at times stumbling"

From Mary McNamara at the Los Angeles Times:

at times could not contain himself, muttering and issuing small grunts ... eye-widening and explosive snorts ... simply rude

From a San Francisco Chronicle editorial:

[more ...]

Did McCain catch up? I found him incredibly unappealing. He seems like a very small man, in all respects.

He played to his radical right base. He knows that getting out their vote is the only way he can win, since he has lost with independents and all other women outside the base.

I'd bet even Joe the Plumber is voting for Obama.

Update: The CNN focus group of undecided voters in Ohio say Obama won and three decided to vote for him tonight. Ayers didn't resonate with the group.

Via Politico: In Katie Couric's post debate interview with Joe the Plumber, aka Joe Wurzelbacher, Joe said Obama has a "tap dance...almost as good as Sammy Davis, Jr."

"McCain was solid in his performance," he says. "I still don't know where he stands," he says of Obama. "I'm middle class. I can't have my
taxes raised any more."

He also says he actually isn't in the bracket where Obama would raise his taxes -- but he's worried that Obama will shift the bracket down.

He also said that, in his encounter with Obama, the Illinois Senator [has] "a tap dance...almost as good as Sammy Davis, Jr."

Bye, Joe. I think your 15 minutes are up.