• Iraq possessed no WMDs or facilities to create them, concludes final report; news could dent Bush's image. [WP, WP, NYT, USAT]
• With 26 days to go, timing of intel report bad for Bush. [WP]
•Bush debuts harsh stump speech, asserts Kerry will "weaken America and make the world more dangerous." [WP, NYT, USAT, LAT, WSJ, BG]
•Kerry gains ground on Bush in tracking poll; minority says they are better off economically under Bush. [WP]
• Veep debate language continues on campaign trail. Lynne: "Don't you think the senator ought to go to the Senate once in a while?" Edwards: "The struggle with the truth is not just about whether we met before. They struggle on the most basic issues facing America today." [WP, NYT, USAT, LAT]
•KE04 concedes Missouri, Arizona, Louisiana; BC04 may give up on Washington, Maine. Cook estimates 11 states with 123 electoral votes remain open. [WSJ]
• Webmasters of Factcheck.com had their own rapid response; logged 50,000 hits in first two hours. [WP, USAT, LAT]
• 43.6m viewers tuned to veep debate, largest in 12 years. [NYT, WSJ]
• Poll respondents curious about Kerry's faith, but subject makes Kerry uncomfortable. Scholar: "What you're looking for in a campaign is the candidate talks a certain way and the voter says, 'Yeah, I get it.' I think maybe an opportunity is being missed." [NYT, BG]
•Cheney swiftly outmaneuvered Edwards on jumbled charges concerning Halliburton. [WP]
• During debates, candidates avoid crossing "the line" by smiling and using codewords such as "mislead," not lie. [WP]
•Kerry recalls making teacher cry by drawing the birthing process. Teresa to Dr. Phil: "This campaign has really given my boys a chance to see their mother in a situation that isn't mom. . . being the witch of the household. It's, all of a sudden, it's mom out there, really taking it in the chops every now and then." [USAT]
• Race for hearts of Iowans is the longest fight. [NYT]
•Elizabeth Edwards: "Well, duh. The world has changed, and you need to do something about it." [USAT]
• SBVFT backers for Nader. [WP]
•Kerry win would up bond prices, Bush reelection would encourage equity investment; Bush good for oil/autos, Kerry would enact environmental regulations, etc. [WSJ]
•Gore terms Bush's environmental policies "truly radical and breathtakingly irresponsible." [BG]
• "Liberal" line of attack returns. [BG]
