How do you make voters care about who will be lieutenant governor of Missouri for the next four years? "You don't," says Peter Kinder, the Republican incumbent who will face Democratic challenger Rep. Sam Page on Nov. 4. Still, Kinder and Page have clashed over health care, the welfare of senior citizens, even a bicycle race that Kinder takes great pride in and Page brands a mismanaged, misguided priority. And that's just for starters.

No one was predicting the vote total when the House takes up the revised economic rescue plan, but the very fact that Democrats scheduled a vote for Friday indicated that leaders think it now has enough support to pass. | Washington Post

In more bad economic news out Friday morning, employers cut twice as many jobs in September as they did in August or July. | New York Times

Missouri's 9th congressional district is considered one of the most competitive races in the country. The district, which stretches from west St. Charles County to Columbia, pits Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer against Democrat Judy Baker, in a Missouri version of country mouse versus city mouse.

Sarah Barracuda showed up for the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis Thursday night. Alaska Gov. Palin, the Republican nominee, looked staight into the camera to appeal directly to "Joe Sixpack," promising to put the "government back on the side of the people and to stop the greed on Wall Street." It wasn't until the last half hour that Sen. Joe Biden seemed to find his voice. (Photo courtesy of Washington University)

Updated 7:30 p.m., Thurs., Oct. 2: Despite approval by the Senate, Reps. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country, William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis and Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, continue to oppose the now-$800 billion solution to the nation's economic crisis.

Despite some memorable zingers over the years, vice presidential debates historically have been sideshows to the main event -- the presidential race. This year, though, the debate between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin is the hottest political ticket going. What lessons might the two candidates have learned from earlier debates?

An assortment of sweeteneers crept into the bailout bill in the Senate - widely-used business tax breaks, relief from the alternative minimum tax and an increase in federal insurance for bank deposits. Also, aid to rural schools and a requirement that most insurers treat mental health like any other medical problem. Also, tax breaks for Hollywood producers and makers of toy wooden arrows. Read the ProPublica story.

The strategy is working to lure support from some House members, but others are repelled.| Politico