Afternoon blogging...

It's going to be a long night...

Anyway, be sure to choose who you think will win in competitive races for both the Senate and the House over here.

Is comedian Jon Stewart the left's answer to conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly?

Paul Mecurio highlights a week of funny in Columbus this weekend.

Paul McCartney is looking at another world tour towards the end of 2007.

Jim Belushi is not in the shadows anymore.

Mike Weaver is counting on voter angst in less than two weeks.

Apparently, the media forgot what Jerry Abramson is running for. But then, you could have said the same thing about Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley a few years ago.

Ben Chandler took some time out for a fundraiser for the UK College Democrats.

"I'm tickled to death that you all are doing this at UK," Chandler said in regard to the students in College Democrats and their efforts and involvement.

He said he understands how difficult it is to maintain an interest in modern politics, considering the nasty political commercials on television and the animosity found on different sides of issues. But he also emphasized the importance of trying to improve this situation.

"You have to look at the stakes," Chandler said. "The stakes are your future.

"You guys have a chance now to get in on what I think is a big wave in the country," Chandler said.

Chandler is currently running for re-election to his seat in the U.S. House. He serves as the representative for Kentucky's 6th District, which includes Lexington. Chandler has no Republican opponent in the race.

Since he became involved in Kentucky politics in 1991 as the state auditor, Republicans have been dominant, Chandler said. But he thinks this is about to change.

"This year, for the first time in 15 years, it's finally going back the other way," he said.

Democrats may have a chance to turn things around, Chandler said. He specifically addressed debt and education, saying Republicans have left the weight of paying off the national debt on the backs of young people.

Evan Bayh helped out Ken Lucas recently.

Indiana U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh will decide by Christmas if he will seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

But Bayh spent part of Wednesday afternoon raising money for the campaign of Ken Lucas, the Boone County Democrat running in the 4th Congressional District against Republican incumbent Geoff Davis.

"I know Ken will be both tough and smart when it comes to defending America," Bayh said at the Edgewood law office of Lucas' son, Lance. "The threat is still there and we're not doing nearly enough."[...]

Lucas called Bayh "my kind of Democrat."

"He's a middle-of-the-road kind of guy," Lucas said. "I've always considered myself a middle-of-the road kind of a Democrat, not too far to the left or the right but sort of down the center.

Senator Max Cleland is in Louisville campaigning for John Yarmuth and Mike Weaver.

Bush signed into law a 700 mile fence along the border.

Without border agents to patrol the barrier, smugglers would blast holes in remote stretches, some critics have said. "The bill the president signed today represents the worst in election-year politics," said Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.). "It is an empty gesture for the sole purpose of sending a false message about the security of our nation."

Barry Welsh and Mike Pence will be facing off in the sole debate of the campaign season on Monday, October 30, from 6-7:30 in Muncie, Indiana, at North Side Middle School. The debate is sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

It's not everyday that you see something like this. If I read it correctly, Caryn Garber, who is a staffer for Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL), threatened to lower funding to the Tel Aviv University unless Robert Schrayer dropped his backing of Dan Seals, the Democratic candidate against Kirk this year.

According to Thursday’s Chicago Sun-Times, Caryn Garber, a staffer for Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), wanted to force Robert Schrayer, an insurance magnate, to drop his backing for Dan Seals, a Democrat challenging Kirk. Schrayer, chairman of the Tel Aviv University American Council and a board member of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, had supported Kirk in earlier campaigns.

Garber e-mailed Sam Witkin, president of TAU’s American Council, to ask him to contact Itamar Rabinovich, TAU’s president and a former Israeli envoy to Washington. “Itamar should call Bob and tell him his actions can have a very bad effect on the university,” the e-mail reportedly said. “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Kirk is on the U.S. House of Representatives’ powerful Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee.

Garber’s e-mail “does not reflect my view,” said Kirk, whose district in Chicago’s northern suburbs has a large Jewish population. “When I heard about it I was upset.” He said he reprimanded Garber and told her she would be fired if it happened again.

Why was Garber not fired in the first place?

Wow, didn't see this one coming. It goes into effect on November 30th.

8 pm/ET: My Name Is Earl
8:30 pm: The Office
9 pm: Scrubs (returning for Season 6)
9:30 pm: 30 Rock (relocated from Wednesday)
10 pm: ER

That's all for now.

GO CARDS!