Political bits

(MSNBC) "Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain’s national campaign general co-chair was being paid by a Swiss bank to lobby Congress about the U.S. mortgage crisis at the same time he was advising McCain about his economic policy, federal records show."

(Forbes/FT) To add to the stink, "UBS (Gramm's employer) has told members of its former private banking team responsible for rich US clients not to travel to America, the Financial Times reported." (Suggesting "concerns" over a DOJ/SEC investigation.)

(NYTimes) While Obama and Clinton set record fundraising the Democratic Convention, like the DNC, is having big trouble raising money. (Or is it just the long primary....?)

(AP) "Obama competitive against McCain with key voters"

(AP) Everybody's saying that Fla and Mich will likely be halved.

(WSJ) Minnesota Democrats hang up possible McCain VP choice Gov. Pawlenty by setting up a veto of mortgage relief. (Look for the Senate to do the same thing to McCain.)

Cillizza says the Clinton's are trying to build an "I told you so."

And, (Rasmussen) Senate Minority leader McConnell is trailing in the latest Kentucky polling. (Only 67% of McCain voters support him.)