The latest news on the Presidential Campaign, Faith & Politics, U.S. Economy, Military Spending, Global Economy, Israel-Iran, Pakistan, Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Israel, Passing, and Select Op-eds.

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Presidential campaign. A Positively Negative Home Stretch "The waning hours of the longest presidential campaign in history elicited a fresh round of stinging attacks from Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain and their supporters on Sunday, a departure from the positive messages that candidates normally revert to before an election." Different moods as McCain, Obama sprint to the finish "Two thousand supporters rallied for McCain in Pennsylvania, 60,000 gathered to hear Obama in Columbus, Ohio. The Republican Party launched robocalls playing audio of Hillary Clinton from the primary campaign portraying Obama as too inexperienced to run against McCain. Obama, meanwhile, launched an ad citing unpopular Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of McCain." For McCain, Lighter End After Years on the Trail "But in the frantic last days of his nearly two-year second quest for the presidency, Mr. McCain has liberated himself from the irritable, edgy candidate of a month ago. He has, by all appearances, decided he will get to Tuesday by having a good time." Even Keel for Obama in Final Turn to Election "And it is the long path of the Democratic primary, which lurched from the ups of Iowa to the downs of Ohio, that his friends say provided Mr. Obama with a steady equilibrium as he enters this final turn in the race for the White House."

Faith & politics. Campaign comes to churches on final Sunday "On the final Sunday before Election Day, volunteers for both presidential candidates fanned out to churches in competitive states, congregations bused worshippers to polls to vote early and a battle of wills erupted in church parking lots over the distribution of political literature." Christian Leaders Back Bipartisan Abortion Ad Campaign "An ideologically diverse group of Christian leaders came together this past week to support a new ad campaign calling for policies that will reduce abortions."

U.S. economy. Demand growing for food assistance as holidays near "At a time of widespread concern about joblessness and sky-high heating prices squeezing people this winter, relief organizations in communities across the state are facing profound increases in families seeking food and are girding for a spike in holiday demand." Recession casts a shadow over charities' fundraising "The economic downturn could not have come at a worse time for charities. The holiday season traditionally has been the best time for nonprofits to ask for money and, it is hoped, receive some larger, end-of-the-year donations."

Military spending. Anticipating Cuts in Military Spending, Budget Planners Sharpen Their Pencils "After years of unfettered growth in military budgets, Defense Department planners, top commanders and weapons manufacturers now say they are almost certain that the financial meltdown will have a serious impact on future Pentagon spending."

Global economy. Brown calls for U.S. to show leadership to tackle financial crisis "Gordon Brown today issued an eve-of-election plea for the winner in the U.S. presidential poll to show leadership during the global financial crisis. ... Brown said the world would need clear American leadership in the 'coming weeks and months' during a speech to Arab businessmen on the penultimate day of his trip to the Middle East." Discord on Economies In a World Of Trouble "Presidents and prime ministers from major countries around the world will gather in Washington in two weeks to begin heated negotiations over the shape of global financial regulation as they scramble to avoid a deep worldwide recession and restore confidence in markets."

Israel-Iran. Some Israelis feel an urgency to attack Iran "With international efforts to increase sanctions against Iran at a standstill, many Israelis believe their nation alone stands in the way of Tehran eventually building nuclear weapons. But officials and analysts in Jerusalem also acknowledge that a unilateral attack is fraught with danger and might fail to cripple Iran's bomb-making abilities."

Pakistan. Pakistani officials warn Petraeus that U.S. missile strikes fan anti-American sentiment "Pakistani officials warned Gen. David Petraeus that frequent missile strikes on militant targets in Pakistan fan anti-American sentiment in an Islamic country vital to the struggle against terrorism." Petraeus confronts his next challenge: Afghanistan "Army Gen. David Petraeus, the commander who's been hailed for bringing stability to Iraq, became the 11th head of the U.S. Central Command on Friday, tasked with reshaping military efforts in America's other war, Afghanistan."

Congo. Call to boost U.N. DR Congo powers "French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has called for the mandate of U.N. forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be strengthened." Miliband - U.K. may send troops to Congo "David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, admitted today that Britain may have to send troops to bolster the U.N. peacekeeping force in violence-torn Congo." U.N. convoy crosses frontline in effort to reach Congo refugees "A U.N. aid convoy crossed into a rebel-controlled area in eastern Congo today to provide relief supplies to tens of thousands of people displaced by fighting."

South Africa. ANC splinter group to launch new party in December "Dissident members of South Africa's African National Congress moved forward Sunday in breaking away from the ruling political party, meeting here to decide on the new organization's leadership, name and symbols." Election violence feared as ANC dissidents defect to form new party "South Africa is braced for the roughest and most bitter elections since the end of apartheid after a group of senior dissidents from the ruling party, backed by about 6,000 chanting supporters, ended weeks of speculation and announced that they were setting up a new political party to oppose the mighty African National Congress (ANC)."

Zimbabwe. Aid Group Says Zimbabwe Misused $7.3 Million "The government of Zimbabwe, led by President Robert Mugabe, spent $7.3 million donated by an international organization to fight killer diseases on other things and has failed to honor requests to return the money, according to the organization's inspector general."

Israel. Security Chief Cites Threat to Top Israelis "The director of Israel's domestic security service told a cabinet meeting Sunday that he is 'very concerned' that Jewish extremists could attempt to assassinate Israeli leaders who seek peace with the Palestinians, according to meeting participants." Israel Acts to Cut Off Funds to Illegal Settlements "Ehud Olmert, the departing prime minister of Israel, announced a series of measures on Sunday in response to a rise in violence by extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank, including a halt to all direct or indirect government financing of illegal outposts."

Passing. Studs Terkel dies "Louis Terkel arrived here as a child from New York City and in Chicago found not only a new name but a place that perfectly matched -- in its energy, its swagger, its charms, its heart -- his own personality. They made a perfect and enduring pair. Author-radio host-actor-activist and Chicago symbol Louis 'Studs' Terkel died Friday afternoon in his home on the North Side." Studs Terkel gave a voice to the voiceless "He took the obscure academic exercise known as oral history and turned it into literature. In transcribing the words and hopes of ordinary people, he gave voice to the voiceless."

Commentary. An election that is, and isn't, about God (Stephen Prothero, USA Today) "2008 is the year that Democrats found faith, in effect leveling the religious playing field. This doesn't mean that every election from here forth will be faith-focused. In fact, religion's role in politics might just recede into the background."