DAY’S END ROUNDUP

Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) is accused of dirty campaign tactics today by liberal bloggers over an ad linking her Democratic opponent to an atheist group, while a Barack Obama ad featuring Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R) wink draws mixed reactions from the right.

AMERICAblog’s Robert Arena accuses Dole of twisting reality in the hopes of winning an election, blasting the North Carolina senator for an ad that seeks to link Democrat Kay Hagan to the atheist political group Godless America PAC. Hagan is a Sunday school teacher and an elder in her Presbyterian church, Arena says, while Kevin Drum wonders if Dole is determined to ruin the GOP’s credibility.

Obama’s new ad “takes some chutzpah,” The Corner’s Kathryn Jean Lopez asserts. The ad questions John McCain’s choice of Palin as his running mate, using footage of Palin winking during the Vice Presidential debate, and Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey proposes the ad will stoke turnout among Democrats. The ad gives the GOP ticket a good opportunity to hit back, William Kristol writes at The Weekly Standard: Kristol suggests a swift response from Palin would distract from Obama’s half-hour primetime infomercial tonight and squash rumors of tension within the McCain-Palin campaign.

And a report that Democratic leaders have discussed ousting Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) from his Homeland Security Committee chairmanship has Daily Kos’s kos celebrating Lieberman’s potential removal. Democrats should show no mercy to Lieberman after he stumped for McCain in the presidential race, Scott Lemieux writes at TAPPED, while TalkLeft’s Big Tent Democrat contends that stripping Lieberman of his post isn’t necessary, encouraging Democrats to just ignore Lieberman after the election.

FROM THE BLOGS:
LA Times Tape – Amanda Carpenter, Townhall.com
Fla. Extends Voting Hours, Ga. Refuses – georgia10, Daily Kos
God Shifts Dynamic of N.C. Race – Seyward Darby, The Plank
Hit ‘Em with Humor – Steve Benen, Political Animal
Coleman Pulling Away – John Hinderaker, Power Line
So What About the Obamacons? – Jonah Goldberg, The Corner
Vets Vs. Murtha – Matt Lewis, Townhall.com
Smith Attacks Third Party Candidate – Matt Stoller, Open Left
The Promise Breaker – Victorino Matus, The Weekly Standard
No Spin Zone – Andrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Fed Trims Key Rate by Half a Percent – LA Times
N.C. Senate Race Heats Up over God – The Hill
Voting Equipment Changes Could Get Messy Nov. 4 – USA Today
Government Said to Be Near Plan to Aid Homeowners – NY Times