Someday, perhaps Richmond will build an arena big enough to fit all the people who want to see Barack Obama. Yesterday, though, with the Richmond Coliseum packed to the rafters with 12,900 people, about 7,000 supporters were left outside on a crisp autumn day to listen over loudspeakers as the Democratic candidate made his case for change.

John McCain and Barack Obama remain virtually tied in Virginia, a once-reliable Republican redoubt now among a handful of states that could decide the presidency. In the latest Times-Dispatch Poll, 47 percent support Obama and 45 percent back McCain. Eight percent are undecided. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain stretched facts, sometimes past the breaking point, as they addressed the financial crisis and misrepresented each other’s position on health care during their debate. Some examples:

. . . McCAIN: Said one way out of the financial crisis is to “stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us.“

Barack Obama has opened his biggest lead over John McCain of the fall campaign, according to a new Ipsos/McClatchy poll that puts him ahead nationwide by 7 percentage points. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. Obama’s gain appears to come from two key factors. First, voters are ever more anxious about the faltering economy and trust Obama by a 15-point margin over McCain to steer it. Second, their confidence that McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, is qualified to step into the presidency if necessary has fallen sharply.

Are you a supporter of Obama or McCain? Does either candidate fully fit with your perspective? Do you wish we had other ways of discussing politics and issues other than from a “liberal” or “conservative” point of view? Come join The Chrysalis Group and Leadership Metro Richmond at an engaging, thought provoking, and playful event where we will explore an alternative approach to viewing politics. This event is for anyone who is dissatisfied with the current modes of political discourse…and who wants to learn a new way of engaging with the issues of our time.

The wife of Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel plans to endorse Democrat Barack Obama. Lilibet Hagel has scheduled a 10 a.m. news conference in Alexandria with Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of Republican President Eisenhower. Susan Eisenhower also is an Obama supporter. Hagel, R-Neb., has made no endorsement. Lilibet Hagel said in an Associated Press interview that her decision was independent of her husband. She said she didn’t know whether he would make an endorsement or whom he would support.