Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., announced the launch today of a new organization, National Council for a New America, to solicit ideas for dealing with problems facing the nation. In a conference call with reporters, McCain described Cantor as “the driving force” behind the organization.

Washington lobbyist Vicki Iseman filed a $27 million suit yesterday against The New York Times in federal court in Richmond, claiming the newspaper damaged her reputation by falsely implying she had an illicit “romantic” relationship with Sen. John McCain.

A federal judge ruled yesterday that the State Board of Elections violated federal law by mailing absentee ballots to military personnel overseas too late for them to return the ballots in time to vote. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Williams said he would not fashion a remedy himself but leave it to the U.S. Department of Justice and the State Board of Elections to come up with a plan that would prevent such mishaps in future elections.

Sen. Barack Obama outspent Sen. John McCain 3 to 1 on television advertising in Virginia from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, according to the Wisconsin Advertising Project. The Democratic presidential candidate spent $2.1 million here, compared with the Republican presidential nominee’s $547,000. The Obama campaign also spent more than $2 million apiece in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, while the McCain camp did not spend that much in any state, according to the report. McCain spent $1.7 million in Ohio.

Amid the red, white and blue bunting, Republican signs festooned the walls of Chad Smith’s South Richmond home last night as about 30 people stood in the den to watch the second presidential debate of the campaign on a flat-screen TV. They cheered when Republican John McCain was introduced by moderator Tom Brokaw and booed—good naturedly—when Democrat Barack Obama was introduced.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Barack Obama and John McCain clashed repeatedly over the worst economic crisis in 80 years during last night’s debate. Republican McCain called for a sweeping $300 billion program to shield homeowners from mortgage foreclosure. “It’s my proposal. It’s not Senator Obama’s proposal, it’s not President Bush’s proposal,“ McCain said at the outset of a debate he hoped could revive his fortunes in a presidential race trending toward his rival.

Dear Sens. McCain and Obama, I’m writing on behalf of fund investors everywhere, the kind of average consumers you are counting on to prop up the economy, the type of investors you are asking to stay patient and stay put with the markets, and the taxpayers who are footing the bill for the foolishness that has put the credit markets on the brink of disaster.