MORNING READ

The latest national polls showing a tightening race between Barack Obama and John McCain worry Obama’s online supporters. McCain hears it from conservative bloggers trying to warn him away from picking Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and any other pro-choice politician as his running mate. But a Washington Post story highlighting Obama’s stance on abortion pleases the pro-life bloggers.

Obama’s lead is just two percentage points in the latest Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg national poll, thanks to McCain’s success in rallying the GOP base behind him, writes DemFromCT at Daily Kos. Obama’s message, which has gone from emphasizing “change” to attacking McCain, seems muddled, writes TalkingPointsMemo’s Josh Marshall. McCain has been able to turn the race into a referendum on Obama’s resume, resulting in weakening of the Democrat’s support, according to Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey.

A “pro-abortion” running mate would undermine every gain McCain made with his performance at the Saddleback Forum, writes RedState’s Erick Erickson. The Family Research Council predicts even worse, saying in a statement that a pro-choice pick would ensure a McCain loss, notes Townhall’s Matt Lewis. But choosing Lieberman, who has voiced regret over his vote against conservative Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, could give McCain “press love” and would help him stifle any Obama convention bounce, fears The Huffington Post’s Jane Hamsher.

The Washington Post is the first traditional media outlet to acknowledge that Obama was less than truthful in explaining his position on an Illinois Senate bill that sought to protect born-alive infants, writes Morrissey. Obama’s campaign is on its third explanation of why he voted against it even though he now says he would support it, notes Seth Leibsohn at The Corner.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Presidential Polls – DemFromCT, Daily Kos
Obama Message Seems Muddled – TalkingPointsMemo, Josh Marshall
Obama Only Up By Two – Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
McCain’s Attacks Working – Greg Sargent, TPM Election Central
McCain’s Pro-Abortion Running Mate – Erick Erickson, RedState
The Beauty of Keeping Lieberman in Mix – C.P. Liebau, Townhall
Fearing Lieberman as VP Pick – Jane Hamsher, Huffington Post
FRC on Pro-Choice Pick – Matt Lewis, Townhall.com
Obama’s Infanticide Support In MSM – E. Morrissey, Hot Air
We’re Getting Closer – Seth Liebsohn, The Corner
Finally! Maddow Gets Show – kos, Daily Kos

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Obama and McCain in a Statistical Tie – Los Angeles Times
Candidates’ Abortion Views Not So Simple – Washington Post
Obama’s Ads in Key States Go on Attack – New York Times
Governments’ Building Projects Shore Up Economy – USA Today