John McCain, a POW turned political rebel, vowed Thursday night to vanquish the “constant partisan rancor” that grips Washington as he launched his fall campaign for the White House. “Change is coming,“ he promised the roaring Republican National Convention and a prime-time television audience.

The removal of a property tax-cutting amendment from Florida’s ballot left Gov. Charlie Crist disappointed Thursday, but he said he wants to deal with a series of hurricanes threatening the state before deciding his next move on tax relief.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin claimed her historic spot as the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee Wednesday night, uncorking a smiling, sarcastic attack on Barack Obama and winning cheers of acceptance and approval after a tumult-filled first week on the national stage.

An angry e-mail exchange between a key member of the local democratic contingent and some members of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce could kill some folks’ appetites for the Chamber’s First Friday breakfast this week.

Republicans opened their storm-shortened national convention on Monday amid distractions involving running mate Sarah Palin. Police made more than 280 arrests in the surrounding streets as anti-war protests turned violent.

Sen. Joe Biden plans to campaign in South Florida on Tuesday, where he’ll address issues related to Israel, and southwest Florida on Wednesday, where he’ll host town hall meetings to talk about women’s economic issues.

Barack Obama’s audience for his acceptance speech likely topped 40 million people, and the Democratic gathering that nominated him was a more popular television event than any other political convention in history.

Republican John McCain introduced first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate Friday.

Surrounded by an enormous, adoring crowd, Barack Obama promised a clean break from the “broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush” Thursday night as he embarked on the final lap of his audacious bid to become the nation’s first black president.

Appellate Judge Charles Canady, who as a congressman helped prosecute then-President Bill Clinton at his 1999 impeachment trial, was appointed Thursday to the Florida Supreme Court by Gov. Charlie Crist.

Democratic delegates from Michigan and Florida were awarded full voting rights at the national convention Sunday, despite holding early primaries against party rules.

Barack Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware late Friday night to be his vice presidential running mate, according to a Democratic official.