Alaska’s largest newspaper backs Obama. Alaska’s largest newspaper, The Anchorage Daily News, has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, saying the Democrat “brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand.” In a rebuke of the Republic ticket, The Daily News said since the economy has turned sour, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has “stumbled and fumbled badly” in dealing with it. “Of the two candidates, Sen. Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown’s root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it,” the paper said. As for Palin, who governs the state where the paper is based, The Daily News said she has shown the country why she is a successful state leader. However, the paper said few would say Palin is truly ready to step into the job of being president, despite her passion, charisma and strong work ethic. “Gov. Palin’s nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency – but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation,” the paper said. “Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time,” the paper concluded.

Ailing Kennedy “secretly” working on health care plan.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has “secretly been orchestrating” and overseeing meetings with members of both parties to draft health care legislation to present to the new president and Congress next year that would extend health insurance to all U.S. residents, The Washington Times reports. The “wide-ranging talks,” which Kennedy has monitored through telephone updates from his staff, have included 14 roundtable meetings attended by Kennedy aides and staffers for both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Budget Committee, Senate Finance Committee and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Kennedy. The talks also were attended by representatives from a “panoply of interests groups with stakes in the cost and availability of health coverage,” including the AFL-CIO, Business Roundtable, National Federation of Independent Business, the National Retail Federation, Federation of American Hospitals, the American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Families USA, AARP and Consumers Union, according to the Times. Kennedy aides have also started meeting regularly with consumers and small groups of people representing each area of the health care industry. The conversations, which started in June, are “extraordinary” because they are bipartisan and have “managed to put in the same room interests that rarely meet – let alone agree with one another,” Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, said. “There is a serious process moving forward and that augurs well. There really is a sea change that should not be underestimated in terms of attitude.” A spokesman for Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), ranking member of the Senate HELP Committee and a participant in the meetings, said the discussions “are a testament to how people feel about [Kennedy].” Kennedy is “really seizing the moment,” Adrienne Hahn of Consumers Union said. “He’s a real bridge-builder. He can bring strange bedfellows together.” The Times reports that participants believe Kennedy’s active role in the talks has “increased the likelihood of a breakthrough.”

Court refuses to call a mistrial in Palin case. In Alaska, the state Supreme Court refused Thursday to halt an ethics investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee. The ruling clears the way for Alaska lawmakers to release a report today on their investigation into whether Palin abused her power to settle a family dispute in firing her public safety commissioner, The Associated Press reports. The report could prove to be an embarrassment for Palin and a distraction for John McCain’s presidential campaign. Palin’s former public safety commissioner says he was dismissed after resisting pressure to fire a state trooper who had gone through a nasty divorce from the governor’s sister. Republican lawmakers had sued to block the report, saying it had become politicized. Palin did not join the lawsuit. Her husband, Todd, and some of her top aides are cooperating in the inquiry. In affidavits submitted Wednesday, Todd Palin and two top aides for his wife’s administration portrayed the firing as the result of continued wrangling between the governor and her public safety commissioner over control of the agency. The affidavits also portray Gov. Palin as uninvolved, while her husband repeatedly tried to spread the word that their former brother-in-law was unfit to remain a state trooper. In its ruling, the Supreme Court refused to block the legislative investigation but did not immediately explain why.

An elderly man and a woman head the GOP ticket

Republicans made history Wednesday night when they nominated the oldest first-time nominee in history, 72 year-old Sen. John McCain, and the first woman, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, ever to be the No. 2 on a GOP ticket.  Last night, Palin took the time to beat up on Obama – and to introduce the nation to a new, seemingly formidable candidate for the U.S. presidency. Did you watch the convention? What did you think? Read more about the convention at Pamela On Politics.