NADER SAYS HE SET CAMPAIGN SPEECH RECORD

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader says he now holds the world record for the most campaign speeches in a single day.

Nader, who is on the ballot in 45 states but is polling in single digits, said he delivered at least 255 minutes of speeches in 21 Massachusetts communities on Saturday. Nader said that was enough to get him into the Guinness World Records.

To get in the records, Guinness officials said, Nader needed to give at least 150 minutes of speeches, with each speech lasting at least 10 minutes. And each time, there had to be at least 10 people watching who didn't come with Nader.

Beginning at 8:15 a.m. Saturday in Westfield, Nader used many different settings for his speeches, including a deli, a farmer's market and a library. Each time, he stayed anywhere from 15 minutes to a half-hour. Nader closed his day with an 11:30 p.m. campaign party in Sheffield.

PART OF PALIN CLOTHING FUNDS RECOUPED

About one-third of the $150,000 that the Republican National Committee spent on clothing and accessories for Sarah Palin and her family was recovered when the items were returned because they were the wrong size or for other reasons, Mark Salter, a strategist for John McCain's campaign said Sunday.

Last week, after the purchases at such high-end department stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis appeared in campaign spending reports, McCain and his aides repeatedly said the clothes would be donated to charity after the election.

Palin had her own take Sunday on the clothes bought before the GOP convention in St. Paul: "Those clothes, they are not my property. Just like the lighting and the staging and everything else that the RNC purchased. I'm not taking them with me. I'm back to wearing my own clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska."

ALASKA DAILY PUTS SUPPORT BEHIND OBAMA

The Anchorage Daily News, Alaska's largest newspaper, has endorsed Barack Obama for president.

The newspaper said Sunday of the Democrat: "In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand."

By contrast, the Daily News said that since the economic crisis has emerged, Republican John McCain has "stumbled and fumbled badly" in dealing with it.

The Daily News said Palin has shown the country why she is a success as governor. But the paper said few would argue that 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 said and done, 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.

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