Politics Audio/Video - NPR

In Reno Thursday, a group of Republican women — including Nevada's GOP Chairwoman Sue Lowden —watched the Palin-Biden debate together. We attend their debate-watching party and see what they thought of the vice presidential candidates.

President Bush signed a $700 billion financial bailout package Friday, shortly after the U.S. House passed the rescue measure. The action paved the way for the government to start buying up troubled assets from financial institutions caught on the wrong side of record home foreclosures.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are expected to vote Friday on a revised Wall Street rescue bill. Lawmakers there rejected the plan Monday by 23 votes. The Senate passed a modified version of the package Wednesday. Now some House members will have to become vote switchers, a label no one likes, in order for the bill to pass.

Both Governor Palin and Senator Biden were back on the campaign trail today after their debate last night. The two candidates got a chance to convince Americans that their ticket is the best. Guest host Cheryl Corley breaks down the debate with NPR's Farai Chideya.

Democratic hopeful Barack Obama campaigned Thursday in Michigan. That's where he began the week. Michigan already seems to be a win for Obama. The McCain campaign confirmed Thursday that it is pulling out of Michigan.

When the House voted on the Wall Street rescue package Monday, Republican Michael Burgess of Texas voted against the bill. Burgess says he'll continue to study the bill, but right now he's leaning toward voting no again. He says the bailout package is very unpopular in his home district.

Viewers of Thursday night's debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden included a group gathered at University of Virginia in rural Wise County. Steve Inskeep watched the debate with them and talks with Renee Montagne about partygoers' impressions of the only debate between the vice presidential candidates.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain apparently has conceded Michigan to Democrat Barack Obama. The McCain campaign confirmed Thursday that it is pulling staff and advertising out of Michigan and diverting those resources to states that are more winnable for Republicans.

The vice presidential candidates dueled in a highly anticipated, fast-paced and wide-ranging matchup Thursday night. In the end, both met expectations. Joe Biden and Sarah Palin sought to define themselves to an audience that would get only one chance to see them face off.

The Senate passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 by sweetening the pot to coax members from both parties. The House is scheduled to vote Friday. Although there are some new items, budget analysts say many of the provisions have been part of an ongoing funding fight between the House and the Senate.