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ON THE TRAIL

Associated Press; BLOOMBERG NEWS

October 7, 2008

Seven Alaska state employees have reversed course and agreed to testify in an abuse-of-power investigation against Republican vice- presidential nominee Sarah Palin. There is no indication, however, that Palin or her husband will do the same. Palin, a first-term Alaska governor, is the focus of a legislative inquiry into whether she abused her office by firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Monegan says he was dismissed because he wouldn't fire the governor's former brother-in-law. Lawmakers subpoenaed seven state employees to testify in the inquiry but they challenged those subpoenas. A judge rejected that challenge last week. Because of that ruling, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg says the employees have decided to testify. - - Associated Press

McCAIN VS. OBAMA

8 points

The lead Barack Obama opened up over Republican presidential rival John McCain among likely voters in an Oct. 3-5 CNN-Opinion Research Corp. poll.

60 percent

Percentage of surveyed who said Obama would win the election.

4 points

Advantage Obama had in September. Obama's lead widened to 14 points, 56 percent to 42 percent, among the 919 registered voters surveyed. The poll was taken Oct. 3-5, after the first presidential debate and the vice presidential debate. It also came as Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed a $700-billion financial rescue plan designed to unlock credit markets and restore confidence in the banking system.Bush's record-low unpopularity is hurting McCain, said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director.

11 points

Obama's lead over McCain among the 694 likely voters surveyed when third-party candidates are included, 53 percent to 42 percent, up from 3 points in September. The survey of likely voters had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

- BLOOMBERG NEWS