I can't take the fighting, the back-stabbing, the open hostility. We're not acting like cheerleaders, we're acting like a bunch of sorority girls!

That's right... a quote from the movie Sugar & Spice best describe this week in politics. But what are the big stories at the end of the week? Sunday October 12, 10:02 PM.

1. Obama's lead/ McCain's battle to catch up
In light of the economic crisis, Obama has taken a lead in a race that has been a virtual deadlock. The news, however, has not been about how Obama can stay ahead; rather, it has been framed in a way that asks how McCain can catch up. I personally, can't decide if that is some ploy to gain readership in a certain niche, or if it is just the angle they randomly picked... But this seems to go on pretty well with the others in the media world.

2. TrooperGate
This was the week that the ethics report came out about Sarah Palin's role in the firing of a trooper in Alaska, and how it was related to a family feud. This was important because it provides insight to her character, which, contrary to popular belief, those that watch the media know is the most important issue in this election. The BBC does a good job at showing "both sides" or contridictory opinions... but I'm not sure this has match up with what my friends and family are talking about...

3. Smears
This ties into McCain catching up. This is the smearing that is happening in the campaign. Dr. Rupp said last week that the undecided voters that he wants to reach out to does not like to hear negative ads, but McCain's campaign team has not heard that. Even today, Palin is making more charges against Obama. They talk about the ties to Terrorists, and even made that a story. Some voters, again, some of my family who tend to be narrowminded, voting on single issues like the war and abortion, buy into those ties... but are those the people McCain wants to reach?

4. Palin's email
Again, this is something that I don't think anyone but the media cares about. It is interesting because the student who did it was the son of a congressman, and there is invasion of privacy that is happening... but it doesn't really have anything to do with the election, because none of those emails turned out to be anything bad... I'm not sure why this is a top story IN THE ELECTION with less than 25 days to go...

5. Economic crisis.
The problem with the crisis is the one that most people are talking about... yet other than Obama's lead, this hasn't been tied into the stories this week. I think this is because there was so much on it last week... and when the candidates are so vague, the media cannot keep reporting the same facts or analysis every day...

I know that the news this week on CNN and Fox has had more of the racism sentitment... I'm anxious to see if this pops up more as the elections draws nearer..