IN THE MAIL: Newt Gingrich & William R. Forstchen’s Days of Infamy.

OBAMA MOVES AHEAD IN THE POLLS. Meanwhile, McCain serves up red meat to his conservative base by . . . well, no:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain is pledging support for a proposal to expand protections for disabled people under an 18-year-old landmark civil rights law. The Supreme Court generally has exempted from the law‘s protection people with partial physical disabilities, as well as people with physical impairments that can be treated with medication or devices such as hearing aids.

A month ago, the House passed a bill to extend protections to people who take medicine to control epilepsy, diabetes or cancer, or use prosthetic limbs. McCain, a co-sponsor of the 1990 law, said he intends to support a similar bill in the Senate.

Obama supports the measure, too. So love it or hate it, there’s no reason to vote for McCain based on this stance.

VIRGIN GALACTIC WILL unveil the White Knight Two this morning.

WANT TO REDO YOUR DECK? Here’s a guide to the five materials that get used. “Five basic types, each with their own aesthetics, maintenance and price range, have emerged. We take a detailed look at each.”

POPULAR SCIENCE: Global Warming: Not so bad? “Birds and power companies adapt to climate change; scientists downgrade its role in hurricane formation.” I dunno. But maybe we should figure this out before we turn our economy upside down?

WASHINGTON POST: McCain Says Obama Plays Politics on Iraq.

BRENDAN LOY: Stop complaining about “hurricane hype.”

On the other hand, I remember being right at Alberto’s landfall, and watching some loon on CNN trying to make a big deal as the 18-inch waves rolled in. But there was this awful damage. . . .