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Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), a day after expressing interest in becoming vice president, sent out an e-mail Wednesday telling supporters that he'll do "everything" he can to get Barack Obama elected president.

Here's the full letter, which is sure to further stoke speculation that Biden is angling for a Cabinet post in an Obama administration:

Dear Friend,

In the months since our presidential run came to an end, I've done my best to uphold the promises I made throughout the campaign. I still believe, with every fiber of my being, that this year's election is the most important in our lifetime -- no matter what our respective ages are.

There is so much at stake:

* the physical security of our children;
* the economic security of our families;
* and the retirement security of our parents.

We must ensure that our local law enforcement is equipped to keep our families safe, that our veterans are treated with the dignity and care they have earned, and that - above all - we responsibly end this war that we should never have started.

To that end, I recently addressed the Connecticut Democratic Party at their Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, and I wanted to share my remarks with you. You can read the full speech on my website.

On another occasion, I spoke at Georgetown University on "2008 and the Stakes for America's Security". I started with a simple premise: After eight years of the Bush Administration, our country is less secure and more isolated than it has been at any time in recent history. We cannot afford another four years of Republican stewardship of our nation's security. You can read the full Georgetown speech online.

As we move towards November, I pledge to you that I'll continue to do everything in my power to steer our nation towards responsible, forward-looking policies both at home and abroad -- and that starts with electing Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Let's stay in touch -- let me know what you're thinking and how, together, we can move this country in the right direction.

Thanks,
Joe

John McCain threw a Democratic attack back at Barack Obama in a speech defending his call for more offshore oil drilling Wednesday.

"When I announced this policy the other day, Sen. Obama wasted no time in mischaracterizing it. He described my position as -- you guessed it -- another example of Bush's third term," McCain said in Springfield, Mo. "I guess the senator has changed his position since voting for the 2005 Bush energy bill -- a grab-bag of corporate handouts that I opposed. Come to think of it, that energy bill was the only time we've ever seen Sen. Obama vote in favor of any tax break -- and it was a tax break for the oil companies."

McCain also highlighted differences between him and Obama over nuclear energy; McCain supports more of it, Obama doesn't. The Republican called for 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and 100 new plants altogether.

"The next president must be willing to break with the energy policies not just of the current administration, but the administrations that preceded it, and lead a great national campaign to achieve energy security for America," McCain said.

The Obama campaign has been contacted for a response. The Briefing Room will put it up when it hears back.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) is less than optimistic over Barack Obama's chances of capturing his state's 11 electoral votes this fall.

Bredesen, who stayed neutral throughout the presidential primaries, said that Obama is "not real competitive" in the Volunteer State, according to the Kingsport Times.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appears to have a tough re-election race on his hands, according to the latest polls.

McConnell leads Democrat Bruce Lunsford 50 percent to 46 percent in the latest SurveyUSA poll, which has a margin of error of four percentage points.

Lunsford, a businessman, led McConnell 49 percent to 44 percent in a Rasmussen poll three weeks ago. That survey had a margin of error of 4.5 points.

Top U. S. corporate executives don't think that the economy will improve until well after the inauguration of the next president, reports The Hill's Kristen Coulter.

The U.S. economy likely won't rebound until the second quarter of 2009, according to the Business Roundtable

The Barack Obama campaign kicked off its effort to soften wife Michelle Obama's image Wednesday with an appearance on The View and a spot on the cover of Us Weekly.

After previously backing out of co-hosting The View, Michelle seemed at ease Wednesday, starting the show by poking fun at herself. After sitting down at the show's opening, she joked that she had not been "greeted properly" and proceeded to give fist bumps to each of the hosts.

Michelle also let down her guard for her six-page spread in Us Weekly titled "why Barack loves her."

Michelle tells the magazine about her struggles to get pregnant, seeing Sex and the City on opening day, shopping at Target and rejecting Barack when he first asked her on a date.

Barack also granted the magazine and interview talking about Michelle as a parent, calling her an

President Bush on Wednesday vetoed the farm bill for a second time, paving the way for Congress to override it and make it into law.

Congress had passed $290 billion measure with veto-proof majorities in May. But that version, which Bush vetoed, lacked a key foreign aid portion due to a clerical error. The version that Bush vetoed Wednesday included the missing piece. The bill now goes back to Congress, which is expected to override the veto.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has dropped his support for a federal ban on offshore oil drilling and has sided with John McCain.

The Republican presidential candidate called for the lifting of the ban, which could lead to oil exploration in Florida. Crist, who backed the ban in his 2006 gubernatorial race, said told the Associated Press that economic and environmental concerns must be balanced.

"We're a tourist state," Crist said. "We have to protect the beauty of Florida, but we also need to have people have the opportunity to drive here and be able to afford to do that too."

Crist cited states' rights and rising gas prices as the reasons for switching his positions.

Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) slammed the proposed takeover of Anheuser-Busch by Belgian-based InBev.

"My Missouri constituents say, 'This Bud's not for you,'" Bond told InBev's chairman, Carlos Brito, according to a release from Bond's office.

The takeover would lead to job losses for Missouri and hurt the St. Louis community, which depends on Anheuser-Busch's charitable works, Bond said.

Bond has also asked the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to review whether the deal meets acquisition regulations.

Missouri's junior senator, Claire McCaskill (D), also opposes the deal, which is worth about $46.3 billion. Directors at Anheuser-Busch, brewer of Budweiser, said they would evaluate the offer, made earlier this month. InBev has proposed paying $65 a share.

John McCain appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and waxed on about Phoenix Sun Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant and U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods.

During the interview, Kimmel, seeming to forget that McCain has trouble raising his arms over his head, asked McCain whether he played much golf. McCain, who had his arms broken as a prisoner during the Vietnam War, said he doesn't. He didn't mention his injuries, however.

The answer was still good enough for Kimmel.

"I don