Joby Weeks of Denver was outside a rally for Sen. Barack Obama in Westminster, protesting against the proposed $700 billion bailout of the financial system.

Before John McCain confirmed that he would be at tonight's debate with Barack Obama, two third-party candidates offered to make themselves available: independent Ralph Nader and Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr.

An online survey of 3,339 likely voters conducted in mid-August by Zogby Interactive found 55% supporting Barr's inclusion in the presidential debates, with 46% supporting Nader's inclusion. Below is a recent video from the Nader campaign, edited to imply that McCain and Obama hold similar policy positions.

A presidential election. A long ballot. Expected high turnout. And memories of huge lines in Denver in 2006. A smoother outcome is expected Nov. 4, said Stephanie O’Malley, elected in 2007 as Denver’s clerk and recorder.

“We had several thousands of voters disenfranchised as a result of unreasonable lines at the polling locations,” she said of 2006. “We’ve designed our system to take the stresses off of the lines,” she said, referring to many more voting locations, with opportunities to vote early or by mail. See the video.

Three weeks ago, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was barely known outside her home state. Today, as the GOP vice presidential candidate, she's drawing crowds of thousands. What's driving that interest?

PoliticsWest interviewed supporters after today's Palin rally, which drew 5,000 people to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The answers ranged from Palin's advocacy for special-needs children and families; dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party's treatment of Hillary Clinton; and Palin as a newcomer not "corrupted" by Washington. Watch the videos below.

After the generally positive reviews for Denver's hosting of the Democratic National Convention, what - on balance - were the benefits and costs for the city?

Mike Dino, chief executive of the local host committee, gave his answer during a recent panel at Skyline Park, part of a series sponsored by Metro State College. Here's the video.