Update:  More info on the personal contributions Obama has received from the oil industry.  Opensecrets.org reports the Center for Responsible Politics was, 

"surprised to notice that it's actually Obama who has received more from the pockets of employees at several of Big Oil's biggest and most recognizable companies. Tallying contributions by employees in the industry and their families, we found that Exxon, Chevron and BP have all contributed more money to Obama than to McCain.”

The RNC issued this response:

“Barack Obama’s attacks on John McCain demonstrate very poor judgment on his part, given that he voted for the 2005 energy bill and John McCain did not, and given that he has taken the most money from Big Oil’s very biggest.”—Liz Mair, RNC Spokeswoman

"Now, I want to take a minute here on this issue, because I think Senator Obama is a little confused.  Yesterday he accused me of having President Bush’s policies on energy.  That’s odd, because he voted for the President’s energy bill and I voted against it.  I voted against it because it had 2.8 billion dollars in corporate welfare to oil companies that are already making record profits.  Senator Obama voted for that bill and its big oil giveaways.  I know he hasn’t been in the Senate that long, but even in the real world voting for something means you support it, and voting against something means you oppose it."

The media is literally ignoring Obama’s vote on the 2005 energy bill.  That is absolutely unacceptable.  We have here a Democrat who pays lip service to the notion of being "green" and who talks about fiscal responsibility and yet he voted for an extravagant, costly bill that gave masses of subsidies to the same industry (oil and gas) he has been ripping on the stump.  There is a high degree of hypocrisy here, and it is astounding that it is attracting no attention among the mainstream press. 

"So what should Mr. McCain do? He's rightly raising questions about Mr. Obama's fitness to be president, starting with his failure to admit that the surge in Iraq worked. Mr. McCain should stay at it, though he'll need help to make the case.

Mr. McCain was correct to seize on Mr. Obama's insinuations that the GOP would mount racist attacks against him. Now Mr. McCain needs to find ways to describe an Obama who is running on empty rhetoric. He needs to do to Mr. Obama what Walter Mondale did to Gary "Where's the Beef?" Hart in the 1984 Democratic primaries. Given Mr. Obama's thin r?sum? and accomplishments, this can be done, with a sustained effort.

...

Then there's character. Mr. McCain is the most private person to run for president since Calvin Coolidge in the 1920s. He needs to share (or allow others to share) more about him, especially his faith. The McCain and Obama campaigns are mirror opposites. Mr. McCain offers little biography, while Mr. Obama is nothing but."

The Republican Party's convention next month is Mr. McCain's biggest chance to improve his posture. The best minds in his campaign should be carefully working on its script. Everyone knows conventions are show, but voters want to see if a candidate can put on a good one that rings true.

"Paris Hilton may think John McCain is just a “wrinkly white-haired guy,” but the Republican presidential candidate apparently has figured out the younger generation just fine. Over the past two weeks, his “celebrity” attacks have stomped Democratic presidential opponent Sen. Barack Obama in YouTube hits."

"For the first time since this general election campaign began in early June, Republican John McCain attracted virtually as much media attention as his Democratic rival last week."

HEMMER: I know we’re pushed for time. Can you give me a definition of the middle class based on income, within a range?

OBAMA: You know, what I would say is, if you are making more than $250,000, than you’re more than middle class. You’re doing better. If you are making less than $250,000, then you are definitely somewhere in the middle class.

The Heritage Foundation's The Foundry Blog is urging conservatives to take action today:

"Americans of all political stripes have a rare opportunity to observe history firsthand as Republicans continue to speak on the House floor about U.S. energy policy. Regardless of where you stand politically or on the energy debate specifically, this is your opportunity to sit on the House floor and watch this debate unfold with your own eyes."

They encourage conservatives to do one of three things to take action:

1. Call your member of Congress (find a list here) or the Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121).
2. Tell your congressman that you want to visit the House floor to see the action. Regardless of political party, your member should accommodate you. (You cannot bring bags, cameras, video equipment or mobile phones on the floor.)
3. If for some reason your member of Congress is unwilling to help, you should call the Republican Whip’s Office at 202-225-0197.

... Apparently not in his home state of Illinois.

Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-6) just released a poll conducted July 20-22 by Public Opinion Strategies (POS), showing him ahead of his Democratic opponent by 30 points.  Roskam's election two years ago was a squeaker. 

Rep. Mark Kirk (IL-10) released a June poll shows him 21 points ahead.  You can read about it here.

Roskam increased his lead by five points since April.  At the same time Obama opened up an 8 point lead against John McCain. 

Similarly, Kirk's polling shows a similar willingness of voters to split tickets in his district: 

"In a district that is 33 percent Republican and 35 percent Democrat, the answer to this question will be decided by 'independents' and 'ticket splitters,'" the polling memo stated. "Currently, these likely Obama voters are breaking for Kirk by a 2-to-1 margin and have a significantly highly favorable opinion of Mark Kirk."