Marc Ambinder is reporting that Mark Salter, McCain’s long-time chief of staff and co-author of his five books, had also left the campaign payroll.

The report states Salter will remain as an advisor but no longer be an official part of the paid campaign. Perhaps more a sign of tightening the monetary belt than a shift in positions? Just my speculation.

The Associated Press is reporting that John McCain’s Campaign manager & chief strategist have resigned their positions.

One official said Terry Nelson resigned as campaign manager for the Republican presidential candidate and John Weaver stepped down from his post of chief strategist on Tuesday. But another official said Nelson was fired.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonimity because the shake-up has not been made public.

Official Press Release

ARLINGTON, VA - Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager and John Weaver, Chief Strategist for John McCain 2008 issued the following statements:

“This morning I informed Senator McCain that I would be resigning from his presidential campaign, effective immediately. It has been a tremendous honor to serve Senator McCain and work on his campaign. I believe John McCain is the most experienced and prepared candidate to represent the Republican Party and defeat the Democratic nominee next year.” - Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager

“As of today, I have resigned my position as chief strategist to John McCain’s presidential campaign. It has been my honor and a distinct privilege to serve someone who has always put our country first. I believe that most Americans will come to the conclusion that I have long known there is only one person equipped to serve as our nation’s chief executive and deal with the challenges we face, and that person is John McCain.” - John Weaver, Chief Strategist

ClickZ reports:

“Romney Joins Web Ad Buying, Clinton Drops Out, McCain Still Leads”

So far Obama & McCain are the two big advertisers I have seen on ElectionGeek with some text ads running for Romney.

From A Blog Around the Clock:

1. Let’s start with the fun part of the interview - your personal thoughts on science: past, present and future. Were you a science geek as a kid, where do you get your science information today and how do you see the world transformed by science in the future?

First, let me say I was not a science geek growing up. Nothing against science geeks. But that wasn’t me.

However, I do believe that science is the key to innovation in the American economy, the key to improving our standard of living. We see the impact of science everyday–from biotechnology to smart bombs, from satellite Global Positioning Systems to the Internet.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy will play a central role when I’m president. We need to encourage science, and do it honestly and openly. It’s unfortunate the Bush administration hasn’t shared that view. The censorship and suppression of science on climate change, on air pollution, on stem cell research–all to advance a political agenda–is wrong. Policy should be science driven; science shouldn’t be politics driven.

For example, I support reductions of carbon emissions by 20 percent by the year 2020, and reduce it by at least 80 percent by the year 2050–because that’s what the science tells us we need to do. If we don’t listen to the science–if we continue to ignore it, as this administration has done–the results will be catastrophic.

You can read the rest of the answer at the aforelinked blog. The most lacking thing in the interview were questions relating to the Internet imho.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

This is actually one of multiple times when Edwards has called for raising taxes. It is usually veiled as being a tax increase for the “wealthy” but it is still a rather interesting strategy and one, in memory of Walter Mondale, I am not entirely sure will be attractive to voters.