“It’s time to heed the call from General McKiernan and others for more troops. That’s why I’d send at least two or three additional combat brigades to Afghanistan. We also need more training for Afghan Security forces, more non-military assistance to help Afghans develop alternatives to poppy farming, more safeguards to prevent corruption, and a new effort to crack down on cross-border terrorism. Only a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes Afghanistan and the fight against al Qaeda will succeed, and that’s the change I’ll bring to the White House.”

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Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) held a summit on jobs (McClatchy). Obama attacked the Bush administration for failing to address the impact of the economic crisis on “Main Street.” Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who spoke at the summit, called for an investment in a “smart” power grid and new alternative energy concepts (WSJ).

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The Wall Street Journal looks at the coal industry’s influence on the presidential campaign.

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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) for president on Sunday’s Meet the Press, saying the Democratic candidate represents “a new generation coming onto the world stage.” Powell, who helped justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003, said he anticipates a “continued drawdown” of troops from Iraq regardless of who wins the November election.

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Deutsche Welle‘s Across the Pond blog compiles reactions in the foreign press to Wednesday night’s presidential debate.

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U.S. presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) held their final pre-election debate last night. The debate was dominated by the economy and domestic issues with the candidates again highlighting differences on trade and energy policy (WashPost).

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USA Today reports on differences between Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) over tax policy for oil companies. Obama would create a windfall profits tax on the companies, while McCain would implement a cut in the corporate income tax rate that could save oil companies billions of dollars each year.

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“Injecting capital into our financial institutions is essential to stabilizing our economy, but we must make sure we are not giving sweetheart, insider deals that shift the risk to taxpayers without giving them sufficient upside. And we must make sure that these institutions are helping homeowners stay in their homes, which includes abiding by a 90 day moratorium on foreclosures for families who are making a good faith effort to pay their mortgages. Finally, the plan appears to extend a broader set of guarantees to banks without requiring any additional regulation, which represents more of the same failed philosophy that got us into this mess.”

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Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) released new details of his economic agenda on Monday. Obama’s plans include a ninety-day moratorium on home foreclosures and additional funding in government loan guarantees for automakers. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) also addressed economic policy in a speech on Monday. He promised to “open new markets to goods made in America and make sure our trade is free and fair.”

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Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) urged the Treasury Department on Thursday to “move as quickly possible” to implement the economic rescue package “so that we can ease this credit crisis that’s preventing businesses and consumers from getting loans and causing dangerous instability in our market.”

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