WASHINGTON — What's rising faster than gas prices this summer? Americans' worries about them.

The economy is the nation's top concern by far, but anxiety about energy has grown more since spring than any other issue while the focus on Iraq continues to fade, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The findings by the Associated Press-Ipsos poll provide the latest confirmation of how economic woes -- including job losses, rising inflation and the ailing financial and housing markets -- are dominating voters' worries as this fall's presidential election approaches.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty

GRAND RAPIDS -- With some reports saying he is close to being named presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty would have none of it.

"It's an honor to have my name mentioned. I'm proud to support him," Pawlenty said today before his appearance as keynote speaker at the Kent County Lincoln Day Dinner.

Asked if he had been contacted by the Arizona senator's campaign, Pawlenty issued his stock response: "I have stopped engaging in the discussion."

LANSING, Mich. -- Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have appealed to Michigan voters with nearly $6 million in campaign ads so far.

The nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network said Wednesday that a check of advertising data at television stations shows Republican McCain spent $3.2 million airing ads between May 28 and July 20.

Democrat Obama spent $2.7 million for ads running between June 20 and July 28.

AP PhotoGreeting the crowd: John McCain makes a campaign stop at the FM. Kirby Center on Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Republican John McCain on Wednesday credited the recent $10-a-barrel drop in the price of oil to President Bush's lifting of a presidential ban on offshore drilling, an action he has been advocating in his presidential campaign.

The cost of oil and gasoline is "on everybody's mind in this room," McCain told a town-hall meeting.

He criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for opposing drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Ten days ago, Bush lifted a 1992 presidential ban on offshore drilling and urged Congress to do likewise. "The price of oil dropped $10 a barrel," said McCain, who argued that the psychology of lifting the ban has affected world markets.

AP File PhotoAll together: The Obama family -- from left, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and Barack -- arrives at a May rally in Des Monies, Iowa.

WASHINGTON -- The rules in the Obama household for Malia and Sasha are clear-cut:

• "No whining, arguing or annoying teasing," their mother, Michelle Obama, told People Magazine.

• Make the bed. "Doesn't have to look good, just throw the sheet over it," said the mother of 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha.

• Set your own alarm clock. "They get themselves up, get their own clothes," said their grandmother Marian Robinson.

• And the allowance from Dad for doing chores is $1 a week. Barack Obama conceded that "I'm out of town for weeks at a time, so Malia will say, 'Hey you owe me for 10 weeks."'

The likely Democratic presidential nominee and his wife are determined that his bid not disrupt the normal, happy childhood of their daughters, who would be two of the youngest residents of the White House in 30 years if Obama wins. Amy Carter was 9 when she moved in the White House in 1977.

Chuck Grassley

When Chuck Grassley isn't conservative enough for the Republican Party, you know we have a problem.

He was my senator for many years in Iowa and has been the fiscal conservative conscience of Congress since arriving there before I was born. A devout Baptist, he was always a member of the Christian Right. I didn't always agree with him, but he has been extraordinarily principled and dedicated to my former state.

He has an 80 percent rating from the American Conservative Union and a 5 percent rating from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action.

AP File Photo"Two different goals:" Ron Paul waves during a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington in February.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Supporters of maverick Rep. Ron Paul who are organizing a rally as an alternative to the Republican National Convention are moving their crosstown event to a larger venue.

The Rally for the Republic featuring Paul -- the Texas conservative failed in his bid to win the GOP nomination for president -- is scheduled for Minneapolis' Target Center, home of basketball's Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Target Center can accommodate at least 15,000 people for such an event. Planners for the Paul event had originally considered a college basketball arena that seats about 11,000 people.

AP PhotoSpeculation is swirling that John McCain may name his running mate in the next few days.

ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Yet another town-hall meeting isn't doing the trick. Neither is dropping in on a former Republican president. So just what can John McCain do to draw attention away from his showy Democratic rival? Pick a running mate, perhaps.

Speculation swirled Tuesday that McCain might name his vice presidential partner within the next few days -- right in the middle of Barack Obama's overseas tour.

LANSING -- Proposed constitutional changes that slash the pay of elected officials -- but would also politically benefit Democrats -- enjoy strong public support, a Democratic Party poll shows.

About 70 percent of 600 likely voters surveyed last week said they would vote for the Reform Michigan Government Now change to the state constitution if it makes the November ballot. Strongest support comes from the 240 Republican voters surveyed, 73 percent of whom back the measure, according to the survey released Monday. Sixty percent of Democratic voters surveyed endorsed it.

"Did they ask in the question that it would give Democrats control of state government for the next 10 years?" asked GOP spokesman Bill Nowling. "No, I don't think they asked that."

Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the reform campaign, said "70 percent of the voting public like these reforms, and they want an opportunity to vote for them in November."

AP PhotoCampaign finance reports show Levin is far ahead of Hoogendyk in fundraising.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A new poll shows Democratic incumbent Carl Levin with more than a 20-point lead over his Republican rival in the Senate race.

Levin was the favorite of 58 percent of those polled, while 32 percent said they'd vote for Jack Hoogendyk, a state lawmaker from Kalamazoo.

Ten percent were undecided.

Fifty-four percent of the 600 likely voters surveyed had a favorable opinion of Levin, a Detroiter who has been in the Senate since 1978.

(AP) -- TITLE: "Pump."

LENGTH: 30 seconds

AIRING: National cable and Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia and Wisconsin.

SCRIPT: Announcer: "Gas prices -- $4, $5, no end in sight, because some in Washington are still saying no to drilling in America. No to independence from foreign oil. Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?"

Crowd chanting: "Obama, Obama, Obama!"

Announcer: "One man knows we must now drill more in America and rescue our family budgets. Don't hope for more energy, vote for it. McCain."

McCain: "I'm John McCain and I approve this message."

Carly FiorinaGov. Tim Pawlenty

GRAND RAPIDS - One is on the long list of potential running mates for John McCain. The other makes most of the very short ones.

Both -- former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty -- will be on display in West Michigan, highlighted by Pawlenty's appearance Wednesday at the Kent County GOP Lincoln Day dinner.

Fiorina is to appear this morning at Kent County GOP headquarters, followed by a luncheon speech to the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and appearances in Ionia and Muskegon counties.

"On my list, (Pawlenty) is No. 1," said GOP National Committeeman Charles Yob said of Pawlenty. "I think he would bring a Midwestern experience to the ticket."

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A new poll shows 43 percent of Michigan voters back Democrat Barack Obama and 41 percent support GOP rival John McCain, with third-party candidates Ralph Nader and Bob Barr picking up enough votes to be spoilers in the tight race.

Democrat John Kerry beat President Bush in Michigan by just 3 percentage points in 2004. Barr, the Libertarian candidate, got 2 percent in the recent poll while independent Nader got 3 percent. Twelve percent were undecided.

Proposed constitutional changes that slash the pay of elected
officials, but are designed to politically benefit Democrats, enjoy
strong public support, a Democratic Party poll shows.

About 70 percent of 600 likely voters surveyed last week said they would
vote for the Reform Michigan Government Now change to the state
constitution if it makes the November ballot. Strongest support comes
from the 240 Republicans surveyed, 73 percent of whom back the measure,
according to the survey released Monday. Sixty percent of Democrats
surveyed endorsed it.

"Did they ask in the question that it would give Democrats control of
state government for the next 10 years?" asked GOP spokesman Bill
Nowling. "No, I don't think they asked that."

Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the RMGN campaign, said "70 percent of the
voting public like these reforms and they want an opportunity to vote
for them in November."

Detroit

Is Detroit dying? Between indicted Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, an FBI probe of the City Council and a school district on the brink of insolvency, it's hard to say no. Nolan Finley's solution is for citizens to say a la "Network," "I'm mad as hell. And I'm not going to take it anymore!"

I should have mentioned this earlier, but Stephen Henderson's column on Detroit's woes being fodder for racists was one of the best pieces I've read in a long time.

And it's hard to argue with Senate Republicans pushing back against lowering the standard for Detroit Public Schools again. In the budget, the definition of a first-class school district (DPS is the only one in Michigan) was changed from a school with more than 100,000 students to one with more than 60,000. That in and of itself speaks loudly to school officials' confidence in turning things around. That change was to protect millions in funding.

But Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) wasn't grandstanding when he said: