The Trail

Rendell said Obama needs to make his economic proposals more understandable, and to show real anger, especially about issues such as the United States financing Iraq's reconstruction while the Iraqi government holds an oil-fueled government surplus.

"What I think most people are waiting for -- and as soon as they see it, I think it's over -- they're waiting to see that he's angry about that stuff, too. Not just that he thinks it's wrong intellectually -- that he's angry," Rendell said.

In the end, though, "When times are hard, people care about one thing, one color -- green," he said. "That's all there is."

-- Jonathan Weisman

GLITZ AND BUCKS

McCain Fundraiser Draws Celebrities

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- John McCain may continue to attack Barack Obama as a celebrity, but that doesn't mean that McCain is above associating with the stars.

At a fundraiser in the heart of Hollywood on Monday night, McCain rubbed elbows with a chorus of television and movie stars while raising some cash in the final days before the Republican National Convention. About 1,600 people crammed into a ballroom at the Beverly Hills Hilton, the campaign said.

Earlier, Patricia Heaton, star of "Everybody Loves Raymond," joined McCain on a flight from Sacramento to Burbank. They exited the plane together and posed for pictures.

And in the morning, recording artist Daddy Yankee, one of the biggest stars in the Latino community, endorsed McCain in front of a gaggle of screaming teenagers, then joined him on the plane.

Before the fundraiser, McCain taped an appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."