Wisconsin: Supporters rally in Madison for Cassville power plant

About 200 people rallied in Madison Wednesday in favor of a proposed coal-fired power plant on the Mississippi River in Cassville.

Farmers, union leaders, and environmentalists got behind the Alliant Energy project in the face of rising costs and public opposition.

Australia: Either U.S. president may disappoint us

The next president may not be able to do much about an economy affected more by global markets, technology and the Federal Reserve than anything he can do. But he will have a crisis hurting Main Street as much as Wall Street.

Thus the US cannot be expected to champion global economic integration or a global deal on climate change in 2009. It will look inward, focusing on energy independence rather than reducing greenhouse gases, and protecting the middle class rather than reducing barriers to global trade and investment.

The world might expect these sober realities from McCain but they will probably have to accept them under Obama.