Photo: New York Times

The issues: economy, energy, Iraq…clothes? Five days after financial disclosure forms showed the Republican National Committee had spent $150,000 on Sarah Palin’s campaign-trail wardrobe, the GOP vice presidential candidate told the crowd at a Florida rally on Sunday that the clothes were not her property and that she normally shops at a consignment store in Anchorage. Talk show host Elizabeth Hasselbeck, who introduced Palin at the rally, told the crowd the focus on clothes was another indication of sexism. McCain insisted on “Meet the Press” the same day that about third of the money would be returned, the rest given to charity.

Bookies put an interesting slant on the race to the White House. In the United Kingdom, the odds at one sports book mean you have to risk $10 to win $1 on McCain, while each dollar bet on Obama could get you $5.50. In Ireland, one book has already called Obama the victor and paid out the winnings. Of course, not all bookies agree. Sportsbook.com gives McCain 4-to-1 odds. And the small size of the betting pools, like a poll with a tiny sample, make for a low prediction factor.

Another history-maker: almost half of votes will be mailed in—at least in California. About 40 percent of registered voters in that state have already indicated they will vote by mail, and other states are seeing similar trends. Meanwhile, the number of states allowing former felons to regain their right to vote is on the rise. Anything to get more Americans to vote, right?

I’ll cut back on coffee. I’ll take public transportation. But not my video games! Sales for the Nintendo Wii system are strong despite the current slump in the economy. Meanwhile, Activision is releasing one of its most expensive games ever: Guitar Hero World Tour comes in at $189.99. You know what else people are buying despite themselves? Guns.

Police detained a man in relation to the murder of actress Jennifer Hudson’s brother and mother. The estranged husband of Hudson’s sister was held over on a parole violation, but police would not call him a suspect and have not charged him with anything. Hudson’s seven-year-old nephew Julian is still missing but a body was found in an SUV registered to the suspect.  Hudson is well-known as an American Idol contestant and an Oscar-winning actress from Dreamgirls.