44 days left to Election Day

After another long week of campaign coverage, it's good to take a quick look back and ahead. With less than six weeks before the election, here is rundown of the top events and issues of the last seven days, including some items you may not have noticed.

Top Headline - Economy

With investment banks and insurance giants falling apart, the economy commanded the spotlight on the campaign trail last week and may just keep it for the rest of the election cycle. The previous week, which featured the Sept. 11 anniversary, was more foreign policy focused.

Here is where the candidates stand on the key economic issues:

John McCain - Make President Bush tax cuts permanent, eliminate alternative minimum tax, double deduction for dependents up to $7,000 and cut corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, promote free trade pacts, push holiday from 18-cent gas tax, allow offshore drilling, and support alternative energy plans.

Barack Obama - Keep Bush tax cuts for those making less than $200,000 annually, allow most other Bush tax breaks to expire, tax oil profits to pay for $1,000 family tax rebate, exempt those under 65 making less than $50,000 from income tax, index minimum wage to inflation, extend unemployment benefits, provide grants and tax incentives for alternative energy development, tighten free trade agreements.

McCain's economic problem

Even back in the primary, McCain's Republican challengers hammered the veteran Arizona senator for his admitted lack of economic understanding. So far in the general election, the economy is again not proving to be firm ground for him, unlike national security.

McCain has made a number of flips on economic questions and Obama is sure to take advantage of them.

A day before AIG received a government bailout, McCain opposed it. He then begrudgingly said it was a good idea. Back in January, McCain said Americans were doing better financially than before President Bush, but now one of his campaign ads says Americans are worse off. There also seems to be a conflicting message from his campaign on whether more business regulation is needed or if regulation is standing in the way of a recovery.

Obama's economic problem

The candidate with the least experience is asking voters to trust him when it comes to fixing the nation's economic crisis. McCain is playing off this in a recent ad, asserting he is the one to trust in such challenging times.

But in the end, all the talk of the economy may do little to turn out votes for Obama. The reality is that at this point in the campaign, as many as 80 percent of voters have already made up their mind. The ones Obama really needs to help him win are blue collar, white workers in vote-rich swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Several analysts speculate Obama is having problems with some in this group because of his race and the perception that he is an "elite" liberal.

A dozen bank collapses and McCain gaffes won't change that.

The top controversy

At least it wasn't about "lipstick" this time.

Obama is criticizing McCain for saying "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" as major investment firms are shuttering across the nation. The Obama campaign immediately picked up the quote from a Monday McCain rally and turned it into an attack ad painting McCain as out of touch.

But wait, McCain that day did go on to lament the "very, very difficult times" and he later claimed "fundamentals" meant hardworking Americans.

But wait again, The "fundamentals" comment has actually been a regular line for McCain in the campaign and he now says the economy is in "crisis."

States of the week

Michigan was hit hard by both campaigns last week. Tough talking Biden swung through the state early in the week while McCain-Palin hit it after the AIG bailout. The economy is always the No. 1 issue in Michigan, which has some of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Obama has slammed McCain in ads there for opposing government-backed loans for the auto industry, which the Republican nominee just recently changed his mind on and now favors.

Obama took a break from the Midwest midweek and swung through swing states in the West, including Colorado and Nevada.

Poll race

Obama appeared to regain his footing and overtake McCain in some polls last week. In the daily Gallup tracking poll, Obama overtook McCain on Wednesday for the first time since the Republican convention. All of the swing states appear to remain tight, but many targeted states by Obama, such as North Carolina, still show a strong preference for McCain.

Under the radar

Among campaign issues this year, privatizing Social Security is listed right next to flag burning. That is to say it is an old and forgotten.

But the Obama campaign may be looking to bring it back. The campaign started running unannounced ads in Michigan attacking McCain for supporting Social Security privatization. This could play well these days considering the state of the stock market.

Is this a trial balloon, or simply a campaign ad wizard gone astray?

First debate ahead

McCain and Obama will square off on foreign policy and national security issues at their first presidential debate this Friday. The bout starts at 8 p.m. and it will be hosted at the University of Mississippi. Many undecided voters say they are looking to these debates before making their decision. Generally, foreign policy and national security are seen as McCain's turf. Look to see if Obama comes out swinging to try and knock McCain off guard. The Arizona senator will try to make Obama look naive.

A side note: This will be the first time voters really see the relatively youthful Obama right next to the 72-year-old McCain. The follow-up coverage and spin may play off this interaction.