Influence Alley

Good morning, everyone. Onward to the headlines:

Sen. John McCain said in an interview with the Las Vegas Sun that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is wrong about his claim that Mitt Romney did not pay taxes for 10 years.

Some in the GOP worry that with Paul Ryan on the presidential ticket, Democrats will have an opportunity to demonize his Medicare proposals, costing the party House and Senate seats, The Hill reports.

Even with little chance of it happening, some GOP Senate candidates are suggesting the 17th Amendment--which provides for the popular election of U.S. senators--should be repealed, Roll Call reports.