On last night's program, the Rev. Floyd Flake defended Barack Obama's decision to talk about his past use of illegal drugs. Watch the video above.

Tonight’s guests include: Former Mayor David Dinkins; Our NY1 Wiseguys.

The New York Times

Pat Healy writes: "No power brokers in the Democratic Party are openly campaigning for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as their vice-presidential nominee this year, and even Mrs. Clinton’s closest aides have stopped talking her up. Yet privately, some Democrats continue to see her as exactly the partner that Senator Barack Obama needs."

Danny Hakim notes: "Tom Golisano, the Rochester billionaire and registered Republican, donated $1 million on Friday to the host committee of the Democratic Party’s convention in Denver, making him one of the largest donors to the planning efforts surrounding the expected coronation of Barack Obama as the party’s nominee next week."

There’s some interesting early story placement in the mayoral race in The Times. It was front-page news that Anthony Weiner is a tough and demanding boss; front-page news in the Metro section that Bill Thompson has outspent his rivals in the mayor’s race, and now it’s front-page news that Christine Quinn’s "doting" dad is helping her political career.

Charlie Bagli reports: "Facing potential lawsuits by the federal government, developers and landlords in New York City may need to spend tens of millions of dollars to renovate more than 100,000 apartments built since 1991 to comply with federal housing laws barring discrimination against tenants who use wheelchairs, real estate industry officials say."

Elissa Gootman writes about the mayor’s announcement that 18 new charter schools will open this fall.

Al Baker reports on the one-year anniversary of the Deutsche Bank building fire.

The edit-heads opine: "You have to wonder what the New York City Police Department is trying to hide. The department says it has documents that explain and justify its mass arrests during the 2004 Republican convention. But, it won’t release them."

New York Post

Scott & Dicker note: "Gov. Paterson yesterday faced stiff resistance from legislative leaders, who continued to shun his call for $600 million in budget cuts. Even as lawmakers made their way to Albany for a rare summer session to address ballooning budget deficits today, leaders had not agreed to cuts beyond some $200 million discussed over the weekend."

And Dicker looks at a Siena College poll: "New Yorkers to state lawmakers: Cut spending and don't dare raise taxes! That's the clear message being delivered by a massive majority of voters as the Legislature convenes today for a special session called by Gov. Paterson to deal with a ballooning state deficit, a new poll yesterday showed."

The edit-heads note: "Paterson is a lonely man right about now - sort of like Gary Cooper in High Noon, with the clock ticking and the gunslingers heading into town. The good guys usually win in the movies; in Albany, they hardly ever do. We're rooting for the governor. New Yorkers who care about integrity in government should be, too."

Dicker also follows up on a story he wrote about yesterday: "Top Republicans yesterday called for a criminal probe of Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith for allegedly threatening lobbyists who fail to contribute to Democratic campaigns."

From Washington, Daphne Retter notes: "Embattled Rep. Charles Rangel has become an albatross around the necks of congressional candidates across the country. In at least a dozen contests, Republican challengers are demanding their Democratic rivals return donations from Rangel, who is under fire for having four rent-regulated apartments."

Maggie Haberman reports: "A city councilman challenging a long-sitting GOP state senator - in one of the races Democrats have tapped as a priority - let his registration as a lawyer lapse, The Post has learned. Joseph Addabbo, who's taking on state Sen. Serphin Maltese in the 15th Senate District in Queens, didn't renew his state registration when it expired in May 2007."

In a guest op-ed column, Carol Kellermann of the Citizens Budget Commission looks at where the state can cut waste.

New York Daily News

From Albany, Ken Lovett reports: "A top adviser to disgraced former Controller Alan Hevesi has severed ties with the financial firm that helped him make $25 million in pension fund-related fees. Hank Morris, under investigation by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office, no longer works for Connecticut-based Searle & Co. his filing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority shows."

Op-ed columnist Bill Hammond writes about today’s special session: "Too many members of the Assembly and Senate are representing the State of Denial instead of the State of New York. They believe - or pretend to believe - that Paterson is exaggerating the dire economic outlook, that his modest spending trims would needlessly harm services for the poor and the sick. Obviously, they've been breathing too much of the smoke blown by the lobbying groups who fund their campaigns."

The edit-heads think criminal charges "seem warranted" for the Deutsche Bank fire while also praising the growth of charter schools in the city. (second editorial.)

Newsday

James T. Madore writes: "Amid the increasingly heated debate over how to rein in property taxes, the State Assembly could take up today a plan that provides political cover for members in tight re-election races but won't pass muster with the Senate or Gov. David A. Paterson."

New York Sun

Grace Rauh notes: "In an affront to Governor Paterson, Assembly Democrats are preparing to vote to raise taxes permanently on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million a year. The so-called millionaire's tax bill would raise the personal income tax rate of people earning more than $1 million, and boost the tax rate even higher for people earning more than $5 million. The increases up for consideration are higher than had been proposed earlier this year and, unlike the previous plan, would not be restricted to a five-year period."

Until tomorrow.

Bob Hardt

To drop us a line, write to political_itch@ny1.com.