WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday threw out a lawsuit brought by the Ohio Republican Party that could have made it easier to challenge tens of thousands of newly registered voters.

The Supreme Court, in a brief opinion, said the federal law that called for computer checks of new voters did not authorize private lawsuits to enforce it.

The ruling is a victory for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat. She said she feared "chaos" on Election Day if the GOP were permitted last-minute challenges to new voters based on data on file with the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

THREATS STRIKE REGISTRATION GROUP

WASHINGTON — An ACORN community organizer received a death threat and the liberal-leaning voter registration group's Boston and Seattle offices were vandalized Thursday, reflecting mounting tensions over its role in registering 1.3 million mostly poor and minority Americans to vote next month.

Attorneys for the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now were notifying the FBI and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division of the incidents, said Brian Kettenring, a spokesman for the group.

Republicans have verbally attacked the group repeatedly in recent days, alleging a widespread vote-fraud scheme. It was disclosed Thursday that the FBI is examining whether thousands of fraudulent voter-registration applications submitted by some ACORN workers were part of a systematic effort or isolated incidents.

Kettenring said a senior ACORN staffer in Cleveland got an e-mail that said she "is going to have her life ended." Separately, vandals broke into the group's Boston and Seattle offices and stole computers, Kettenring said.

CINDY MCCAIN'S INCOME FELL IN '07

WASHINGTON — John McCain's wife, Cindy, reported $4.2 million in income for 2007, nearly $2 million less than she reported the previous year, according to tax returns released by the McCain campaign yesterday.

Cindy McCain, who files her taxes separately from her husband, paid $1.1 million in taxes, a tax rate of about 26 percent. She reported nearly $530,000 in itemized deductions.

The McCain campaign said her losses were in investment income directly related to her family business, Hensley & Co., an Arizona beer distributorship of which she is chairwoman.

The Arizona senator's campaign had released her 2006 return in May but said Cindy McCain had requested an extension on her 2007 return.

McCain released his own tax return last April, reporting a total income of $405,409 in 2007 and $84,460 in federal income taxes.

UNLIKELY SOURCES ENDORSE OBAMA

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama yesterday won endorsements from two unlikely newspapers — the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times.

While the Tribune is the largest daily in Obama's hometown, the publication hasn't backed a Democrat in its 161-year history. And the Times hasn't endorsed a presidential candidate since 1972.

The Tribune said the country needs a president who can lead it through a "perilous time" and restore "a common sense of national purpose." Obama is the best candidate to do that, the editorial board said.

The Tribune said it liked John McCain, but added that it's "hard to figure John McCain these days."

The Times, the country's fourth-largest newspaper, said McCain's campaign had left the candidate "nearly unrecognizable." His selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for running mate was "irresponsible," it said.

"Palin is the most unqualified vice presidential nominee of a major party in living memory," the Times said. "The decision calls into question just what kind of thinking — if that's the appropriate word — would drive the White House in a McCain presidency."

The Times said the U.S. needs a president who displays grace under pressure. "Obama is educated and eloquent, sober and exciting, steady and mature. He represents the nation as it is, and as it aspires to be," the Times said.

THE REAL PALIN TO APPEAR ON 'SNL'

WASHINGTON — Sarah, meet W. And welcome to the intersection of politics and pop culture in the Lower 48.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is set to appear this weekend on "Saturday Night Live" with host Josh Brolin, the star of director Oliver Stone's new movie about President Bush, "W."

The Alaska governor has been the subject of a popular "SNL" parody featuring lookalike actress Tina Fey, a former "SNL" cast member who stars in the NBC sitcom "30 Rock." Whether Palin and Fey will appear together tonight was not announced.