Obamas Earned $4.2mil in 2007

Just two hours before tonight's debate began Obama finally released his tax returns from last year. The candidate and his wife Michelle earned $4.2 million in 2007, more than they earned in the previous seven years combined. The earnings reflect the success of Obama's two bestselling books: $4 million came from royalties alone.

As Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times notes, the Clinton campaign has been calling on Obama to release his taxes from the 1990s when he was a State Senator, though she guesses there won't be any eye popping numbers in those releases. If there's any question that the ongoing Democratic race is airing a lot more laundry that the GOP: John McCain has yet to release any of his tax returns.