Essential Reads

Oct 19, 2012

Obama ad hits Romney on abortion
By Laura Meckler, Wall Street Journal
The Obama campaign is hitting back hard in response to a Romney ad in which the GOP candidate presents himself as more moderate on abortion rights, explaining that he thinks that abortion should be legal for pregnancies resulting from rape and incest, or if life of the mother is in jeopardy.
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Romney receives endorsement of Orlando Sentinel
By Jeff Zeleny, The New York Times
Mitt Romney, who often grouses that he is simultaneously running against President Obama and the mainstream media, will be greeted upon his arrival in Florida on Friday by a headline with which he cannot quarrel: The Orlando Sentinel is endorsing him.
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Oct 18, 2012

Officials: Obama ready to veto a bill blocking ‘fiscal cliff’ without tax hike for rich
By Lori Montgomery, The Washington Post
President Obama is prepared to veto legislation to block year-end tax hikes and spending cuts, collectively known as the “fiscal cliff,” unless Republicans bow to his demand to raise tax rates for the wealthy, administration officials said.
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Obama and Romney campaigns battle to mobilize voters
By Christi Parsons and Seema Mehta, the Los Angeles Times
The 11,000 people on a soccer field at St. Petersburg College had come to hear President Obama speak. But first Max Jay-Dixon had something important to say.
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The four Ls and four states: what's next in the Obama-Romney duel
By Major Garrett, National Journal
From now until the third and final presidential debate, and quite probably even after that, President Obama and Mitt Romney will fight on the ground, over the airwaves, and in social media over the four Ls and four swing states.
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Obama looks to regain edge with women voters
By Alexis Simendinger, Real Clear Politics
President Obama tried in his debate Tuesday night with Mitt Romney to halt any precipitous slide of women voters toward his opponent, which meant he spent loads of time pouring crack filler into his base.
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Who wins a tied debate?
By Doyle McManus, the Los Angeles Times
When two presidential candidates battle roughly to a tie in a debate, is there a winner?
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Oct 17, 2012

For the President, punch, punch, another punch
By Peter Baker, The New York Times
He waited all of 45 seconds to make clear he came not just ready for a fight but ready to pick one.
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When candidates attack
By John Dickerson, Slate Magazine
In the seal of the United States, the eagle turns its head toward its right talon, which holds an olive branch, and away from the talon holding 13 arrows. It is meant to suggest a preference for peace. The eagle that hovered between the two candidates in the second debate had the same design, but for one difference: The eagle's head was turned toward the arrows. It was a fitting symbol for the pointed and sniping contest between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney. It was a night of barbs, interruptions, and charges and counter-charges. “Very little of what the president said is true,” said Romney. “It’s not true governor,” said Obama. “Not true. It’s not true.” During one exchange, Romney said, "You'll get your chance. I'm still speaking," as the audience in the arena seemed to gasp. At another point, the two men got so close and huffy, I thought moderator Candy Crowley might just ask them to take it outside.
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ANALYSIS: Who gets momentum after second debate?
By Amy Walter and Michael Falcone, ABC News
Like the vice presidential debate last week, the Democrat and the Republican candidate on stage last night were not so much talking to each other as they were to two different audiences.
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Debate gets to the guts of the race
By John F. Harris and Jonathan Martin, Politico
Barack Obama did well enough in the second debate that he can rest assured about one thing: If he loses his bid for a second term it won’t be because he is bad at debates.
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Rivals bring bare fists to rematch
By Jeff Zeleny and Jim Rutenberg, The New York Times
President Obama and Mitt Romney engaged Tuesday in one of the most intensive clashes in a televised presidential debate, with tensions between them spilling out in interruptions, personal rebukes and accusations of lying as they parried over the last four years under Mr. Obama and what the next four would look like under a President Romney.
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Oct 16, 2012

Obama under pressure as debate comes amid early balloting
By Julianna Goldman and Lisa Lerer, Bloomberg News
With voters already casting ballots and polls showing a tightening race, President Barack Obama has little room for error in tonight’s second debate against Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
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Debt impasse shadows race for presidency
By Jackie Calmes, The New York Times
President Obama and Mitt Romney will again debate their visions for the next four years on Tuesday night, and if the campaign so far is any guide, they will not acknowledge that the winner’s agenda could depend on the fiscal showdown between Election Day and Inauguration Day.
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Michelle Obama has already voted, and tweets about it
By Christi Parsons, the Los Angeles Times
First Lady Michelle Obama cast her ballot for president Monday, presumably voting for her husband with the absentee form she dropped in the mail.
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Two Americans claim Nobel Economics Prize
With David Wessel, Wall Street Journal
Two American economists won the Nobel Prize in economics Monday for their research into how to match different actors in given markets, such as job seekers with employers and patients with donated kidneys. David Wessel has details on Lunch Break.

Oct 15, 2012

No drama Obama needs a shake-up in Romney debate rematch
By Julianna Goldman and Lisa Lerer, Bloomberg News
The candidate known for his “No Drama Obama” persona created, with his dispassionate first debate performance, a high-stakes backdrop for tomorrow’s 9 p.m. rematch against Republican nominee Mitt Romney at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
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Presidential contest tight nationally ahead of second debate
By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen, The Washington Post
On the eve of their second debate, President Obama and challenger Mitt Romney remain locked in a virtual dead heat nationally, with Republicans showing increased enthusiasm for their nominee after his big win in the first debate, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
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Obama’s prep session goal: don’t repeat mistakes of last debate
By Helene Cooper, The New York Times
To prepare for the second round of the presidential debates, President Obama retreated here this weekend — to the environs of this historic village where actors in 18th century garb wander about spouting off in colonial diction.
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Republicans outspend Democrats on TV advertising, but have fewer ads to show for it
By Amy Walter, ABC News
When it comes to spending on political ads, money isn’t everything.

Data from Kantar Media’s CMAG, an ad tracking firm, showed that during the week of Oct. 4-Oct. 11 Mitt Romney, the RNC and Republican outside groups combined to outspend President Obama and his allies on on TV ads by about $5 million – $31.6 million to $28.05 million.
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