DNC email ties Romney to Todd Akin  —  In an email to supporters sent overnight, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz went after Missouri Rep. Todd Akin's comments about whether women get pregnant from “legitimate rape,” and attempted to discredit the whole Republican Party and GOP presidential ticket in a condemnation of Akin's views:

Exclusive: GOP scolded after drinking, nudity in Israel  —  The FBI probed a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee that involved drinking, numerous GOP freshmen lawmakers, top leadership staff - and one nude member of Congress, according to more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses.

POLITICO e-book: Obama campaign roiled by conflict  —  President Barack Obama's campaign team, celebrated four years ago for its exceptional cohesion and eyes-on-the-prize strategic focus, has been shadowed this time by a succession of political disagreements and personal rivalries that haunted the effort at the outset.

Niall Ferguson: Hit the Road, Barack  —  The president has broken his promises, and Romney-Ryan's path to prosperity is our only hope.  —  I was a good loser four years ago.  “In the grand scheme of history,” I wrote the day after Barack Obama's election as president, “four decades is not an especially long time.

‘Top Gun’ director Tony Scott jumps to his death from L.A. bridge  —  Tony Scott, a director known for ‘Top Gun’ and a producer, jumped off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro without hesitation, witnesses tell police.  —  Director and producer Tony Scott jumped to his death …

An Unserious Man  —  Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate led to a wave of pundit accolades.  Now, declared writer after writer, we're going to have a real debate about the nation's fiscal future.  This was predictable: never mind the Tea Party, Mr. Ryan's true constituency …

Donald Trump gets ‘surprise’ convention role  —  The Donald is gearing up for Tampa.  —  When the Republican National Convention kicks off next Monday, Donald Trump will have a “surprise” role on its first day, people familiar with the matter said Sunday evening.

Former union boss at Occupy event: Our goal is to ‘overthrow the capitalist system and build communism’ [VIDEO]  —  Former Amalgamated Transit Union local 689 president Mike Golash, now an “Occupy” movement organizer, was caught on tape Sunday revealing his political goals …

Romney Campaign Works Feverishly to Project Relaxed Image  —  TAMPA, Fla. — They hail from the Broadway stage, the control rooms of NBC and the design studios that created sleek sets for Oprah Winfrey and Jon Stewart.  —  Their craft is slick packaging and eye candy that audiences consume by the millions.

Swing-State Voters Say They Are No Better Off Than in 2008  —  Divided as to whether they would be better off in four years under Obama or Romney  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A majority of voters in key 2012 election swing states say they are not better off than they were four years ago; 40% say they are better off.