Battle for presidency remains close in new CNN poll  —  Washington (CNN) - Two days before the first presidential debate, a new national survey indicates a very close contest between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the race for the White House.

Brittany: “A face of one of the 47%”  —  Hello!  My name is Brittany and I live in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  I am 25 years old (but I will be 26 on October 3rd!).  I am a registered Democrat and I have been voting since I was 18.  I am one of the 47% of Americans who fall under Mitt Romney's definition …

GOP's October surprise?  —  Source reveals “Jimmy Carter Strategy” to make Obama seem weak on defense in campaign's final month  —  According to a highly reliable source, as Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama prepare for the first presidential debate Wednesday night …

The Paul Ryan Legend Dissipates  —  Before we discuss our tax plan, I would like to point out that my eyes are extremely blue.  —  Paul Ryan's selection as Mitt Romney's vice-presidential candidate is subjecting him to all manner of strange new indignities, such as questions about public policy …

Obama vs. Obama at debates  —  LAS VEGAS — President Barack Obama's most dangerous opponent in the trio of upcoming presidential debates isn't Mitt Romney.  —  It's himself.  —  The president has been working on blunting his barbs nearly as much as he's been trying to sharpen …

Victimized billionaires  —  Why do billionaires feel victimized by Obama?  Chrystia Freeland asks that question in the New Yorker this week, and comes back with answers we've all heard before: in short, it's not the policies, it's the rhetoric.  —  Of course, this doesn't stand up to scrutiny; it never did.

A New Course for the Middle East  —  Restore the three sinews of American influence: our economic strength, our military strength and the strength of our values.  —  Disturbing developments are sweeping across the greater Middle East.  In Syria, tens of thousands of innocent people have been slaughtered.

EXCLUSIVE: New information casts doubt on Romney's account of his 1981 arrest  —  A police log report, published in the Natick Sun newspaper in 1981 and obtained by Blue Mass Group, calls into question a portion of Mitt Romney's account of his arrest in 1981.

Poll: Obama Tops 70 Percent Support Among Latinos  —  President Barack Obama's already-lofty level of support among Latino voters has reached a new high, according to the latest weekly tracking poll from Latino Decisions released Monday.  —  The poll shows Obama earning the support of 73 percent …

Warren Maintains Narrow Lead In Latest WBUR Senate Poll  —  Sen. Scott Brown and his Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren prepare for their first debate with moderator Jon Keller on Sept. 20 in Boston.  (AP)  —  BOSTON — The latest WBUR poll of 504 likely voters (PDFs - topline …

The Real Referendum  —  Republicans came into this campaign believing that it would be a referendum on President Obama, and that still-high unemployment would hand them victory on a silver platter.  But given the usual caveats — a month can be a long time in politics, it's not over until …

After Obama guidance, Lockheed won't issue layoff notices this year  —  Lockheed Martin said Monday it will not issue employee layoff notices this year, ending an election-year showdown with the Obama administration.  —  The company said it based its decision on new guidance issued Friday …

The Responses to ‘Why I Refuse to Vote for Barack Obama’  —  Some advocates of backing “the lesser evil” actually prioritize civil liberties and human rights even less than they themselves imagined.  —  Reuters  —  My recent article, “Why I Refuse to Vote for Barack Obama,” …

THE EXPLOSION IN MOBILE AUDIENCES AND A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEWS  —  By Amy Mitchell, Tom Rosenstiel and Laura Houston Santhanam of PEJ and Leah Christian of the Pew Research Center  —  SEE THE INFOGRAPHIC OF FINDINGS  —  TAKE THE FUTURE OF MOBILE NEWS INFOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE

MSNBC's Thomas Roberts Weds  —  MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts was married to longtime partner Patrick Abner in New York over the weekend.  The ceremony and reception was held at the Gansevoort Park Avenue rooftop, with California Lt. Governor (and Current TV host) Gavin Newsom officiating.

As college student, Eric Holder participated in ‘armed’ takeover of former Columbia University ROTC office  —  As a freshman at Columbia University in 1970, future Attorney General Eric Holder participated in a five-day occupation of an abandoned Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) …

Women erased from Saudi IKEA catalog  —  Ikea's catalog is printed in 198 million copies and looks almost the same in 27 languages and in 38 countries.  With one big exception.  In the Saudi Arabian version of the catalog almost all women have been erased, Swedish newspaper Metro said.

The ‘Live TV’ Suicide: Forgive Shep Smith, But Boycott Buzzfeed … Fox News , General Electric , Shep Smith , Buzzfeed , Car Chase , Journalism Ethics , Live Tv , Media Ethics , Shep Smith Car Chase , Tv Suicide , Media News  —  In my 23 years in journalism, I've never seen a self-proclaimed …

The Economic Benefits of Passing the DREAM Act  —  Endnotes and citations are available in the PDF version of this report.  —  Until now, much of the debate surrounding the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act—a bill to provide a pathway to legal status …

Payroll Tax Cut Unlikely to Survive Into Next Year  —  WASHINGTON — Regardless of who wins the presidential election in November or what compromises Congress strikes in the lame-duck session to keep the economy from automatic tax increases and spending cuts, 160 million American wage earners …

Supreme Court Denies Appeal From Anti-Gay Marriage Group  —  National Organization for Marriage may be forced to disclose funders in Maine fight.  No action yet on Proposition 8, Defense of Marriage Act cases.  —  Image by Gary Cameron / Reuters  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. …

Five Questions about the Federal Reserve and Monetary Policy  —  Good afternoon.  I am pleased to be able to join the Economic Club of Indiana for lunch today.  I note that the mission of the club is “to promote an interest in, and enlighten its membership on, important governmental, economic and social issues.”