Sources: Ryan to be called ‘mister,’ not ‘congressman,’ at debate (Updated)  —  When Paul Ryan and Joe Biden take the debate stage tonight in Danville, Ky., the form of address the debate moderator is supposed to use with the VP's opponent is “mister” instead of “congressman,” two sources confirmed to POLITICO.

Did Stephanie Cutter Just Win The Foreign Policy Debate For Romney?  —  In case you haven't seen the video, watch it.  Drink it in.  Obama campaign Deputy Communications Director Stephanie Cutter, in a craven and flailing attempt to salvage the White House's ebbing credibility surrounding …

Times/Bay News 9/Herald exclusive Florida poll: Romney 51, Obama 44  —  Barack Obama's lackluster debate performance last week has dramatically altered the presidential race in Florida, with Mitt Romney opening up a decisive 7 percentage point lead, according to a new Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9/Miami Herald poll.

Very Quick Thoughts  —  I'll keep it brief.  —  I'd call the first exchange on foreign policy basically a draw.  Biden was on uncomfortable terrain on the Libya story.  On each successive encounter, Biden was on the offensive and owned the conversation.  I don't think it was close.

Matthews Confronts Lady Who Tells Him To Do His Homework, ‘Obama Is A Communist, Buddy’  —  As MSNBC host Chris Matthews talked to people in the crowd outside the Danville, Kentucky location for tonight's vice presidential debate, he was interrupted by an older woman who insisted President Barack Obama is a communist and un-American.

Obama: Romney Now ‘Severely Kidding’ About Past Positions  —  In a notably sharper stump speech on Thursday, President Obama attacked Mitt Romney for his shifting positions on taxes, health care and education by using the Republican's own descriptor as “severely conservative.”

Why Wasn't Libya Hearing on Page A1 of The Times?  —  Stories about Wednesday's Congressional hearing on Libya were prominently displayed on the front pages of major newspapers throughout the United States on Thursday morning.  —  The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, for example …

We've Gotten To The Bottom Of The Mysterious Jobless Claims Report!  —  After this morning's surprisingly positive jobless claims number was released, three things happened:  — Lots of people felt better about the economy  — Democrats cheered because they thought the number would help Obama

Romney: 'We Don't Have People Who Die Because They Don't Have Insurance'  —  Mitt Romney doubled down on his suggestion that uninsured Americans can find the care they need in emergency rooms, telling The Dispatch that people will always receive the treatment they need, and do not die or suffer because they can not pay for care.

Data Massaging Continues: Initial Claims Tumble To 339K Lowest Since 2008, Far Below Lowest Expectation  —  This is just getting stupid.  After expectations of a rebound in initial claims from 367K last week (naturally revised higher to 369K), to 370K (with the lowest of all sellside expectations at 355K) …

Oct. 10: Is Romney Leading Right Now?  —  Polling since the debate in Denver last week has generally been very strong for Mitt Romney.  But there have also been a couple of rays of hope for Democrats and President Obama.  —  One hypothesis is that Mr. Romney's debate bounce was initially very strong, but has since faded some.