Daily Kos/SEIU State of the Nation poll: Romney's best numbers of the week  —  Public Policy Polling for Daily Kos & SEIU.  10/12-14.  Likely voters.  MoE ±2.5% (10/4-7 results) … Obama 46 (47)  —  Romney 50 (49)  —  At a time when other polls are moving back in the president's direction …

After joking with reporters, Obama silent on Benghazi question  —  After joking with reporters, President Barack Obama ignored Tuesday a shouted question about whether Sec. Hillary Clinton is to blame for security failures surrounding the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.

King's crisis  —  About 2,000 people gathered on Sept. 28 at First Baptist North in Spartanburg, S.C., to hear high-profile Christians speak on defending the faith and applying a Christian worldview to their lives.  Among the speakers: Eric Metaxas, Josh McDowell, and—keynote speaker for the evening …

High court allows early voting in Ohio  —  (CNN) - The United States Supreme Court has given the green light to early voting in Ohio in the three days prior to November's election.  —  The brief, one sentence order from the court Tuesday is a setback for Republican leaders in the state …

Mitt Romney's ‘new math’ for jobs plan doesn't add up  —  “Let me tell you how I will create 12 million jobs when President Obama couldn't.  First, my energy independence policy means more than 3 million new jobs, many of them in manufacturing.  My tax reform plan to lower rates …

Candy Crowley to defy debate contract  —  In an interview with CNN this afternoon, Candy Crowley reiterated that, like past town-hall debate moderators, she intends to do more than just hold the microphone at tonight's debate in Hempstead, N.Y. — an intention that has caused concern for both campaigns.

Bill & Hillary Forever  —  But after Obama sealed the nomination, his attitude toward the Clintons shifted to a sharp differentiation.  His rancor toward Hillary evaporated: Obama needed her support, wanted her on his side, and was willing to work for it.  But Obama saw no benefit in kissing 42's ring, let alone his ass.

French president pushing homework ban as part of ed reforms  —  How do you think this would go over in the United States?  French President François Hollande has said he will end homework as part of a series of reforms to overhaul the country's education system.  —  And the reason he wants to ban homework?

WaPo Dept. of Burying the Lede: Jesse Jackson Jr. thought he was reincarnated chariot driver  —  In a story on the front page of the Washington Post about the controversies surrounding reclusive Illinois Democratic congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., readers have to wade through 23 paragraphs …

Electric Car Battery Maker A123 Systems Files Bankruptcy  —  A123 Systems Inc. (AONE), a maker of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, filed for bankruptcy after failing to make a debt payment that was due yesterday.  —  The company listed assets of $459.8 million and debt …

No Guarantee of Obama Rebound in Second Debate  —  President Obama was soundly defeated in the first presidential debate in Denver, contributing toward about a four-point swing toward Mitt Romney in head-to-head polls — enough to turn the race from one in which Mr. Obama had a clear lead into a very close contest.

Romney 50%, Obama 46% Among Likely Voters  —  Obama down sharply among men, college grads, and Southern voters vs. 2008  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Half of likely voters now prefer Mitt Romney for president and 46% back President Barack Obama in Gallup interviewing through Monday.

Romney Holds Advantage Tonight, Regardless of Format  —  The first thing to know about a “town-hall-style” presidential debate is that it bears as much resemblance to an actual campaign town-hall event as a marble statue does to its animated subject.  —  Real town halls are usually unscripted …

The Amazing Story of What Happened in Libya  —  Before you watch the foreign-policy portion of the presidential debate Tuesday, you must read the State Department's riveting tale of heroism in Benghazi.  —  The Benghazi consulate after being set on fire in a photo dated September 12.  (Reuters)

Romney's Tax Plan and Economic Growth  —  Bruce Bartlett held senior policy roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and served on the staffs of Representatives Jack Kemp and Ron Paul.  He is the author of “The Benefit and the Burden: Tax Reform - Why We Need It and What It Will Take.”

Paul Ryan Can't Lose  —  On a Monday night in late September, Paul Ryan sat on the edge of a couch in his suite at the Cincinnatian Hotel, his left fist clenched so tightly around the neck of his bottle of Miller Lite that I could see the veins bulging in his hands.

Ryan did wash dirty dishes during soup kitchen visit  —  LYNCHBURG, VA — Amid questions and criticisms related to Paul Ryan's visit this weekend to an Ohio soup kitchen, the charity's president said the Republican vice presidential candidate did, in fact, scrub dirty dishes though his visit wasn't officially sanctioned.

Sorry, U.S. Recoveries Really Aren't Different  —  Five years after the onset of the 2007 subprime financial crisis, U.S. gross domestic product per capita remains below its initial level.  Unemployment, though down from its peak, is still about 8 percent.  Rather than the V- shaped recovery …

Legislator says officials ‘should be shot’ as lousy tax stewards  —  Assemblyman Mike Morrell's opponent released videotaped remarks of a campaign speech in which the Republican incumbent said that government officials “should be shot” for how they handle tax money.

Fake Celebrity Account Fools Drudge, Crashes Twitter With Endorsement  —  If you were on Twitter last night, you might have noticed that the notorious “fail whale” made its unwelcome appearance for a while: Twitter was over capacity, and now we know why:  —  Drudge Report posted a headline …

The Wizard of Obama  —  The president didn't just lose a debate.  He lost an entire image of genius and control.  —  After President Reagan's listless performance in the first presidential debate of 1984 raised speculation that he was too old for the job, the Gipper took command in the second debate.