The Making Of Romney's Storm Relief Event  —  A scramble to depoliticize a political campaign, and $5,000 in supplies from Wal-Mart.  “Just grab something.”  —  Image by Brian Snyder / Reuters  —  DAYTON, Ohio — The last-minute decision by Romney high command Monday to suspend politics …

Big Storm Opportunism  —  Did you know Hurricane Sandy favors higher marginal tax rates?  —  Our former editor Robert Bartley once quipped (fondly) about the writer Jude Wanniski that he thought a capital-gains tax cut could intercept a Soviet SS-20 missile in mid-flight.

Lingering questions about Benghazi  —  The attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi has become a political football in the presidential campaign, with all the grandstanding and misinformation that entails.  But Fox News has raised some questions about the attack that deserve a clearer answer from the Obama administration.

Poll: Romney closes gap on Obama in Michigan  —  Mitt Romney is within striking distance of Barack Obama in Michigan in the final days before the election, buoyed by more who are convinced the Republican is a viable alternative to the president, with the ability to turn around the economy.

Americans Still Give Obama Better Odds to Win Election  —  54% of Americans think Obama will win; 34% predict Romney  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — A majority of Americans continue to believe that Democratic President Barack Obama will win re-election Tuesday over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, by 54% to 34%.

Statement on Hurricane Sandy  —  This week, our nation has anxiously watched as Hurricane Sandy lashed the East Coast and caused widespread damage—affecting millions.  Now more than ever, our neighbors need our help.  Please consider donating or volunteering for your local aid organizations.

Race Narrows as Campaign Enters Its Final Week  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio — President Obama and Mitt Romney enter the closing week of the campaign in an exceedingly narrow race, according to the latest poll by The New York Times and CBS News, with more voters now viewing Mr. Romney as a stronger leader …

New Romney ad: Did Obama's rescue of GM create more jobs in China?  —  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has broadened his attack on President Barack Obama's auto industry restructuring, implying that General Motors used the aid to hire more workers in China than in the U.S.

FROM OHIO: GROUND GAME REPORT  —  For the past two days, Ali Akbar and I have been talking to Americans for Prosperity about their grassroots organizing effort here in Ohio.  We visited their Columbus office Monday night, talked today to AFP's Ohio state policy director, Seth Morgan …

Possible Bubbles of Spacetime Curvature in the South Pacific  —  In 1928, the late Francis Wayland Thurston published a scandalous manuscript in purport of warning the world of a global conspiracy of occultists.  Among the documents he gathered to support his thesis was the personal account …

FACEBOOK CENSORS NAVY SEALS TO PROTECT OBAMA ON BENGHAZI-GATE  —  Over the weekend, Facebook took down a message by the Special Operations Speaks PAC (SOS) which highlighted the fact that Obama denied backup to the forces being overrun in Benghazi.  —  The message was contained in a meme …

Obama leads by 5 in Wisconsin and Iowa  —  New Public Policy Polling surveys in Wisconsin and Iowa, conducted on behalf of Health Care for America Now, find Barack Obama leading by 5 points in each state.  In Iowa the spread is 50/45, representing a 3 point increase in Obama's advantage compared to a week ago.

Bush's FEMA Director During Katrina Criticizes Obama For Responding To Sandy Too Quickly  —  Former FEMA Director Michael Brown offered criticism of President Obama's early responses to Hurricane Sandy yesterday, including a dig at the administration's response to last month's attack in Libya.

The Hill's 2012 Top Lobbyists  —  2012 hasn't been the best year for K Street, but it's too soon to call it a bust.  —  A divided government and the demands of campaigning have kept Congress in low gear, depressing revenue at lobby shops and leaving trade associations and grassroots groups in planning mode.

The Morning After: First storm-related anti-Obama attack ad appears  —  A friend of ours in northern Virginia received this flier delivered to her apartment's front door this morning:  —  The ad, attacking President Obama, declared, “WE'VE SEEN STORMS IN VIRGINIA, BUT NONE LIKE THIS...”

The ‘I’ of the Storm  —  The dramatic homestretch ad for President Obama, running on every network and in all media markets, is a home run, devastating for Mitt Romney.  —  And, best of all, the president didn't have to pay for it, or even say, “I approve this message.”