President
The first debate in the U.S. presidential race between President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney was held last Wednesday at the University of Denver. The debate, hosted by Jim Lehrer of PBS, focused on domestic policy, primarily centering on the candidates' plans for economic growth in the next four years.
Political observers on both sides of the political spectrum agreed that Romney performed better in the debate and that Obama was "off his game."
Many praised Romney's aggressiveness throughout the debate. He blamed the president for the slow economic recovery and was more willing to give specifics about his plans for his first term in office.
By contrast, Obama seemed less polished than his opponent and appeared almost unprepared, observers said. Critics of Obama have also said the he should have called out Romney for using faulty or incorrect statistics - like his accusations that the president's health care law cut Medicare by $716 billion.
Though the debate is only just beginning to affect polling numbers, Romney appears to be receiving a bump from his performance. Nate Silver, a reporter and analyst for the New York Times, compiled several national polls with post-debate data and concluded Romney had narrowed the margin of Obama's lead by 2 percent, now trailing the president by about 1.7 percent.
Vice President Joseph Biden will face Rep. Paul Ryan, R-W.I., in the vice presidential debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky., Thursday from 9 to 10:30 p.m. ABC Chief Foreign Correspondent Martha Raddatz will moderate the debate.
The next presidential debate, slated for Oct. 16, will follow the town hall format and will cover both foreign and domestic policy.
U.S. Senate, Connecticut
The race between Rep. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., and wrestling magnate Linda McMahon to replace Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., puts a traditionally liberal seat up for grabs. An Oct. 4 Quinnipiac University poll has the candidates tied in a dead heat as the race enters its last month.
The campaign is the sixth most expensive Senate race so far this election cycle. McMahon outspent Murphy during the final three weeks of September, buying $2.8 million of television advertisement time, nearly triple Murphy's $1 million. The commercials have been largely negative, and both candidates have seen their negative ratings go up without their competitive polling data changing.
The election, which either party needs to win to control the Senate in the next Congress, is similar to the Massachusetts Senate race between Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and Democrat Elizabeth Warren because of its high cost, dirty politics and high-profile candidates.
Linda McMahon's career in international wrestling has allowed her to finance her own campaigns but it has also led to some derision. She vied unsuccessfully to unseat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in 2010. Murphy has represented Connecticut's fifth district since he took office in 2007.
The race revolves around many of the same issues of the presidential election, and though Romney is expected to lose the state, higher voter turnout for the Republican candidate could swing the Senate race in McMahon's favor.
Voter Registration
Voter registration forms must be sent in today for residents of Arkansas, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Texas and Utah.
The deadline to send in registrations for Missouri voters is Wednesday. The deadline in Idaho and Oklahoma is Friday. For voters in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and West Virginia, registration forms are due early next week.
For North Carolina voters, registration forms must be received by Friday. Forms from Virginia voters must be received by Oct 15.
Registration forms can be found online at the respective state's secretary of state or board of elections website.
The mail-in deadline for Rhode Island has passed, but those looking to vote in the presidential or vice presidential election may register at their polling places on election day.
