MORNING MESSAGE: Go Bold On Jobs
OurFuture.org's Isaiah J. Poole: "President Obama's failure in the first debate was not one of politeness; it was one of passion and vision. In this second debate he can still project himself as more presidential and more likable than Romney. But he must present an economic program of boldness and urgency that matches the intensity of the continuing anxiousness that the middle class across the political spectrum continues to feel about the state of the economy. Only then will he have earned the passionate support of progressives who are anxious to move forward to a different economy than the one we have today."
Town Hall Debate Tonight 9 PM ET
McClatchy previews: "Obama, sharply criticized for a listless performance in the first presidential debate on Oct. 3, is expected to more aggressively question Romney’s shifts in tone and position over the years – and in some cases recent days – on tax cuts, immigration, abortion and other subjects … [Obama] is expected to press Romney hard on the Republican’s contention that he can cut current income tax rates 20 percent across the board without increasing the federal deficit … [Romney] is expected to counter not only with a vigorous defense of his plan but with a recitation of economic woes…"
Romney, who slammed "New York banks" in first debate, get big fundraising haul from New York banks. Bloomberg: "Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and allied party committees raised more than $170 million in September in a fundraising haul praised by real-estate mogul Donald Trump as 'big numbers.' … Employees at financial firms such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co. again were among the top donors …"
"Soup kitchen visit by Ryan stirs anger" reports Youngstown Vindicator: "The president of Mahoning County’s St. Vincent de Paul Society is 'shocked' and 'angry' that Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan used the soup kitchen for a 'publicity stunt.' … he arrived so late that breakfast was over for quite some time. Volunteers started to clean up … when a Ryan campaign staff member asked them to leave some pots and pans unwashed so the VP nominee and his family could do something when he arrived … [The president] did specifically criticize Ryan for wanting to eliminate the small amount of federal money the society gets for the dining hall."
Former George Romney aide slams Mitt Romney. NYT: "A longtime aide to George W. Romney issued a harshly worded critique of Mitt Romney, accusing him of shifting political positions in 'erratic and startling ways' and failing to live up to the distinguished record of his father, the former governor of Michigan … 'Mitt would say and do anything to close a deal – or an election … George would never have been seen with the likes of Sheldon Adelson or Donald Trump.'"
Kaiser Family Foundation reports finds a Romney-Ryan style voucher plan means higher costs for Medicare: "Nearly six in 10 Medicare beneficiaries nationally could face higher premiums for Medicare benefits … Even if as many as one-quarter of all beneficiaries moved into a low-cost plan offered in their area, the new system would still result in more than a third of all beneficiaries facing higher premiums."
Outcome Could Determine "Fiscal Cliff" Deal
House GOP aide admits Obama win could change party approach to taxes. NYT: "People in both parties say much would depend on Mr. Obama’s margin of victory and how Republicans would interpret a loss. 'Do they take that as, "Well, Obama won and he really took it to us on the issues, and we lost so we need to be reasonable?"' said a senior House Republican aide, who did not want to be identified discussing party strategy. 'Or is it an all-out blame fest — ‘Mitt Romney was a horrible candidate. We didn’t really lose. Romney lost."'"
Both parties discuss "fiscal cliff" compromises. Bloomberg: "…the two parties are separately discussing a down payment to replace at least half of $110 billion in automatic spending cuts set to begin in January … Congress might delay the rest of the spending cuts while lawmakers work on entitlement or tax policy changes in the first half of 2013 … One Democratic aide said the party may be willing to consider cutting a larger share of spending from non-defense programs to get a deal through the House, assuming the Bush tax cuts expire … stopgap plans being considered by each party could continue miscellaneous tax breaks, prevent more people from having to pay the alternative minimum tax and delay cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. Democrats are also talking about ways to extend expanded unemployment benefits."
