National Elections

If President Obama and Mitt Romney’s were trees, what kind would they be? We consulted an arborist to find out. But why stop there? We talked to an architect, a pastry chef, a wine expert and a comic-strip writer for some more unconventional ways to think about the candidates.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Utah could give Mitt Romney his largest margin on Election Day, but the state’s biggest newspaper is rooting for his rival. The Tribune’s editorial board says the Romney it has praised for his 2002 Olympic performance is not the same Romney running for president in 2012.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Utah could give Mitt Romney his largest margin on Election Day, but the state’s biggest newspaper is rooting for his rival. The Tribune’s editorial board says the Romney it praised for turning around the 2002 Olympics is not the same Romney running for president in 2012.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

For the first time in nearly a generation, Arizona voters will elect a new senator. Retiring Sen. Jon Kyl’s ideological successor is Rep. Jeff Flake, a fellow Republican. But recent polls suggest Democrat Richard Carmona has a shot, and the race has become heated.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

For all the attention on female voters, the gender gap is no less among white men. They voted in large numbers against Barack Obama four years ago, and are expected to do so again this year. At a motorcycle festival in Florida, some of these voters weigh in on the GOP ticket and the election.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Four years ago, 56 percent of female voters cast their ballots for Barack Obama. But with a recent poll showing him tied with Mitt Romney among women, Obama has been working anew to sway the demographic seen as key to his hold on the White House. Romney has been working to stop him.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

The presidential campaigns are trying to rally support from a voting bloc that could make a major difference in several battleground states.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Both Romney and Obama campaigns agreed to a laundry list of rules for the debates. That “Memorandum of Understanding” is 21 pages long and covers everything from air conditioning to props. Whether the candidates obey the rules is another story.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Presidential debate No. 2 is in the books, and the consensus is that — unlike debate No. 1 — President Obama came prepared for battle. For all the talk about “binders full of women,” and what was said when after the events in Benghazi, Libya, Obama and Mitt Romney both made their cases. NPR’s Ron Elving and Ken Rudin have the latest political roundup.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

The presidential contenders fired one-liners, not attacks, at a charity dinner. And the president made an appearance on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us