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CBS Poll: Obama Wins Debate

Concludes by blasting Romney on 47 percent.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images

It took until the final moments of the second presidential debate for President Obama to finally bring up what many pundits thought would be a no-brainer for an attack on Romney: the GOP challenger’s behind-closed-doors criticism of “47 percent” of Americans.

Obama Seizes the Upper Hand

Using newfound energy to slice up Romney’s record, the president forced his rival on the defensive. Howard Kurtz on the impact of the second debate.
John Moore / Getty Images

Barack Obama came to play in the second presidential debate Tuesday night, unleashing a series of attacks against Mitt Romney that accused him of favoring the rich and “extreme” social policies.Romney got in the president’s face more than once, repeatedly challenging him and at one point refusing to let him break in: “You’ll get your chance in a moment, I’m still speaking.

Immigration Draws Heated Responses

Obama burns Romney on pension size.
John Moore / Getty Images

A question about immigration policy devolved into a screaming match over the size of pensions. Welcome to the second presidential debate, everyone. After Romney finished his time talking about immigration, the Republican nominee returned to an earlier question on financial investments and attempted to turn the tables on Obama by asking if he’s seen his portfolio.

Candidates Spar Over Libya

Argue over Rose Garden press conference.
Saul Loeb / Getty Images

Republican candidate Mitt Romney tussled with President Barack Obama over when the president labeled the September attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi the work of terrorists. It’s a point the Romney–Ryan ticket have hammered away at persistently in recent weeks as they strive to show that the president is weak on defense.

7 Best Moments from the Second Presidential Debate

President Obama and Mitt Romney duked it out on the economy, energy, equal pay, and more in Tuesday’s town-hall showdown at Hofstra University—and pundits are handing the victory to the incumbent. Watch the debate's most memorable moments.
Brian Snyder / Reuters-Landov

Romney’s One-Point Plan?Let the games begin! Throughout his campaign, Mitt Romney has been promoting a five-point economic plan that includes developing energy independence and slashing government spending. But to President Obama, Romney’s plan only has one point: ‘to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set up rules.

Presidential Debate Kicks Off

Romney and Obama spar on education and jobs.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP

The second presidential debate opened with visibly nervous college student Jeremy Epstein asking Mitt Romney and Barack Obama how they could assuage his fears about not having a job after he graduates. Romney responded by saying he knows “what it takes to get this economy going.

Debate Pre-Spin Under Way

Democrats and Republicans are already working the media refs at the second presidential debate. Howard Kurtz is at the scene.
Win McNamee / Getty Images

Ladies and gentlemen, the spinning has begun here at Hofstra University.John Kerry was so wound up before a gaggle of reporters that if he had been this animated in 2004, he might have won.Kerry carries special status here at the site of the second presidential debate for two reasons.

Charity President: Ryan Helped a Little

Some of those dishes he washed were dirty.

Contrary to prior comments, St. Vincent De Paul president Brian Antal now says Paul Ryan did wash some dirty dishes when he showed up to the Ohio soup kitchen uninvited last weekend. Upon seeing an angelic picture of the vice presidential hopeful and his wife scrubbing pots at the charity, Antal told The Washington Post that Ryan and his crew had “ramrodded their way” into the soup kitchen and sprayed clean dishes as photographers captured the moment.

Epic Political Photo Op Flops

What was supposed to be a charming photo op of Paul Ryan and his family at an Ohio soup kitchen turned ugly when the director of the charity that runs the soup kitchen insisted that the vice-presidential candidate barged in without permission and proceeded to wash clean dishes. But Ryan staffers shouldn’t get too depressed over the bad PR, it’s only the latest in a long line of political photo op disasters. From Sarah Palin’s turkey pardoning while one was slaughtered right behind her to George H.W. Bush being caught on camera not knowing how a grocery scanner works, see more pictures that did more harm than good.
Getty Images (top left); AP Photo (3)

Paul Ryan was slammed for staging a photo op at a soup kitchen. See other political photo op disasters.

11 Questions Debate Audience Members Should Ask Romney, Obama

Readers of The Daily Beast offer the 11 questions audience members at tonight's town hall-style debate should ask Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Win McNamee / Getty Images

Earlier this afternoon, we asked readers to send us questions they would ask if they found themselves sitting at tonight's presidential town hall-style debate. From questions about how to save the planet to healthcare hypocrisy, these are among the best.

Graham Site Scrubs Mormon Cult Ref.

After meeting with Romney.

It seems a meeting with Mitt Romney over cookies and soft drinks at his mountaintop retreat has changed Rev. Billy Graham's views on Mormonism. Shortly after the legendary evangelical preacher's date with the Republican presidential nominee, the "What is a cult?" section was erased from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's website.

Duggar Family Stumps For Akin

Along with Mike Huckabee’s wife.
Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

Todd Akin’s campaign is getting a boost from one of the biggest—literally—families in America. The Duggar clan, known for their TLC show 19 Kids and Counting, will hit the campaign trail in Missouri on Tuesday to help the embattled GOP nominee who recently came under fire for his comments about how a woman’s body can stop conception in cases of “legitimate rape.

Kochs to Employees: Vote for Mitt

Warn of “consequences” if Obama is reelected.
Getty Images (2)

A company owned by the Koch brothers sent letters to its employees warning them to vote for Mitt Romney or “suffer the consequences.” The letter, which was sent to the 45,000 employees of Georgia-Pacific and was signed by Koch Industries President Dave Robertson, warned of “higher gasoline prices, runaway inflation, and other ills.

Can Obama Be a Superstar?

The pundits say the president needs a huge come-from-behind victory. Howard Kurtz on the overwhelming odds against that happening.
Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo

Now Barack Obama has to be LeBron James.At least, that's what Joe Scarborough said on his MSNBC morning show. The president must act like the NBA superstar in Tuesday night's debate, pouring in points as if it is Game 7 against the Lakers.

Stewart: Florida Does It Again!

On 'The Daily Show's first post-election episode, Jon Stewart questioned the Sunshine State's relevance. Sorry, Florida, we elected a president without you.

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Election Ad Tracker

View, rate, and fact check the latest campaign ads.

Election Night

Victory

President Obama Passes 300 Electoral Votes, Wins Reelection

President Obama Passes 300 Electoral Votes, Wins Reelection

Interactive

State by State

Map: Election 2012 Results

Map: Election 2012 Results

The Daily Beast’s map of the Electoral College results—updated live as they come in.

Watch This!

The Night's Best Moments

13 Must-See Moments From Election Night

13 Must-See Moments From Election Night

From Obama’s win to Akin’s defeat, Sullivan’s celebration to Rove’s meltdown, watch the most memorable moments.

Aftermath

Post-Election

Five Stages of GOP Grief

Five Stages of GOP Grief

Losing sucks—and healing is hard. Paul Begala offers advice to hurting Republicans.

Over

A Thrashing

Forward

Obama’s Second Chance

Allies

Obama’s Win, Bibi’s Loss

Party Foul

Romney Victory Party a Bust

Gender Matters

Women in the World

Three Wild Races for Women

Three Wild Races for Women

Three of the most dramatic races ended in wins for Dems Elizabeth Warren and Maggie Hassan, and a loss for the GOP’s Linda McMahon.

 

 

 

NBC News

Courtesy of our partners @ NBCNews.

Campaign-In-Review

Memorable Moments

The Election’s 20 Turning Points

The Election’s 20 Turning Points

It’s finally over! Mark McKinnon looks back on two years of big moments that changed the 2012 race.

Oui Oui

Election Victory

A Great Day for America

A Great Day for America

Obama’s reelection is a victory for intelligence, reason—and, yes, hope.

Book List

Political Picks

The Obama Vs. Romney Reading List

The Obama Vs. Romney Reading List

As the candidates face off in the election, the books they’ve read recently and their professed favorites also go head to head. Who wins?