This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Obama on the offense. Romney takes lead in swing states. 21 days until Election Day.
Happy Tuesday. President Barack Obama will have a chance tonight to redeem himself after a weak showing at the first debate. For Mitt Romney, it's an opportunity to prove he can be consistent. The debate will be held at 7 p.m. Mountain Time. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time. We break down what to watch for here: [Trib].
-> CNN's Candy Crowley ruffled some feathers by saying she isn't planning to be a "fly on the wall" but rather take a more active role as moderator in tonight's debate. Both campaigns complained to the Commission on Presidential Debates. [Politico] [HuffPost]
-> How is Romney preparing for the debate — by channeling his inner businessman. [Politico] On the other side, Obama is expected to come out swinging. [CNN]
Topping the news: Romney leads Obama across 12 major swing states, according to a new Gallup/USAToday poll, 51-46. [WaPost] [Politico]
-> In the third quarter, Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love raised just over $1 million, double that of Rep. Jim Matheson's $470,000 haul. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Utah Policy says that when the Senate meets this week, it won't be voting on the nomination of Francine Giani to head the state's alcohol agency. [UtahPolicy]
Happy birthday: To Lt. Gov. Greg Bell.
Tweet of the day: From @politicoroger: "BREAKING RUMOR: Candy Crowley to be locked in soundproof booth for debate, not allowed to ask questions or make faces."
In other news: Sen. Orrin Hatch wants the Treasury Department to lay out when thegovernment is going to hit its debt ceiling and what measures theadministration is using to prolong moving it up. [TheHill]
-> Rep. Rob Bishop and his Democratic rival, Donna McAleer, spar in a debate over partisan gridlock. [Trib] [StandEx]
-> Utah election officials say they could see 75 percent of voters turn out this year. [UtahPolicy]
-> A new poll release by Democratic groups show Matheson up 7 percent over Love. [Trib]
-> The Utah Commission on Immigration and Migration is seeking funding to complete a study of the state's documented and undocumented immigrant population. Some estimates predict that the study could cost up to $50,000, but the commission currently has $0 at their disposal. [DNews]
-> Cache County officials reject the state's handling of pollution control in their area. [Trib]
-> On Thursday, the county mayoral candidates will discuss diversity issues in a 6 p.m. forum. [Trib]
2012 watch: Romney likes to talk about his father, George Romney, walking out of the 1964 Republican Convention ... but it didn't happen. Buzzfeed looks at the myths of the elder Romney. [Buzzfeed]
-> The Atlantic's Molly Ball says that Romney's rise in the poll is not simply a result of his opponent's poor first debate performance; rather, it seems that Obama had a bit of weak streak leading up to the debate, gone unnoticed primarily thanks to a coinciding Romney flub feeding frenzy. [Atlantic]
-> Some argue that the Obama campaign's latest e-mail sounds like a "desperate bill collector." [Politico]
-> A longtime aide to George Romney calls out Mitt Romney for a lack of conviction. [NYTimes]
-> Romney was expected to join his wife, Ann, on "The View" but has since canceled. [WaPost]
-> Members of the Romney campaign explain that Obama's shrinking lead among Florida Latinos is a result of their realizing he is "weak" and "inefficient," attributes the advisers feel were exemplified during the first debate. [BuzzFeed]
-> An article labeling Mormonism a cult is pulled from Billy Graham's association website following the televangelist's meeting with Romney. [Citizen-Times]
-> The Romney campaign raises $170 million in September and has over $190 million on hand. [Politico]
-> Romney's tax plans don't add up — if you apply the bipartisan math of the Joint Committee on Taxation. [NYTimes]
-> See how the each state has shifted over the years: [NYTimes]. (Hint: Utah is currently on the right. The very right.)
Where are they?
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon meets with the Deseret News editorial board.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends a Utah Performing Arts Center meeting and then a Mountain Transportation meeting.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder sits down with Beth Garstaka of the English Language Skills Center and later attends his City Council meeting.
President Barack Obama heads to Hofstra University for tonight's second presidential debate.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]
— Thomas Burr and Betsy BlanchardTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/betsyblanchard