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Romney to Reid: Whatever. Love claims lead over Matheson. 41 days until Nov. 6.

Happy Wednesday. While polls may show Mitt Romney down, don't count him out just yet. The New Yorker looks at several ways the Republican candidate can pull this one out, including deflating jobs numbers, Romney debate victories and more unrest in the Middle East. [NewYorker]

Topping the news: Romney, meanwhile, responded late Tuesday to a criticism The Tribune reported earlier this week from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, saying he agreed that Romney has "sullied" their shared Mormon faith. Romney to Fox News' Carl Cameron: "He can say whatever he'd like to say; This isn't a race about Harry Reid." [HuffPost]

-> Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love is claiming the lead after a new poll commissioned by her campaign shows her leading Rep. Jim Matheson 51-36. [Trib]

-> While Sen. Orrin Hatch is campaigning on the notion that he'll be chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee if Republicans take over the chamber, the senator may have competition from Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley. [Politico]

-> In Utah's 1st District race, Democratic challenger Donna McAleer says Rep. Rob Bishop is helping to make D.C. more caustic while Bishop notes that historically, it's never been a friendly place. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @mayorwinder: "I love how when it hits 65 degrees in the fall everyone throws on a jacket, but when it hits 65 in the spring we break out the shorts!"

In other news: Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon endorses fellow Democrat Ben McAdams as his successor. [Trib]

-> The first of three debates this week between Ben McAdams and GOP rival Mark Crockett airs live tonight at 6 p.m. on KCPW. [DNews] [KCPW]

-> GOP state Sen. Steve Urquhart says Crockett isn't stable enough to be county mayor and the back-and-forth between Urquhart and Crockett's campaign manager goes public on Twitter. [UtahPolicy]

-> Police investigate a packet of "disturbing" racial materials sent to Mia Love's office. Love says she won't let it distract her from the District 4 race. [DNews]

-> Utah's personal income growth is slowing, following a national trend. [DNews]

-> Mother Jones looks at congressional candidate Chris Stewart as a possible extreme addition to Congress. [MotherJones]

-> Senate members seek public comment on newly-appointed judge for the 3rd District Court, Barry G. Lawrence. The district includes Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties. [DNews]

-> Paul Rolly discusses the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office of Diversity Affairs cancellation of an event scheduled on the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. [Trib]

-> A corn maze in Lehi gets political. [Trib] [DNews]

2012 watch: A recent Politico-GWU poll shows Romney leading middle-class families by 14 points. [Politico]

-> Romney and vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan campaigned together for the first time in a month. But it won't be the last time. [NYTimes]

-> President Barack Obama emphasized the importance of free speech at the General Assembly on Tuesday. [NYTimes] [WaPost]

-> Mike Rowe, star of The Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs," joins Romney in Ohio after the nominee agreed to read Rowe's letter on the need to change stigmas surrounding "dirty" labor too often taken for granted. [DNews]

-> Teacher contributions to political campaigns should be limited, Romney says, because Democrats face a conflict of interest in dealing with the unions they receive significant funding from. [CBSNews]

-> Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin stays in the race, despite GOP pressure, contributing to an already dismal Republican outlook on gaining control of the Senate. [APviaTrib] [CNN]

-> After being introduced by the former president at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, Romney said that "a few words from Bill Clinton can do any man a lot of good." [CNN]

-> Some candidates, especially those in battleground states, keep their distance from presidential nominees of their own party. [CBSNews]

-> Madonna says she'll strip on stage if the "black Muslim" wins a second term. [FoxNews] [LATimes] [WaPost]

Where are they?

Gov. Gary Herbert attends a series of closed meetings.

SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon gives the welcome remarks at the Watershed Symposium.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder welcomes sister city dignitaries from Taiwan.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker holds one-on-one meetings with constituents.

President Barack Obama campaigns in Bowling Green, Ohio, before heading to Kent, Ohio.

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