The Upshot - President Obama used his speech today in Cleveland, Ohio to promote the White House's new economic plan. But the president's address also confirmed a new White House strategy in the works: casting House Minority Leader John Boehner as the face of the GOP opposition. The president referenced Boehner, who represents Ohio, about ten times during [...]

AP - Democrats face a tough campaign heading into the critical November midterm elections, but the U.S. won't make any progress if they don't fight for it, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said Wednesday at an event intended to rally his party for the fall.

AP - Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias prominently showcases President Barack Obama in a new campaign ad released Wednesday even though many Democrats are keeping their distance from the president and his falling approval ratings.

AP - Pennsylvania's Democratic governor says that "wackos" are taking over the Republican Party in Congress.

Reuters - Nobody at the White House would be surprised if President Barack Obama's influential chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, decides to run for Chicago mayor and already there is speculation as to who would replace him.

The Upshot - One of the narratives of the summer has been the Republican Party's changing attitude toward Islam as seen in the response to the proposed mosque near Ground Zero. A few Republicans considered front-runners for the 2012 presidential nomination have taken very strong stances against the facility, known as the Park51 Islamic Center, aligning themselves with [...]

AFP - US President Barack Obama Wednesday admitted some of his policies were unpopular and had not revived the economy quickly enough, but sought to rekindle his frayed bond with American voters.

Reuters - President Barack Obama, fighting to keep Democrats in charge of Congress, said on Wednesday the United States could not afford to extend Bush-era tax cuts for the rich and accused Republicans of being fiscally irresponsible.

AP - President Barack Obama is getting a little personal about the sluggish economy, telling a Cleveland audience about his own family's struggles and hardships.

AP - President Barack Obama doesn't go there anymore.

AP - President Barack Obama has leveled an unusually direct attack against House Minority Leader John Boehner in the Republican's home state of Ohio.

The Christian Science Monitor - Ohio makes or breaks presidencies. Thats one reason why President Obama picked Cleveland to unveil a new plan for economic recovery just 55 days before voters decide whether Democrats keep their majorities in the House and Senate.

AP - Mike Riggen is out of work. Most of his friends are out of work, too. He's raising two children on his own and they have expensive health problems.

AP - Sen. Russ Feingold defended himself as a "career politician" on Wednesday, challenging his Republican opponent to explain to him in person why that's such a bad thing.

The Upshot - Supporters aren't allowing Sen. Lisa Murkowski to give up her congressional career just yet, even though the senator appears ready to call it quits. Following her defeat in Alaska's GOP primary last week, Murkowski has been exploring a third-party or write-in candidacy for the seat she currently holds. Murkowski met with Alaska Libertarian party leaders [...]

AP - No single election contest this fall combines the buzz and history-making potential of California's Proposition 19, which would make the state the first to legalize recreational use of marijuana.

The Upshot - Two Republican activists in Colorado have filed a lawsuit to get Tom Tancredo off the gubernatorial ballot after the former congressman threw a wrench in GOP strategy by launching a last-minute third party candidacy for governor. Republicans Marian Olsen and Joseph Harrington filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Denver District Court arguing that Tancredo violated state [...]

U.S. News & World Report - Those poor CEOs. After clawing their way to the top and laying off millions to survive the recession, they've been forced to endure harsh rhetoric out of the White House and criticism of their lavish pay. President Obama has derided them as greedy "fat cats." Now that hits them where it hurts. Congress has targeted their companies for new taxes. An "anti-business" mentality emanates from Washington, as a chill whips through America's golf and yacht clubs.

AFP - Speculation swirled Wednesday that US President Barack Obama may shake-up his crisis-scarred staff, as top political enforcer Rahm Emanuel mulled a run for Chicago mayor.

Reuters - House of Representatives Republican leader John Boehner called on Wednesday for a two-year freeze on all current U.S. tax rates, including Bush-era tax cuts for the rich set to expire at the end of this year.