U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann and her challenger, Jim Graves, tangled Tuesday on bridges, budgets and retiree programs in their first debate.

Graves, a DFLer and St. Cloud hotel executive, was on offense for much of the debate, which was staged at River’s Edge Convention Center and moderated by St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce President Teresa Bohnen.

It was the first of three debates before the Nov. 6 election pitting Graves against the third-term Bachmann, who’s less than a year removed from a run for the Republican presidential nomination. St Cloud Times

Subways were shut down from Boston to Washington, as were Amtrak and the commuter rail lines. About 1,000 flights were canceled at each of the three major airports in the New York City area. Philadelphia International Airport had 1,200 canceled flights, according to FlightAware, a data provider in Houston. And late Monday night, Mayor Bloomberg said cabs had been instructed to get off New York City roads.NYT

1) Sandy hurts Obama.  As Larry Bartels wrote about a few months ago, incumbent presidents can be punished for natural disasters, including floods.  Of course, a lot hinges on whether serious damage hits the key battleground states in Sandy’s path: Virginia and Pennsylvania, plus probably New Hampshire and maybe parts of Ohio.  Given Obama’s apparent lead in Pennsylvania, it’s less likely that Sandy’s damage could swing that state against him.  

2) Sandy helps Obama.  Some research by John Gasper and Andrew Reeves finds that while both presidents and governors are punished for natural disasters, they are rewarded for a proactive response to those disasters.  President Obama has declared  that location a disaster area (and therefore eligible for federal disaster funds).

3) Sandy limits early voting, possibly hurting Obama’s chances.  David Axelrod is already suggesting this could happen.

Morning quarterback is a person who passes judgement on and criticizes something after the event.the Oxford Dictionary.

We take a look at the Sunday talk shows.

The past week's political events that help shape the American  politics.

Acontecimientos políticos de la semana pasada que ayudan a conformar el cuerpo político estadounidense.

The political magazine with a full cup of Coffee and a few polling numbers in between the refills.

La revista política con una taza llena de café y algunos números de las encuestas entre las recargas.

George Stanley McGovern the United States senator who won the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1972 as an opponent of the war in Vietnam and a champion of liberal causes, and who was then trounced by President Richard M. Nixon in the general election, died early Sunday in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was 90. New York Times

The Final debate of the 2012 political season was held last night in Boca Raton, Florida on foreign policy.“Every time you have offered an opinion, you’ve been wrong,” The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back"

President Obama

Morning quarterback is a person who passes judgement on and criticizes something after the event.the Oxford Dictionary.

We take a look at the Sunday talk shows.

Democratic Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and Republican challenger Rep. Todd Akin are met in suburban St. Louis for their second and final scheduled debate.

The past week's political events that help shape the American  politics.

Acontecimientos políticos de la semana pasada que ayudan a conformar el cuerpo político estadounidense.