President Obama retains a slight lead in the polls against Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Romney saw a surge of support last week following a strong performance in the candidates' first debate two weeks ago. Some analysts credit Vice President Joe Biden's strong performance last week in his debate against Romney's running mate Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc. for stemming the tide of falling poll numbers.
Obama and Romney will meet again at Hofstra University in New York for the second presidential debate tonight. The debate, which will address foreign and domestic policy in a town hall format, will be broadcast on all cable and network news channels from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Candy Crowley, CNN's chief political correspondent, will be the first woman to moderate a presidential debate since 1992.
Republican Barry Hinckley Jr. has a lot of ground to make up as the race for Senate enters its final phases. Polls from WPRI and the Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions last week found Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., leading Hinckley by about 30 points. The candidates will meet for two debates this campaign Oct. 23 and Nov. 3.
Rep. David Cicilline '83, D-R.I., will face off today against Republican challenger Brendan Doherty in the second debate of the campaign to represent the first congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. The debate comes on the heels of two polls last week that each put Cicilline in front of his opponent by six points. The debate - jointly hosted by the Providence Journal and Eyewitness News - will air on Eyewitness News and stream online from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Independent candidate David Vogel, who has continued to receive around six percent of likely voter support in polls, will miss today's debate, but will attend the debate Nov. 1.
Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., encountered Republican challenger Michael Riley last week in the first debate of the campaign to represent the second congressional district in the U.S. House. The two clashed over taxes as Langevin tried to connect Riley to the Republican leadership in Congress, which he said puts the needs of the rich over the middle class. Riley disagreed and argued that lower taxes across the board would create economic growth without adding to the deficit. A Taubman Center poll last week gave Langevin an 18-point lead over Riley among likely voters. The candidates will debate again Nov. 2.
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