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the presidential run remains tight bRIAN bAkSt & CHARlES bAbINgtON
ASSOCIAtED PRESS
WASHINgtON (AP) — Middle East violence is shaking up a presidential race that otherwise looks stubbornly stable, and tight. President Barack Obama holds a tiny edge, Republican Mitt Romney is seeking a breakthrough message, and three debates are ahead in the campaign’s final seven weeks. Republicans and Democrats agree the election probably
will be decided on Obama’s jobs-and-economy record. Both campaigns are gearing up for the new week by trying to shift the focus back to that issue. But foreign policy leaped to the forefront in recent days when protesters attacked U.S. diplomats and missions in the Middle East, and it’s unclear when it will recede. Criticisms of Romney’s quick-draw response to the protests underscored both his foreign policy vulnerabilities and the difficulty in knocking off an
incumbent, especially one who remains relatively well-liked despite a struggling economy. Obama used the trappings of the presidency to full advantage. He led somber events honoring the four U.S. officials killed in Libya. He also needled his challenger by saying that Romney “seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later.” As unrest abroad continues, Obama is launching an aggressive effort to convince voters in the most competitive states — Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New
Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia — that his economic policies are working and that Romney is risking the nation’s recovery with a plan that caters to multimillionaires over the middle class. “They want to go back to the same old policies that got us in trouble in the first place,” former President Bill Clinton is shown saying in the 60-second TV ad. Romney is trying to get back to the economy, his strength, even as a new national survey
by The New York Times and CBS News finds that he has lost his longstanding edge on the question of whom voters view as most likely to restore the economy and create jobs. Voters are feeling slightly more optimistic that the president’s policies are helping. Still, that poll and others found the race narrowly divided. “Beating an incumbent is never easy,” Romney told ABC on Friday. He dismissed polls that show Obama ahead. “I’m doing well ... and this is a cam-
paign which I think will come into focus as the debates occur.” Frustration is showing in some GOP circles because Romney has failed to move ahead Obama despite months of highlighting the nation’s high jobless rate and the millions of dollars spent pushing an economic message on TV. Romney allies are urging him to find a message that will persuade disu See PRESIDENCY on Page 2
Expectations for the candidates’ debates JulIE PACE
Associated Press
COluMbuS, Ohio (AP) — President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign doesn’t want to talk about what the Democrat is doing to prepare for the fall debates with Republican Mitt Romney. But aides are readily setting expectations — and not surprisingly, they want to keep them low for Obama while raising the stakes for Romney. “While Mitt Romney has done 20 debates in the last year, he has not done one in four years, so there certainly is a challenge in that regard,” Jennifer Psaki, Obama’s campaign spokeswoman, said of the president on Monday. With Obama edging slightly ahead of Romney in public polling seven weeks from Election Day, the three October debates could be one of the Republicans’ best opportunities to break through with voters. But the high-profile events are just as crucial for Obama, who was an uneven debater during the 2008 Democratic primaries. In that way, some of the Obama campaign’s tactical lowering of expectations is also rooted in the truth. Aides say the structured — and time-limited — nature of the debates isn’t a natural fit for Obama, who often is longwinded when answering questions during news conferences or town hall-style meetings. Obama’s campaign purposely has been vague about how he is getting ready for the debates and aides refused to discuss details of his preparations publicly. u See DEbAtES on Page 2
Students
turn up
SUAB Block Party COuRtNEY MAttHEWS Asst. Online Editor
SUAB hosted its annual Block Party open to all students from 7-10p.m. last Thursday. With comedian Osama Bin Drankin as MC for the evening, DJ Weatherman cranking out popular tunes, student performances, and trivia games ending in pie faces, students were engaged in the event throughout the night. Students who preferred more hands on activities could scale the rock climbing wall or challenge a fellow classmate to the inflatable double dunking contest. This year’s food selection were fried Oreos, funnel cakes, water icy’s, peanuts, homemade lemonade and even food trucks with steak and cheese subs and sausage dogs on them. Hickory BBQ also had a food truck present at the block party with huge turkey legs for sale. One of the vendors, Mavella cakes by April McNeil, had about 5 students on skates with mini cupcakes on a platter for students to sample for free. Other vendors included Pretty Girl Mafia, a jewelry company, and the NCAT art club Art Circle. The Art Circle students had paintings and drawings on display for students to observe, but like other vendors, were not allowed to sell anything at the actual block party event. “The student performers were a little better this year. People seemed more into them, but they were still kinda the low points of the party,” said Benita Ramsey, junior English major. Some of the student performers included rappers Gucc the Kid, Live Life, Ramil Shukur. M.A.C. Tyler Jeffries represented for the females and sung Beyonce’s “Best Thing I Never Had.” One of the evining’s highlights was the Greek Unity Step and the Greek Switch. Everyone laughed out loud at the Sigmas acting like AKA’s and cheered as all of the sorority girls were able to hang with the fraternity boys while stepping in unison. The Blue and Gold Marching Machine also made a special stop by the block party to perform songs like Young Jeezy’s “I Do” and Tupac’s “Keep Your Head Up.” Marketing senior, Xavier Sloan said, “It was a lot of fun, and packed out here! The vendors made it more like a block party and the band really topped it off.” SUAB outdid themselves this year and did a great job of packing plenty of fun, food and music all into one successful night.
(top left): the blue and Gold Marching Machine performs at the block party. (top): Greek Life organizations performed a Unity Step for the crowd as a part of Greek Unity Week. (Above): Students got a chance to rock climb as one of the various activities Photos by Christopher Martin and Alicia funderburk-the A&t Register
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