Front Page Talking Points

FOR THE WEEK OF NOV. 05, 2012

It's time for the most important voices of Election 2012 – voters in every state

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1.gifFind an example of democracy in any political coverage – something that makes you proud to be an American.

2.gifDoes the paper summarize or link to its endorsements? Can you learn which presidential candidate it supports?

3.gifNow look for a campaign-related feature article, such a report about media coverage, polling place workers, Election Night events, candidates' families or another sidelight.

This week brings the final dramas of Campaign 2012: voting and counting. After more than a year of speeches, ads, interviews, debates and polls, voters will decide Tuesday who should be president, as well as who'll represent them in Congress, state legislatures and local governments. Candidates at all levels were active this past weekend -- particularly President Obama and the former Massachusetts governor who wants his job, Mitt Romney.

Each of them hop-scotched through high-stakes battlegrounds – Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida and Iowa -- that could be pivotal in what polls suggest is a close contest. "I've got a lot of fight left in me," the president said Saturday as he visited four states. For his part, the Republican tried appealing to economic disappointment and discontent about other policies among voters. "I promise change, and I have a record of achieving it," he says on the campaign trail.

Something bigger than politics overtook the campaigns early last week as a deadly storm named Sandy pounded East Coast states. Campaigning halted, though President Obama remained highly visible with televised remarks about the disaster and visits to devastated shoreline areas. He got timely praise from the Republican governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, and the politically independent mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg. "Obama has temporarily been a bipartisan figure this week. He has been the comforter-in-chief and that helps," prominent Republican strategist Karl Rove acknowledges.

Mitt Romney says: "This is the most partisan president in history. He hasn't been able to deliver on the promises he made." – Nov. 4 campaign events

President Obama says: "We have made real progress. . . . We know what change looks like, and what the governor's offering ain't it." -- Ohio, Nov. 2

N.Y. official says: “Come hell or high water -- we had both -- we’re voting on Tuesday." -- William Biamonte, Nassau County Board of Elections

Front Page Talking Points is written by Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2024

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Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.