Opinion: Obama's Path To Debate Victory
Obama has many challenges to winning tonight's debate, but having Mitt Romney as his opponent gives him a path to victory.
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Obama has many challenges to winning tonight's debate, but having Mitt Romney as his opponent gives him a path to victory.
President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney come face to face for the first time in this presidential campaign tonight for a nationally televised debate that will give millions of Americans a chance to size up two fierce competitors.
Is Mitt Romney planning an October surprise of sorts for tonight? Has he been saving big policy announcements and details for the debate?
Romney – the challenger – will be incredible. Obama – the incumbent – will be damaged. The question is, how severely he will be damaged?
Preparing for this debate has got to be the most depressing thing Obama has ever done. He must be staring at facts and figures that he can hardly believe – and then realize he has to defend them come Wednesday night – with his biggest critic, Mitt Romney – and the nation – staring at him. It's going to be terrible for Obama.
According to New York's Attorney General, even while the nation's economy was collapsing, Bear Stearns was only looking at its own bottom line and was lying to investors.
It is clear that Democrats have shown a greater propensity to spend money wisely with their campaigns and allied groups. At the end of the day, that is what America needs.
Johnson has his priorities: the upcoming presidential election and his football franchise. In that order.
Will there be questions at the first presidential debate about curtailing gun violence? New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is trying to force the issue by running television ads -- demanding a plan from the candidates.
For all the billions spent by the Obama and Romney campaigns, Republican and Democratic parties, and countless outside groups, we may wake up November 7th to a Washington that is virtually unchanged.
Unlike Obama, Mitt Romney has been talking about his plan to save Social Security on the campaign trail in the recent past. Though it is getting little to no coverage in the national press, it should be getting the positive "buzz" it deserves.
Gov. Christie, who delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Convention, said Romney's experience as governor of Massachusetts gives him an advantage.
With the situation getting worse on the ground Obama has ended the surge just in time for the election in November. Taliban and related attacks against NATO powers were approximately 2,700 in August of 2009 when Obama made his contrary-to-campaign promised-move to step up the nation's military assistance in Afghanistan. Three years later, in August of 2012, there were more attacks – nearly 3,000.
Romney looks to come back from 47% don't pay taxes remarks and attacks on China trade. But Romney has so many vulnerabilities on China it is hard to understand why he would pick this issue.
Mitt Romney said President Barack Obama caused a doubling of able-bodied people on food stamps by taking work out of the food stamps requirement. True, false, or something in the middle?
Obama has been moving the needle with seniors using distorted arguments about Social Security and Medicare. Fortunately for GOP presidential challenger Mitt Romney, seniors' top concern is the economy's struggles under Obama and seniors have overwhelming voted Republican in the last two presidential elections.
The final pass of the game sailed out of the end zone, saving the regular refs from the same type of call that brought the replacements to the height of unpopularity just three days earlier.
He wanted to get the world's attention and he did it with a simple diagram that could be shown in elementary schools, only to the Israeli prime minister there was nothing elementary about the stakes at hand -- stopping Iran from getting the bomb.
Conveniently-timed for Obama's reelection, the Hispanic and Women Farmers and Ranchers Claims Resolution program began September 24, 2012 – just a month-and-a-half before the election. Apparently the Obama administration did not care about this alleged injustice to females and Hispanics any time in the past three-and-a-half years. It just happened to be thought about and addressed now – just before voters pull the lever.
The controversial president of Iran made a final speech to the United Nations General Assembly. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leaves office next year, thanks to term limits. His "last blast" at the UN lacked some of the fire of years' past.
Speaking to the crowd at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Wednesday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani sounded like he was on the campaign trail and told the anti-Iranian protesters that the U.S. needs another president like Republican Ronald Reagan.
In recent decades, the government has taken to feeding needy children to combat the negativity of trying to learn while being hungry. Now, with new Obama administration regulations on school lunches, we have a government that is causing hunger.
Romney is dragging his own campaign and every Republican down. Republican operatives and House and Senate candidates have conceded as much throughout the month of September.
With players still seething, fans pondering the possibility of turning off their TVs and even the President weighing in, it's official: Overnight, the NFL's replacement refs went from minor nuisance to staggering problem.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Ahmadinejad on Sunday and warned him not to use any incendiary rhetoric. The Iranian president ignored the advice.
The Knicks' NBA championship was vitally important because it marked the first title for a major North American sports league franchise based in the New York City area in 14 years.
Knicks fans will remember the 2025-26 NBA season forever, but there are a handful of moments that stand above the rest.
The New York Knicks are being honored with a ticker-tape parade Thursday through the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan.
The surging New York Yankees used another big inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 10-5 on Wednesday night.
A New York Knicks documentary series is in the works from director and Knicks superfan Ben Stiller.
The Knicks' NBA championship was vitally important because it marked the first title for a major North American sports league franchise based in the New York City area in 14 years.
Knicks fans will remember the 2025-26 NBA season forever, but there are a handful of moments that stand above the rest.
The New York Knicks are being honored with a ticker-tape parade Thursday through the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan.
A New York Knicks documentary series is in the works from director and Knicks superfan Ben Stiller.
A Brooklyn mother and her boyfriend have been charged with murder in the 2025 death of her 3-year-old son.
Dangerous heat is building across the Tri-State Area with the threat of severe storms, making Thursday and Friday First Alert Weather Days.
Thursday and Friday will be First Alert Weather Days in the New York City area, with high temperatures and the chance for strong storms.
The Stamford Fire Department said high winds ripped the 3,000-square-foot flag off the pole atop the WWE building and sent it flying into electrical wires.
Storms hit the New York City area on Saturday, bringing damaging winds, hail and downpours across the region.
It's unseasonably warm in New York City on Wednesday as humidity adds to the summer-like weather. There's also a slight chance for showers in parts of the Tri-State Area.
The Knicks' NBA championship was vitally important because it marked the first title for a major North American sports league franchise based in the New York City area in 14 years.
A man was charged with assaulting an officer after he allegedly rammed his van into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in New Jersey, according to prosecutors.
Six women and girls had acid thrown on them in Jersey City Monday night, officials said. It happened around 7:30 p.m. on in front of a house on Wilkinson Avenue near Ocean Avenue.
The Tuesday evening rush coincided with the end of the match between Senegal and France at MetLife Stadium.
New Jersey officials are once again urging World Cup ticket holders to lean on public transportation to get to Tuesday's match between France and Senegal.
The Knicks' NBA championship was vitally important because it marked the first title for a major North American sports league franchise based in the New York City area in 14 years.
Rex Heuermann was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the series of murders known as the Gilgo Beach serial killings.
Wednesday is sentencing day for Rex Heuermann, long the suspect in Gilgo Beach serial killer case that has loomed over Long Island for more than three decades.
Tuesday was an unusual Election Day in one Long Island village. The job of mayor in Bayville is up for grabs, but no one is officially running.
The best golfers in the world and their passionate fans are descending on Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island's East End for the 126th U.S. Open.
The New York Knicks are planning to visit the White House, owner James Dolan said Wednesday, marking a first for an NBA Finals winner during President Trump's time in office.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News, retired Justice Arthur Engoron reflected on the highs and lows of the 2023 Trump civil fraud trial.
Tuesday was an unusual Election Day in one Long Island village. The job of mayor in Bayville is up for grabs, but no one is officially running.
There is good news for hard-pressed New York state residents -- 3 million will be receiving tax relief checks in the next few months.
Gov. Kathy Hochul says millions of New York homeowners are set to receive $2 billion in property tax relief.
New York broadcast giant Bill Ritter announced Friday he is stepping down from the WABC anchor desk after being diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's.
For half a century, The Valerie Fund has been dedicated to providing care to children with cancer and blood disorders.
A New Jersey nonprofit called The Valerie Fund is celebrating 50 years of providing comprehensive care to children with cancer and blood disorders.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is urging people to donate blood ahead of the summer months.
There's no vaccine for the Bourbon virus, nor medicine to treat it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A New York Knicks documentary series is in the works from director and Knicks superfan Ben Stiller.
New York broadcast giant Bill Ritter announced Friday he is stepping down from the WABC anchor desk after being diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's.
Taylor Swift attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
"Schmigadoon!" — which was tied for the most nominations, with 12 — won Best Musical, and "Liberation" took home the honor of Best Play at the 2026 Tony Awards.
The Broadway revival of the musical (nominated for 11 Tony Awards) depicts drama, joy and heartbreak in the pursuit of the American Dream at the turn of the 20th century, with parallels to the contemporary world, from issues of race to the immigrant experience.
The Knicks' NBA championship was vitally important because it marked the first title for a major North American sports league franchise based in the New York City area in 14 years.
Knicks fans will remember the 2025-26 NBA season forever, but there are a handful of moments that stand above the rest.
The New York Knicks are being honored with a ticker-tape parade Thursday through the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan.
The surging New York Yankees used another big inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 10-5 on Wednesday night.
The New York Mets averted being swept with a 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
A vending machine in Coney Island is offering something unusual alongside the neighborhood's classic attractions: original artwork from local artists.
A years-long battle is intensifying over the future of an old rail line in Queens that was abandoned after a fire over 50 years ago.
Harlem's historic Cotton Club recently announced it was up for sale. The news comes as jazz clubs across the borough disappear.
Jasir Gipson was shot by a stray bullet at 5 years old while walking with his mother. More than a decade later, he's graduating from high school with nothing but a smile.
Garbage piling up near freight train tracks is frustrating many Maspeth residents.
People dressed in elaborate headgear and paraded up Fifth Avenue for New York City's Easter Sunday tradition.
The Halloween tradition strolled through Manhattan's East Village on Sunday, with furry friends dressed in colorful costumes.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
The annual Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival was held in Manhattan on April 20, 2025.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Knicks legend Patrick Ewing spoke to CBS News New York's Doug Williams about how significant the Knicks team is to him and to New Yorkers.
Members of the New York Knicks team were spotted on floats as thousands of fans cheered watched along the parade route.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jose Alvarado and the other New York Knicks players arrived to the parade to greet fans.
Fans are reveling in the Knicks' championship win and the energy at the ticker-tape parade is electric. The CBS News New York team is at the parade bringing you the latest coverage.
"The Baklava Guy" rose to fame after handing out his signature dessert for free to Knicks fans outside Madison Square Garden. CBS News New York's Christina Fan is with him along the parade route.