9/24 Top Political Headlines

*From NBC News First ReadBattleground Ohio.  On Sunday, the University of Cincinnati poll became the latest survey to show Mitt Romney trailing in the Buckeye State — and perhaps more importantly, President Obama hitting 50% or more there.  According to the poll, Obama leads Romney by five points among likely voters in the state, 51%-46%.  No Republican has ever won the White House without Ohio and this is why the GOP ticket is blitzing through the Buckeye State this week.  Running mate Paul Ryan Monday starts off an Ohio bus tour by stumping in Lima.  Romney joins him in Vandalia on Tuesday, and then the presidential nominee stumps in Westerville and Toledo on Wednesday.

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*NBC News reports: A plane carrying Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was forced to make an emergency landing in Denver Friday after smoke began to fill the plane midflight.  Campaign aides said the plane landed safely at Denver International Airport, and there were no reports of any injuries.  An electrical was the suspected cause of the smoke.

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*Out in bookstores this week: Listening In: The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy.  The book comes complete with audio recordings.  Starting in July 1962, President Kennedy had a sophisticated taping system installed in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room at the White House, presumably to record history for future use in memoirs.  The resulting 248 hours of meetings, plus 17-plus hours of phone conversations and private presidential reflections, were probably never listened to by Kennedy, who was assassinated in November, 1963.

 

 

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*The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is releasing its National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2011, Monday, with a news conference to discuss the report’s findings. Gil Kerlikowske, the White House Drug Czar, will take part in the discussion, which kicks off national recovery month, and will feature agency officials, experts in drug abuse and recovery and several individuals who are currently in recovery after seeking drug treatment. According to the agency, “the annual survey is the largest of its kind and is the government’s primary vehicle for determining how many persons are using illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, as well as how many are misusing pharmaceuticals.” SAMHSA is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services with a mission to reduce the impact of drug use on communities.