The Note's Must-Reads for Thursday, October 7, 2010

October 07, 2010 4:12 AM

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News Digital News Associates and Desk Assistants JAYCE HENDERSON, CLAUDIA MORALES, JACQUELINE NG FERNANDEZ, CARRIE HALPERIN AND JACOB BECKMAN

PRESIDENT OBAMA:
ABC News’ Jake Tapper: “President Obama, Democrats, Struggling With Women Voters” Women voters are 10 points more apt than men to be Democrats but the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll of generic congressional candidates had women voters only narrowly breaking for the Democrat, 47 percent to 44 percent. So the president is targeting women, key members of his coalition two years ago who are straying. LINK

Washington Times’ Eli Lake: “Intelligence leaks anger Obama; sharing rethought” President Obama is angry over recent public disclosures of classified information in Washington and the intelligence community is re-evaluating the post-Sept. 11 push for greater intelligence-sharing, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Wednesday. LINK

Bloomberg’s John McCormick and Roger Runningen: “Dodging Embarrassment Tops Obama Agenda in Illinois Senate Race” President Barack Obama, campaigning to shave Republican gains in Congress, arrives in his adopted hometown today to defend one of this election season’s most coveted jewels: his old U.S. Senate seat. LINK

The Washington Post’s Aaron Davis and John Wagner: “Obama’s planned appearance at O’Malley rally reflects broader strategic alliance” A Democratic incumbent who says President Obama doesn't get the credit he deserves for "saving us" with stimulus spending, or who gushes about Obama's "brilliance," "foresight" and "conviction," might brace for a Republican opponent to spike the remarks back over the net.  LINK

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
The Los Angeles Times’ Paul Richter: “U.S. giving away too much, too early in Mideast peace talks, some say” Only a month into a new round of peace talks, the Obama administration is drawing criticism from allies and veteran diplomats that it is giving away too much just to keep negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians from collapsing. LINK

The New York Times’ Jane Perlez and Waqar Gillani: “U.S. Apologizes as Attacks in Pakistan Continue” Dozens of tanker trucks carrying fuel to Afghanistan for NATO troops were torched near Quetta in western Pakistan on Wednesday, the third major attack on supplies since Pakistan closed a border crossing to Afghanistan a week ago and the first at the only checkpoint that remained open. LINK

DEMOCRATS / GOP / TEA PARTY:
ABC News’ Huma Khan: “A Referendum on Obama? Dems in Danger of Losing W. Va. Senate Seat” The West Virginia Senate race to replace the late Sen. Robert Byrd has increasingly become a referendum on President Obama's agenda. In what could be one of their biggest upset defeats this election cycle, Democrats are fearful of losing the seat they have occupied for half a century. LINK

Newsweek’s David Graham: “Old, Unelectable Democrats Have Lots of Advice for Barack Obama” Though his party is ailing as we enter the home stretch of the election, President Obama and his supporters can take heart, knowing that he's getting new strategies for electoral success from a fresh crop of advisers. LINK

The Hill’s Russell Berman: “Dems receive honors after bucking party on key agenda points” More than two dozen House Democrats are getting campaign cover from a small-business group praising them for opposing key parts of their party’s agenda. LINK

ELECTION 2012:
USA Today’s John Fritze: “Primary election early voters up 50%” The number of voters who cast early ballots in this year's primary elections increased 50% over the 2006 midterm, a USA TODAY review of key states shows, the latest uptick in a trend that is reshaping political campaigns. LINK

REGIONAL POLITICS:
St. Petersburg Times Adam C. Smith and Beth Reinhard: “Senate debate is three-way duel for Crist, Meek and Rubio” Marco Rubio got the frontrunner treatment in a combative U.S. Senate debate Wednesday night, with both his rivals attacking him as a right-wing extremist out of step with Florida voters. LINK  

The Denver Post’s Monte Whaley: “Hill poll shows tight race for 4^th CD seat” Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey and Republican challenger state Rep. Cory Gardner are effectively tied in the race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District seat, according to a new poll that looked at 12 Congressional districts represented by freshman Democrats. LINK

OTHER:
The Wall Street Journal’s Jacob Gershman: “Buffalo Native Makes It a Street Fight” In a year of political turbulence and upsets, the race for governor of New York was supposed to be a dull exception and a snap for Andrew Cuomo, the state's Democratic attorney general. LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEO:
ABC News Video: “Obama Awards Medal Of Honor To Green Beret” LINK
ABC News Video: “Hillary On VP Job: ‘Both Of Us Are Happy’” LINK

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