NPR News

Obama Battling To Maintain Women's Vote, Seen As His Key To Victory

Next image Previous image

Credit Emmanuel Dunand / AFP/Getty Images

The crowd joins Republican Mitt Romney in singing the national anthem at a rally Wednesday in Chesapeake, Va.

Credit Carolyn Kaster / AP

Onlookers listen as President Obama speaks Friday in Fairfax, Va., about the choice facing women in the election.

By Liz Halloran

Originally published on Fri October 19, 2012 4:54 pm

After President Obama's self-described somnolent first debate performance, his female supporters lit up social media and tagged the campaign with complaints about his failure to talk about their issues, from pay equity to health and reproductive rights.

He's been playing catch-up ever since, focusing on shoring up his party's two-decade-long domination with female voters who are key to Obama's hold on the White House.

4:18 pm

Fri October 19, 2012

Colorado, A Big Win For Obama In 2008, Now A Harder Sell

Next image Previous image

Credit RJ Sangosti / AP

Supporters turned out for President Obama's first post-debate rally on Oct.4 in Denver. The president is facing a fierce fight for Colorado after winning it by 9 points four years ago.

Credit Martin Kaste / NPR

Craig Romney, the son of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, signs postcards to voters at a campaign office in Aurora, Colo.

By Martin Kaste

Originally published on Fri October 19, 2012 7:12 pm

Listen

In Colorado, the presidential race is a statistical dead heat. The state went heavily for candidate Barack Obama in 2008 — but the president is now facing fierce headwinds.

Obama won last time by 9 points, an astounding margin in a state that hadn't gone Democratic since 1992. One Democratic strategist calls 2008 a one-time case of "irrational exuberance," especially among Colorado's large contingent of swing voters.

4:13 pm

Fri October 19, 2012

'Dumplings,' Bunnies And Trains: Asian Folk Songs For Kids

Credit Kristiana Parn

Illustrated by Kristiana Parn, the booklet for Rabbit Days and Dumplings contains notes about each song and its East Asian origins, written by Elena Moon Park.

By editor

Originally published on Fri October 19, 2012 11:19 pm

Listen

Billed as "all-ages folk and children's music from East Asia," Rabbit Days and Dumplings collects mostly traditional songs from China, Tibet, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. The album is the creation of Elena Moon Park. She's spent six years playing family music with Dan Zanes, who has a fanatically devoted following among the smaller set. For this project, she brought in dozens of other musicians from around New York City.

4:13 pm

Fri October 19, 2012

For Cancer Survivors, Armstrong An Inspiration

By editor

Originally published on Fri October 19, 2012 7:12 pm

Listen

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

Tonight in Austin, Livestrong, the cancer organization founded by Lance Armstrong, is holding its 15th anniversary gala and Armstrong is scheduled to speak at the event. But it's been a bad stretch for the champion cyclist. In the face of a scathing report linking him to doping, he stepped down as chairman of Livestrong and he lost major sponsors, including Nike.

4:13 pm

Fri October 19, 2012

Record-Breaking Bratwurst Story Has A Twist

By editor

Originally published on Fri October 19, 2012 7:12 pm

Listen

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

We'd like to take a moment now to recognize greatness. Earlier this month in a grocery store parking lot in Prescott, Wisconsin, the world's largest bratwurst was cooked.

PATRICK PTACEK: Fifty-two feet and two inches.

(APPLAUSE)

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

The brat was grilled in honor of the 100th anniversary of Ptacek's IGA. Patrick Ptacek co-owns the store. He and his family paid for the massive brat and made it in the store.

SIEGEL: Actually, we should say brats. They made two.

4:13 pm

Fri October 19, 2012

Pitching Puts Tigers In World Series

By editor

Originally published on Fri October 19, 2012 7:12 pm

Listen

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Melissa Block.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

And I'm Robert Siegel.

The Detroit Tigers are in the World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals are close. And sportswriter Stefan Fatsis is with us to discuss baseball's playoff season. Hiya, Stefan.

STEFAN FATSIS: Hey, Robert.