In Today's Times
- Amid an uproar over provocative comments on rape and abortion made by Representative Todd Akin, Republican of Missouri, the National Republican Senatorial Committee declared that it would withdraw financial and organizational support from his Senate campaign, Jonathan Weisman and John Eligon report.
- Representative Paul D. Ryan's record of opposing abortion â€" even in cases of rape and incest â€" offered the Romney campaign a reminder of the political dangers that a running mate can bring to the ticket, Michael D. Shear and Trip Gabriel write. Democrats highlighted Mr. Ryan's history on the issue after controversial comments from Mr. Akin were broadcast on Sunday.
- During a trip to Israel last summer, Representative Kevin Yoder of Kansas, a first-term Republican, jumped into the Sea of Galilee completely disrobed, turning a foreign policy fact-finding mission into anothe r challenge for House leaders struggling to keep an upstart freshman clash in line, Jennifer Steinhauer reports.
- Intense Republican fund-raising and heavy spending by President Obama make it virtually certain that Mr. Obama will not leave the Democratic convention next month with the cash advantage he had four years ago, Nicholas Confessore and Derek Willis report. Conservative PACs have stepped into the breach as Mitt Romney has continued to husband his resources, while the Democratic National Committee spent significantly more last month than it raised.
- President Obama issued his first direct threat of force against Syria on Monday, saying the country would face American military intervention if there were signs that its arsenal of unconventional weapons was being moved or prepared for use, Mark Landler and Damien Cave report.
Around the Web
- The Democratic National Committee announced a new slate of convention speake rs on Monday, including a few officials who represent the new crop of potential party leaders. Kamala D. Harris, California's attorney general, will speak alongside familiar faces like Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago mayor and former White House chief of staff, and Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.
- Weeks after the Democratic Party moved to include same-sex marriage as part of its official platform, the Republican Party has drafted documents to include a strong defense of the “traditional concept of marriage†in its official platform, Buzzfeed reports.
