In Today's Times:
- While President Obama started his presidency with a sense of hope and accommodation toward China, the relationship has become more complex, with the president toughening his approach toward this difficult partner - a strategy that is now being tested as China becomes a focal point in the campaign, Mark Landler reports.
- After starting an initial assault on the American diplomatic compound in Libya, the attackers waited and watched rescuers arrive before launching an ambush, Steven Lee Myers, Michael S. Schmidt and Suliman Ali Zway report. But much is left unknown about the attacks, including the identity of the attackers.
- It's campaign season, and electoral politics is in the air - markedly so on the Senate floor Thursday, with four pieces of legislation holding up Congress's expected departure for the campaign trail and affecting the fortunes of two senators in particular, Jonathan Weisman reports.
Washington Happenings:
- Mr. Obama will address a national AARP conference via satellite, then attend a campaign event in Woodbridge, Va., on Friday.
