Guardian.co.uk
By Sunday evening, an ABC/Washington Post live-tracking poll had put Barack Obama on 49% and Mitt Romney on 48% in the final furlong of the presidential campaign. With the margin so tight, no one is leaving aside any opportunity to make an impression. Mitt Romney was snapped in full-on celebrity mode signing the sports shirts of teenagers attending one of his rallies; meanwhile, vice president Joe Biden reportedly invited two young supporters to take a spin with him in his battle SUV after they said they would not be able to attend an electoral gathering due to other commitments.
As for Obama, he garnered a 10-point lead over his opponent in a poll over who would be the most trusted to handle a major crisis. The finding follows his performance in office during the Hurricane Sandy emergency.
The clock is ticking…
Sunday Express
Former Rotherham MP Denis MacShane, who quit on Friday after it emerged that he had submitted 19 false expenses claims, should not have the protection of Parliamentary privilege to avoid police probes into his actions: that is the view of Bassetlaw MP John Mann. Key letters of admission from MacShane were considered inadmissible as evidence under the rule, but Mann described as “nonsense” the notion that special privilege would provide safe haven from formal prosecution.
Mail online
Choice texts and emails between former News International chief Rebekah Brooks and prime minister David Cameron among a batch delivered to Lord Justice Leveson provide further clues to the decidedly cosy nature of their relationship. In one text, sent in the wake of a Tory conference speech, Brooks admitted that she “cried twice” during Cameron’s address, and said that she would enjoy “working together” with the PM.
Sunday Telegraph
Electrical goods retailer Comet may have gone into administration last week, but its warranties arm Triptych Insurance is still in the black to the tune of £50m. While the greater part of the cash stands against the valid warranties that are currently at large among Comet’s customer base, the sum also contains an estimated £15m to £20m surplus. However, it is unlikely that this could be used to revitalise the chain as Triptych is still in the hands of its investors – not administrators.
Independent on Sunday
High-flying women should “spend every penny” on childcare and ignore feelings of guilt, according to one of the UK’s leading female scientists, Professor Uta Frith. In an urgent plea, Frith says that she is “really convinced” that guilt over childcare “is something that holds these women back” from achieving what they want to achieve. Frith’s comments have come at a time when there are just two female directors on the boards of FTSE 100 companies.
Mirror
Increasing numbers of young people are facing heavy debts accrued through payday loans, according to Una Farrell, media-relations manager at the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). In the first six months of 2012, 7,861 under-40s contacted the organisation about their money problems – a massive increase on 1,626 for the whole of 2009. “It’s alarming that they are lumbering themselves with expensive credit at a time when many will want to buy homes and start families,” Farrell said.