Afternoon Fix: Newt Gingrich to raise money for Todd Akin

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Wednesday, September 19, 2012 EARLIER ON THE FIX Romney's '47 percent' comment and the importance of the echo chamber Senate Democratic candidates look strong in recent polling How party ID became partisan — and why it shouldn't be Democrats well-positioned for fall campaign stretch run in Virginia Why is Mitt Romney borrowing $20 million? Obama makes more swing state gains 8 takeaways from the NBC-Wall Street Journal poll People REALLY hate politicians WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED * President Obama leads Mitt Romney 52 percent to 44 percent in a new CNN/ORC International poll of likely voters in Michigan. * Discussion about the economy will dominate the first debate between Obama and Romney on Oct. 3. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced that three of the six 15-minute segments will be dedicated to the economy. The other three will focus on "health care," "the role of government," and "governing," according to the commission. * With a Sept. 25 deadline to remove his name from the ballot looming, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) is showing no signs he's preparing to step aside. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich will attend a fundraiser for the embattled congressman on Monday. * Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) is selling his Washington D.C. townhouse to help pay for the cost of medical bills. Jackson has been on medical leave for three months. He was recently treated for bipolar disorder at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. * Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) is the latest Republican to take issue with Romney's "47 percent" comment. "Keep in mind, I have five brothers and sisters. My father was an auto mechanic. My mother was a school cook. I have a very different view of the world," Heller said. Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Connecticut Republican Senate nominee Linda McMahon have also said they disagree with what Romney said. WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T MISS * In a new congressional campaign ad, Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan (Wis.) says, "we need to end the growing government control of the economy." A Wisconsin law has allowed Ryan to run for reelection to the House, even as he runs for vice president. He is expected to cruise to victory over Democrat Rob Zerban, but has millions in his campaign account to spend on House campaign ads, which could also boost the Romney-Ryan ticket in Wisconsin. * Sen. Jon Tester's (D-Mont.) latest TV ad casts Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) as an ally of "big corporations" who supports tax breaks and tax loopholes for outsourcing jobs. * Former congresswoman Heather Wilson (R) is out with a new negative ad against Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) in the New Mexico Senate race. "Creating jobs, it's just not his thing," the narrator of the ad says about Heinrich. The Democrat appears to have seized the momentum in the race during the last month. * The Republican National Committee raised $35.6 million in August, and ended the month with $76.6 million in the bank. * A Benenson Strategy Group survey conducted for the Service Employees International Union and House Majority PAC shows Democrat Bill Enyart leading Republican Jason Plummer 49 percent to 41 percent in the race to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Costello (D) in Illinois's 12th District. THE FIX MIX Gangnam Style parodies. With Aaron Blake Get The Washington Post, your way. Want to stay on top of the latest news, features, commentary and more? Here's how: Mobile: Alerts: Social Media: Applications Web site E-mail SMS RSS Feeds Facebook Twitter SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-NEWSLETTER CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 © 2012 The Washington Post Privacy Policy