Election 2012: Romney and Obama campaigns trade barbs, fight for key states

	Click to View in Browser 08/8/2012 Romney and Obama campaigns trade barbs, fight for key states DES MOINES/DENVER (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney traded barbs over welfare and women's rights from the campaign trail on Wednesday, each seeking an edge in critical states that could tip the November 6 election result. Obama's lead over Romney grows despite voters' pessimism WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the future but voters do not seem to be holding it against Democratic President Barack Obama, who slightly expanded his lead over Republican rival Mitt Romney this month, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll says. Missouri congressman wins Senate primary free-for-all KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A congressman from Missouri won his state's Republican nomination on Tuesday, setting the stage for a challenge to U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who political analysts consider the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the country this November. CIA chief Petraeus denies interest in elected office WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA director General David Petraeus has no plans to become a candidate for vice president or run for any other elected office, a spokesman for the spy chief said on Tuesday. Democrats, White House wage coordinated attack on Romney taxes WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Harry Reid and the White House may be taking different roads, but when it comes to Mitt Romney and his taxes, the destination is the same. Romney opens attack on Obama over welfare law ELK GROVE, Illinois (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney opened a new line of attack on President Barack Obama on Tuesday for waiving parts of a landmark welfare-to-work law, but Obama's team argued Romney had backed a similar move as Massachusetts governor. Ethics probe could deal losing hand to Nevada Democrat LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Harry Reid's future as U.S. Senate majority leader may hinge on whether fellow Nevada Democrat Shelley Berkley can survive an ethics probe involving her kidney doctor husband's businesses. Romney's former rival Rick Santorum to speak at Republican convention Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's most bitter rival for his party's nomination has agreed to speak at the nominating convention in Tampa, Florida, later this month. Romney tax plan is "Robin Hood in reverse": Obama STAMFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) - Adding a new attack line to his campaign arsenal, President Barack Obama derided Republican rival Mitt Romney's tax plan on Monday as Robin Hood in reverse - "Romney Hood " - saying it essentially would rob ordinary Americans to help the rich. Context takes a holiday: Campaign feeds off misleading claims WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Republican Mitt Romney was in Europe last week, his presidential campaign staged 18 events in one day across the United States, all based on a line that President Barack Obama had uttered a couple of weeks earlier: "You didn't build that." Related Video Obama says too many still jobless; Romney takes aim Romney tours Warsaw's World War II monuments Tales from the Trail Patricia Zengerle Non-retired Baby Boomers anxious about more than jobs Patricia Zengerle Air Obama: President's re-election campaign goes Dream Team The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend