Anyone who’s worked on a campaign knows how hard it is for a candidate to show his true self, yet the debates can give voters some important insights
mitt romney
![John F. Kennedy [Misc.]](https://ideas.time.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2012/10/50597901.jpg?w=480&h=320&crop=1 "John F. Kennedy [Misc.]")
The Real Problem With Televised Debates: The Viewers
Most of us have forgotten how to engage in the underlying political issues of our day
Cartoons of the Week: September 22–28
Bad calls and worse politics, plus more political cartoons from the week
Do the Romneys Suffer from a Siege Mentality?
Their recent comments reveal a real resentment of the social changes that have helped former outsiders gain a toehold in society
How Mitt Romney’s Faith Could Help Him Win
Mormons are accustomed to being the underdog and finding ways to succeed
Is This The Mormon Moment?
Can Romney do for Mormonism what John F. Kennedy did for Catholicism? Here’s why the comparison is premature
The Magical Negro Falls to Earth
But victory for Obama in 2012 would signify more racial progress than it did in 2008
Is Romney Doomed? Not Yet
It’s been a disastrous month, but the underlying numbers still suggest that this will be a close race to the end
Cartoons of the Week: September 15–21
Mitt makes a major mistake and the middle class responds, plus more cartoons of the week
Immigration Debate: The Problem with the Word Illegal
It’s inflammatory, imprecise and, most of all, inaccurate. So why does everyone — from Chuck Schumer to Mitt Romney — use it?
Why I’m a One-Issue Voter
The rabbi who gave the benediction at the DNC asks, Which candidate will prevent nuclear terror?
The Rich Haven’t Always Hated Taxes
Once upon a time, the wealthy elite took pride in the fact that they paid higher rates than other Americans
Cartoons of the Week: September 8–14
Americans remember 9/11, while the Middle East resorts to violence