Primaries

Re "Romney crosses the immigration divide," Opinion, Sept. 23 Tamar Jacoby writes that many Republicans feel Mitt Romney "went too far in the heat of the primary and are glad to see him clarifying his position" on immigration. "Clarifying"? Shouldn't that be "changing" his position? During the primaries he touted, among other things, the self-deportation of millions of immigrants, an absurd proposal. And where does the idea come from that the primaries' heat is an excuse to spout any old nonsense, however mean-spirited or offensive, and then "clarify" it into a position less repugnant or inflammatory later?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The gift bag for politicians who stopped by to chat up Iowa delegates this week included a lapel pin, stationery with a drawing of the state's iconic gold-domed Capitol - and a fold-up map of Iowa's 99 counties, a nod to the fact that the race for the 2016 presidential campaign has begun. The main purpose of the Democratic National Convention was the renomination of President Obama, but outside the convention hall, candidates eyeing the open Democratic primary in 2016 wooed party activists and showered attention on the states that hold the early voting contests.

In a bitter primary battle that pitted two freshman House Republicans against each other, it was Rep. Dave Schweikert who came out on top Tuesday, besting Rep. Ben Quayle in the fight for Arizona's 6 th Congressional District. The contest was the product of a redistricting process that favored Democrats, forcing the two Republicans to fight over a single seat.  The result was a nasty campaign that caused some Republican heavyweights to rush to Quayle's defense. But it clearly wasn't enough.

All eyes might be on the Republican National Convention, but there is another nominating process underway Tuesday in Arizona, where voters will decide on candidates for a Senate contest and a number of House races. Here's three that are worth watching: Senate: Flake vs. Cardon The Republican primary for the seat that is being vacated by retiring Sen. Jon Kyl has been billed as another test of strength for the conservative group Club for Growth. The libertarian-leaning group has been on the winning end of a number of contests this primary season, helping boost insurgents like Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who defeated incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar in that state's primary earlier this year.

Usher has been awarded primary custody and joint legal custody of his two sons with Tameka Foster Raymond, bringing to an end a bitter custody battle that has raged since the couple separated in 2008. The new custody arrangement for Usher Raymond V, 4, and Naviyd Ely Raymond, 3, will begin Sept. 1, a court clerk said Friday in Atlanta. It's another blow for Tameka, whose 11-year-old son Kile Glover died July 27 after a boating accident left him brain-dead July 6. Though not the boy's father, the singer - real name Usher Raymond IV - was reportedly distraught over Kile's death, though in court documents filed early this month Tameka disputed the authenticity of her ex's grief.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Mitt Romney delivered his fieriest denunciation yet of President Obama in front of the stately sandstone courthouse here the other day, arguing that Obama has besmirched the office of the presidency, divided Americans and taken modern-day campaigning to a new low. "Mr. President, take your campaign of division and anger and hate back to Chicago, and let us get about rebuilding and reuniting America," Romney said on Tuesday....

Outside a Trader Joe's in Silver Lake, a man in sunglasses and flip-flops called out questions to bag-toting shoppers. "Do you support medical marijuana?" he asked. "Well did you hear what City Hall just did?" An army of signature-gatherers has hit Los Angeles streets in recent weeks in a drive to repeal a recent ban on marijuana dispensaries. If activists can collect the roughly 27,400 names required within the next three weeks, a referendum to overturn the ban would go before voters in March.

Two well-known Hawaii Democrats will square off Saturday in a race to decide who will defend the seat long held by retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka. The choice is between Rep. Mazie Hirono and former Rep. Ed Case. The winner will face former two-term Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican with the rare ability to win statewide office in this bluest of blue states. Regardless of which Democrat emerges as the nominee, Akaka's retirement has set the stage for a once-in-a-generation contest. Hawaii voters typically hold onto incumbents -- the state has never voted a sitting senator out of office.

Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and U.S. health secretary, holds a narrowing lead in the bitter Dairy State Republican U.S. Senate primary with less than a week to go before the Aug. 14 vote, according to a new poll from the Marquette University Law School. The survey, however, showed that more than 1 in 5 likely primary voters were still undecided, giving a measure of hope to Thompson's three rivals, including deep-pocketed hedge fund investor Eric Hovde whom the former governor led by 28% to 20% in the survey.