“A new Fox News poll finds President Obama got a five point bounce among women and a 12-point bounce among independents from the Democratic convention,” Political Wire writes. “Obama now leads Mitt Romney by five points among likely voters, 48% to 43%.”

Meanwhile, an EPIC-MRA poll finds Obama leading Romney by 10 points in Michigan, 47%-37%. 

“The country’s poverty rate dropped by an insignificant tick -- from 15.1 percent to 15 percent -- but the number of impoverished Americans remained at record highs, according to figures released by the US Census Bureau Wednesday morning,” the Boston Globe notes, adding, “The bureau said 46.2 million live in poverty. To meet the threshold, a family of four would have made less than $23,021 in pre-tax income, not including such government noncash benefits as food stamps. The threshold the previous year was $22,350 for a family of four in the continental United States.”

“Turmoil in the Arab world linked to a contentious video denigrating the Prophet Muhammad spread on Thursday to Yemen, where hundreds of protesters stormed the United States Embassy, two days after assailants killed the American ambassador in Libya and crowds tried to overrun the embassy compound in Cairo,” the New York Times writes. “News reports also spoke of a separate protest in Tehran, where around 500 Iranians chanting “Death to America” tried to converge on the Swiss Embassy, which handles United States interests in the absence of formal diplomatic relations with Washington.”

“Chanting ‘death to America,’ hundreds of protesters angered by an anti-Islam film stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Yemen's capital and burned the American flag on Thursday, the latest in a series of attacks on American diplomatic missions in the Middle East,” USA Today writes. “The protesters breached the usually tight security around the embassy and reached the compound grounds but did not enter the main building housing the offices.”

The Washington Post: “The assault Tuesday evening on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi and an earlier attack on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo represent the most serious challenge yet to Obama’s attempt to transform a traditionally anti-American region into one that is more trusting of U.S. intentions and can serve as a counterweight, with Israel, to Iran’s ambitions.”

Despite the pushback Romney’s gotten, Washington wasn’t happy with the original Cairo embassy statement, The Cable blog reports.

“Mitt Romney on Wednesday strongly criticized President Obama’s response to attacks on Americans in the Middle East, prompting both Republicans and Democrats to warn Romney against seeking political points over a crisis involving the death of US citizens abroad,” the Boston Globe writes. “Romney alleged that Obama was sympathizing with the attackers because of a statement that the US Embassy in Cairo issued condemning an online video offensive to Muslims as an example of religious intolerance. Romney said Wednesday the statement was issued after the attack in Cairo, as a response to it. But it was actually issued before the attack, specifically in response to growing anger in Egypt over the offensive video.”

The AP: “Mitt Romney is a Republican standard-bearer largely standing alone in his rush to criticize President Barack Obama after violent attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions in Egypt and Libya. Romney’s quick swing at Obama — as the crisis was unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa — was glaringly at odds with the more statesmanlike responses Wednesday from GOP leaders in Congress to the killing of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others Americans in Benghazi and to the U.S. Embassy breach in Cairo.”

In a separate story, the AP says Romney “seriously mischaracterized” what happened.

The New York Times editorial page says Romney “showed an extraordinary lack of presidential character.”

The Washington Post editorial page called Romney’s response “a discredit to his campaign.” And it points out: “Romney claimed that the administration had delivered ‘an apology for America’s values.’ In fact, it had done no such thing: Religious tolerance, as much as freedom of speech, is a core American value.” And about the video: “it was striking that Mr. Romney had nothing to say about such hatred directed at a major religious faith.”

The New York Times: “The deadly attack on an American diplomatic post in Libya propelled foreign policy to the forefront of an otherwise inward-looking presidential campaign and presented an unexpected test not only to the incumbent, who must manage an international crisis, but also to the challenger, whose response quickly came under fire. … Romney came under withering criticism for distorting the chain of events overseas and appearing to seek political advantage from an attack that claimed American lives.”

The New York Daily News’ DeFrank: “Mitt Romney’s reaction to the U.S. diplomatic murders is a fresh reminder why some senior GOP officials are worried over how he’ll fare in next month’s foreign policy debate. Romney has just learned the hard way that dabbling in what Henry Kissinger termed the forbidden fruit of foreign policy is a lot like gambling — the odds generally favor the house.”

More: “In his zeal to capitalize on the Cairo demonstrations, Romney overreached, then got overtaken by tragic events in Benghazi, Libya. That forced him, in effect, to double down with a Wednesday press conference where he looked ill at ease, defensive, opportunistic and — even some of his most ardent GOP boosters privately conceded — unpresidential.”

USA Today: “A presidential campaign that's been all about the economy shifted suddenly to foreign policy Wednesday following the murderous attack on U.S. diplomats in Libya, giving President Obama an advantage over a challenger who has yet to start receiving national security briefings. … While Obama was condemning the attacks, vowing justice against the perpetrators and consoling the victims' families and State Department colleagues, Romney doubled down on a statement he initially released Tuesday night accusing the administration of sympathizing with the attackers.”

Major Garrett: “Mitt Romney has picked a big fight fraught with political risks amid an ongoing foreign-policy crisis with heartbreaking and murderous consequences for the U.S. diplomatic corps. And by the end of the day on Wednesday, he walked straight into a forearm shiver from the commander-in-chief—one that may leave a mark and intensify scrutiny of Romney’s foreign-policy qualifications.”

Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images

President Barack Obama walks to board Marine One September 12, 2012 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Updated at 5:30 p.m. ET -- President Obama responded today to Mitt Romney's attack on him for his administration's handling of the violence in Egypt and Libya, saying the Republican presidential nominee has "a tendency to shoot first and aim later."

"There's a broader lesson to be learned here, and, you know, Gov. Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later," Obama said in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes. A portion of the interview aired in a CBS Special Report. "As president, one of the things I've learned is you can't do that. It's important for you to make sure that the statements you make are backed up by the facts, and that you thought through the ramifications before you make them."

Asked if he thought the statements made by Romney were irresponsible, Obama said, "I'll let the American people judge that."

Romney yesterday criticized the Obama administration for a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo that he charged was "disgraceful" and sympathized "with those who waged the attacks.”

The statement from the embassy did not appear to "sympathize" with attackers, but condemned a fringe video made in the United States that criticized the Prophet Mohammed and was blamed with inflaming radicals in the Middle East who scaled the embassy walls in Cairo and killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other State Department officials. 

The Cairo embassy statement also came out hours before the attack on the Cairo embassy even took place. Romney today did not back away from his statement, prompting criticism from some in the diplomatic community.

Traveling with reporters aboard Air Force One, White House press secretary Jay Carney shared more excerpts of the 60 Minutes interview in which the president suggested Mitt Romney was inappropriately making a campaign issue out of the violence in Libya.

According to Carney, the president noted that the original Egyptian Embassy statement, which the Romney camp condemned, “came from folks on the ground who are potentially in danger” and was not meant to defend the attacks but rather to “cool the situation down” with infuriated protesters outside the embassy.

“My tendency is to cut folks a little bit of slack when they’re in that circumstance rather than try to question their judgment from the comfort of a campaign office,” the president said.  “It appears that Governor Romney didn’t have his facts right,” he continued, according to the transcript.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki added that while Thursday evening’s rally would be more subdued and that the president would open his remarks with a tribute to the fallen diplomats, it was “still a campaign event.” 

NBC's Ali Weinberg contributed to this report.

Earlier today, we published our analysis of the updated ad spending by state, based on new spending by the Romney and Obama campaigns and according to data provided by ad tracker SMG Delta. Here's how they break down state-by-state since March 19. 

A few takeaways:

You’ll notice the Obama campaign is outspending Romney campaign everywhere both campaigns are spending.

But when you factor in outside groups, it's a different story.

Here are the state’s where the advantages are (even if slight) by team - in other words the campaigns and groups supporting them: 

Team Romney: FL, NC, IA, NV, NH, PA, WI, MI, and MN

Team Obama: OH, VA, CO

Here's how much each group has spent in each state:

FLORIDA $119.7 million
Romney $16,471,243
Am Crossroads $12,509,348
Crossroads GPS $12,293,037
AFP $9,014,582
Restore $7,819,601
Am Future Fund $1,359,061
Am Energy All $854,325
RNC $6,635
Team Romney $60,327,832

Obama $44,610,509
Priorities $12,713,685
SEIU $1,475,589
Planned Parenthood $447,657
MoveOn $64,359
ACLU $17,060
Team Obama $59,328,859

OHIO $113.8 million
Obama $49,096,888
Priorities $12,651,236
MoveOn $47,775
Team Obama $61,795,899

Romney $19,007,818
Crossroads GPS $8,216,089
Am Crossroads $8,216,089
AFP $6,758,801
Restore $5,125,570
RNC $3,680,185
Am Future Fund $699,868
Am Energy All $608,900
Team Romney $52,313,320

VIRGINIA $83.9 million
Obama $32,648,872
Priorities $6,087,431
Restore $4,057,887
Planned Parenthood $595,680
Numbers USA $115,051
MoveOn $16,225
Team Obama $43,521,146

Romney $15,759,412
Crossroads GPS $7,289,186
Am Crossroads $6,580,648
AFP $4,541,639
RNC $4,291,849
CWA $1,028,274
Am Future Fund $454,460
Am Energy All $453,464
Team Romney $40,398,932

NORTH CAROLINA $57.6 million
Obama $22,043,255
MoveOn $38,532
ACLU $17,028
Team Obama $22,098,815

Romney $11,282,923
Am Crossroads $5,475,912
Crossroads GPS $5,465,354
Restore $4,886,169
AFP $4,722,727
RNC $3,100,258
Am Future Fund $601,818
Team Romney $35,535,161

COLORADO $55 million
Obama $19,898,834
Priorities $7,482,876
SEIU $605,671
Priorities/LCV $545,327
Team Obama $28,532,708

Romney $8,984,641
AFP $4,590,360
Am Crossroads $4,165,467
Crossroads GPS $3,114,815
Restore $2,677,105
RNC $2,065,791
Am Future Fund $381,164
Am Energy All $325,569
CWA $202,878
Team Romney $26,507,790

IOWA $47.3 million
Obama $18,971,456
Priorities $2,882,148
Planned Parenthood $342,595
Team Obama $22,196,199

Romney $7,832,298
Am Crossroads $4,219,934
Crossroads GPS $3,563,096
AFP $3,453,226
Restore $2,897,827
RNC $1,768,698
CWA $1,049,518
Am Future Fund $158,080
Am Energy All $145,320
Team Romney $25,087,997

NEVADA $37.4 million
Obama $16,824,278
SEIU $416,053
Priorities/LCV $433,721
Priorities $24,483
Team Obama $17,698,535

Romney $5,909,669
Crossroads GPS $3,964,758
AFP $3,112,935
Am Crossroads $2,999,878
Restore $1,853,666
RNC $1,205,342
Am Future Fund $340,659
Am Energy All $324,335
Team Romney $19,711,242

NEW HAMPSHIRE $25.5 million
Obama $12,736,091
Team Obama $12,736,091

Am Crossroads $3,533,653
Crossroads GPS $3,473,406
RNC $2,233,741
Restore $1,301,190
Romney $1,153,505
AFP $587,252
CWA $472,856
Team Romney $12,755,603

PENNSYLVANIA $19.3 million
Obama $4,909,188
Priorities $3,189,838
Team Obama $8,099,026

Restore $4,907,168
AFP $3,716,972
Crossroads GPS $2,574,630
RNC $1,750
Team Romney $11,200,520

WISCONSIN $11.8 million
Obama $667,954
Priorities $3,133,436
Planned Parenthood $61,802
Team Obama $3,863,192

Romney $369,516
AFP $3,266,979
Restore $2,777,237
CWA $1,136,676
RNC $369,483
Team Romney $7,919,891

MICHIGAN $8 million
Priorities $10,515
Team Obama $10,515 

Crossroads GPS $3,276,646
Restore $2,427,777
Am Crossroads $738,765
Am Future Fund $585,798
Am Energy All $489,441
AFP $450,456
Team Romney $7,968,883

MINNESOTA $3.2 million
AFP $2,274,058
Restore $3,351
CWA $872,040
Team Romney $3,149,449

FAIRBORN, OH -- The morning after a mob in Libya killed four Americans at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazzi, a subdued Joe Biden paid tribute to the dead and promised justice for their killers.

"These men are as brave and as courageous as any of our warriors that we’ve sent," Biden said of the four Americans killed, first noting that the late Ambassador Chris Stevens fought for the liberation of the Libyan people.

"The cause to which they dedicated their lives and gave their lives, democracy, partnership, tolerance, stands in sharp contrast to the values of those who callously took their lives," he said. "And let me be clear, we are resolved to bring to justice their killers."

The vice president also called for recognition of all foreign service officers, whose jobs often put them in danger and whose careers aren't "all about going to coffees and teas."

"As we always have, Americans must be steadfast, resolved and committed in the face of such horrific events," he added. "We never have been and we will not be run off, period."

Biden, who appeared at a campaign rally at Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio (which he at one point mistook for Michigan's Wayne State), offered fewer of his red meat lines than usual, barely mentioning opponents Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan by name.

But he did pivot from his recognition of the Middle East conflict to his stump speech by drawing an implicit contrast with Romney over the GOP's ticket's view of foreign policy as a "sidelight."

"Foreign policy is not some sidelight to all of this," he said. "And you deserve all of America deserve leaders who will tell you what they intend to do in both spheres."

DE PERE, WI -- Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan called the attacks in the Middle East in the last 24 hours that resulted in four Americans killed “outrageous” and that a Mitt Romney administration would follow a “peace through strength” doctrine.

“The attacks on our diplomatic missions in Egypt and Libya and the loss of four American lives including our Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens-- this is outrageous,” Ryan said inside an ice rink outside of Green Bay. “Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and I would just like to ask at this moment that we join together in a moment of silence in memory of them.”

Following the moment of silence, Ryan continued: “This is a time for healing. It is a time for resolve. And in the face of such a tragedy, we are reminded that the world needs American leadership. And the best guarantee of peace is American strength.”

The U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked Tuesday -- September 11^th -- killing the American ambassador and three other diplomats. There were also protests outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

The Romney campaign released a statement late Tuesday night, which the former Massachusetts governor told reporters this morning he stands by: “It's disgraceful that the Obama administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”

With less than two months before the Nov. 6^th election, foreign policy is back in the spotlight.

In Ryan’s first solo town-hall style event since being chosen as Romney’s running mate, the very first question came from a bronze-star recipient on how national security would be handled under a new administration.

“It is very important that a president speak with a singular voice representing our principles and our values," Ryan said. "We don't want people around the world wondering what our values are. Peace through strength works, and a Romney administration will embrace the peace-through-strength doctrine.”

For nearly 40 minutes, Ryan fielded questions from fellow Wisconsinites on a variety of topics, but the very final question circled back to foreign policy. He began talking about the problems of White House “leaks” after he was asked about Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani doctor who aided the CIA in the Bin laden effort and who was throw in jail for treason by Pakistan.

“Let me be careful with my words, but be really clear," Ryan said. "These leaks on national security coming from the White House undermine the men and women who put risks on their lives for us. How are we going to get people to help us in the war on terror if this is how we treat our allies in the war on terror? These leaks are not helpful.” 

The political fallout associated with the attacks Tuesday on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi that left four dead, including an American ambassador, was the product of a fluid and quickly evolving situation on the ground in Egypt and Libya.

Jason Reed / Reuters

President Barack Obama delivers a statement alongside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, following the death of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and others, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, September 12, 2012.

At the heart of Mitt Romney's criticism of President Barack Obama (for "apologizing for the right of free speech") was a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Egypt on Tuesday as protests there and in Libya crept up in reaction to a controversial film about the Islamic prophet Muhammad, a clip of which was set for screening by the Florida pastor Terry Jones.

Read the main story: US won't rule out Islamist militant link to attack on US consulate in Libya

At 6:17 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Egypt released this statement:

The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.

At a 1 p.m. ET briefing, State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Cairo had suffered a breach – around noon ET:

We did have reports just before I came down here that we had a protest outside our embassy in Cairo. We had some people breach the wall, take the flag down, replace it -- what I heard was that it was replaced with a ... With a black flag -- a plain black flag, but I may not be correct in that. We are obviously working with Egyptian security to try to restore order at the embassy and to work with them to try to get the situation under control. 

By mid-afternoon Tuesday, this statement provoked criticism from some conservative bloggers, who characterized it as an "apology" for American values (i.e., free speech) rather than a strong condemnation of the protests, which would later metastasize into attacks on those diplomatic missions. Conservatives furthermore suggested that it was no coincidence that these demonstrations were occurring on the 11-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.

Related: Romney ratchets up criticism of Obama on initial response to embassy attacks

Through it all, the situation on the ground in Egypt and Libya was changing rapidly. NBC News and other news organizations were monitoring reports that the situation in both countries was potentially deteriorating.

At 4:29 p.m. ET, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo issued a series of tweets, some of which simultaneously defended its earlier statement and condemned the compound attackers. The Romney campaign seized on these tweets to argue that the original statement had remained the embassy’s policy even after the breach:

2) Of course we condemn breaches of our compound, we're the ones actually living through this.

3) Sorry, but neither breaches of our compound or angry messages will dissuade us from defending freedom of speech AND criticizing bigotry

At 6:25 p.m. ET, Nuland confirmed, via email, that the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, was under attack:

“We can confirm that our office in Benghazi, Libya has been attacked by a group of militants.  We are working with the Libyans now to secure the compound. We condemn in strongest terms this attack on our diplomatic mission.”

At 6:32 p.m. ET, Nuland said that demonstrators had been removed from the Cairo compound. There was no indication at this point whether there was a connection between the Cairo and Benghazi incidents:

“In Cairo, we can confirm that Egyptian police have now removed the demonstrators who had entered our Embassy grounds earlier today.”

As the evening progressed, vague reports emerged suggesting that an "American" had been killed in the Libya assault, though there was no indication of that person's identity. It had been emphasized to news organizations that the situation in Libya was fluid.

Slideshow: U.S. posts attacked in Libya and Egypt

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The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed after protesters angry over a film that ridiculed Islam's Prophet Muhammad stormed the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.

Launch slideshow

At 10:10 p.m. ET, the Romney campaign emailed a statement from the Republican presidential nominee to media organizations about the violence in both countries, reporting of which was prohibited (or "embargoed") until 12 a.m. ET Wednesday:

“I'm outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi. It's disgraceful that the Obama Administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”

At around the same time, POLITICO posted a story featuring a quote from a "senior administration official" appearing to disavow the statements from Cairo. This would emerge as fodder for Romney on Wednesday:

"The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government," an administration official told POLITICO.

At 10:13 p.m. ET, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued the following statement:

I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in Benghazi today. As we work to secure our personnel and facilities, we have confirmed that one of our State Department officers was killed.  We are heartbroken by this terrible loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who have suffered in this attack. 

This evening, I called Libyan President Magariaf to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya. President Magariaf expressed his condemnation and condolences and pledged his government's full cooperation.  

Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind. 

In light of the events of today, the United States government is working with partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide.

At 10:26 p.m. ET, the Romney campaign lifted its embargo on the GOP candidate's statement.

At 11:11 p.m. ET, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted the following:

Obama sympathizes with attackers in Egypt. Sad and pathetic.

At 12:11 a.m. ET, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt issued the following statement:

“We are shocked that, at a time when the United States of America is confronting the tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya, Governor Romney would choose to launch a political attack.”

At 6:17 a.m. ET, NBC News confirmed and reported that U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens was among those killed at the mission in Benghazi.

At 7:22 a.m. ET, President Obama issued the following statement:

I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.

I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.

On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi. As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya's transition to democracy. His legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened by this loss.

The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward.

At 7:43 a.m. ET, Secretary Clinton issued the following statement:

It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the death of four American personnel in Benghazi, Libya yesterday. Among them were United States Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and Foreign Service Information Management Officer, Sean Smith.  We are still making next of kin notifications for the other two individuals. Our hearts go out to all their families and colleagues.

A 21 year veteran of the Foreign Service,  Ambassador Stevens died last night from injuries he sustained in the attack on our office in Benghazi.  

I had the privilege of swearing in Chris for his post in Libya only a few months ago. He spoke eloquently about his passion for service, for diplomacy and for the Libyan people. This assignment was only the latest in his more than two decades of dedication to advancing closer ties with the people of the Middle East and North Africa which began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco.  As the conflict in Libya unfolded, Chris was one of the first Americans on the ground in Benghazi. He risked his own life to lend the Libyan people a helping hand to build the foundation for a new, free nation. He spent every day since helping to finish the work that he started. Chris was committed to advancing America's values and interests, even when that meant putting himself in danger.

Sean Smith was a husband and a father of two, who joined the Department ten years ago. Like Chris, Sean was one of our best.  Prior to arriving in Benghazi, he served in Baghdad, Pretoria, Montreal, and most recently The Hague.

All the Americans we lost in yesterday's attacks made the ultimate sacrifice. We condemn this vicious and violent attack that took their lives, which they had committed to helping the Libyan people reach for a better future.

America's diplomats and development experts stand on the front lines every day for our country. We are honored by the service of each and every one of them.

Around 9 a.m. ET, a senior administration official described to NBC News the process by which the president was notified and briefed:

The president was informed of the Libya situation by NSA Donilon yesterday afternoon as he started his weekly meeting with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The President was updated on both incidents several times throughout the evening and again this morning.

The president was notified last night that Ambassador Stevens was unaccounted for and then notified again this morning about his tragic death.

In the same hour, Clinton appeared on camera at the State Department to make remarks about Stevens's death. She said (excerpt):

This is an attack that should shock the conscience of people of all faiths around the world. We condemn in the strongest terms, this senseless act of violence and we send our prayers to the families, friends and colleagues of those we've lost.

All over the world every day, America's diplomats and development experts risk their lives in the service of our country and our values because they believe that the United States must be a force for peace and progress in the world, that these aspirations are worth striving and sacrificing for. Alongside our men and women in uniform, they represent the best traditions of a bold and generous nation.

In the lobby of this building, the State Department, the names of those who have fallen in the line of duty are inscribed in marble. Our hearts break over each one. And now because of this tragedy, we have new heroes to honor and more friends to mourn.

Around the same time, Romney re-arranged a planned rally in Jacksonville, Fla., to hold a 10:16 a.m. ET press conference, used in part to reiterate his criticism of Obama.

Some of Romney's statements include:

America will not tolerate attacks against our citizens and against our embassies. We'll defend also our constitutional rights of speech and assembly and religion.

We have confidence in our cause in America. We respect our Constitution. We stand for the principles our Constitution protects. We encourage other nations to understand and respect the principles of our Constitution, because we recognize that these principles are the ultimate source of freedom for individuals around the world.

I also believe the administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt, instead of condemning their actions. It's never too early for the United States government to condemn attacks on Americans and to defend our values.

The White House distanced itself last night from the statement, saying it wasn't cleared by Washington. That reflects the mixed signals they're sending to the world.

[...]

I think it's a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values. That instead, when our grounds are being attacked and being breached, that the first response of the United States must be outrage at the breach of the sovereignty of our nation.

An apology for America's values is never the right course.

[...]

The White House also issued a statement saying it tried to distance itself from those comments and said they were not reflective of their views. I had the exact same reaction. These views were inappropriate. They were the wrong course to take when our embassy has been breached by protesters. The first response should not be to say, "Yes, we stand by our comments that -- that suggest that there's something wrong with the right of free speech."

[...]

The president takes responsibility not just for the words that come from his mouth, but also from the words that come from his ambassadors from his administration, from his embassies, from his State Department.

They clearly sent mixed messages to the world and the statement that came from the administration and the embassy is the administration. The statement that came from the administration was a statement which is akin to apology and I think was a severe miscalculation.

At 10:42 a.m. ET, Obama appeared in the Rose Garden to address the incident in Benghazi, but made no reference to Romney's attack. An excerpt:

Every day all across the world, American diplomats and civilians work tirelessly to advance the interests and values of our nation. Often, they are away from their families. Sometimes, they brave great danger.

Yesterday, four of these extraordinary Americans were killed in an attack on our diplomatic post in Benghazi. Among those killed was our ambassador, Chris Stevens, as well as Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith. We are still notifying the families of the others who were killed.

And today, the American people stand united in holding the families of the four Americans in our thoughts and in our prayers.

The United States condemns in the strongest terms this outrageous and shocking attack. We're working with the government of Libya to secure our diplomats. I've also directed my administration to increase our security at diplomatic posts around the world. And make no mistake, we will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people.

Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification for this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.

Throughout the morning, statements from a variety of lawmakers flowed in, though most Republicans avoided the kind of harsh criticism of Obama voiced most prominently by Romney.

At 12:14 p.m. ET, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan appeared in Wisconsin to address the Libya situation, though he also avoided direct criticism of Obama.

I want to begin unfortunately on a somber note. We woke up to some pretty disturbing news this morning. I know all Americans today are shocked and saddened by the news from the Middle East. The attacks on our diplomatic missions in Egypt and Libya and the loss of four American lives including our Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. This is outrageous. Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and I would just like to ask at this moment that we join together in a moment of silence in memory of them. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] Thank you.  This is a time for healing. It is a time for resolve. And in the face of such a tragedy, we are reminded that the world needs American leadership. And the best guarantee of peace is American strength.

At around 1:04 p.m. ET, Vice President Joe Biden told supporters gathered in Ohio:

"The cause to which they dedicated their lives and gave their lives, democracy, partnership, tolerance, stands in sharp contrast to the values of those who callously took their lives," he said. "And let me be clear, we are resolved to bring to justice their killers."

Former Amb. R. Nicholas Burns, who has served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said he was “disappointed” in Mitt Romney’s reaction to the violence in Egypt and Libya, which resulted in the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three embassy staffers.

“I was, frankly, very disappointed and dismayed to see Gov. Romney inject politics into this very difficult situation where our embassies are under attack, where there’s been a big misunderstanding in the Middle East, apparently, about an American film, where we’re trying to preserve the lives of our diplomats,” Burns said on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports this afternoon. “This is no time for politics.”

Burns added: “I just think that Gov. Romney has, in a very unwise way, injected himself into a situation where he clearly doesn’t have all the facts.”

Congressman Mike Rogers, a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, avoided Romney’s same level of criticism on the show, appearing to call for a pause in the political rhetoric for a few days.

“I do think there’s room for discussion after we get through these very troubling few days about maybe policies overall and those kinds of discussions and that’s probably a fair debate to have in this upcoming election,” Rogers said. “What we should be focused on now is that we lose a United States ambassador. And what’s key about this is we ask these folks to serve in very dangerous places. They are civilians. They are to represent the United States and just fundamentally try to avoid conflict. So the fact that these guys were deliberately targeted – they knew the ambassador wouldn’t be armed – tells us we’ve got some troubles we’re going to have to deal with, especially in Libya.  This was a well-armed, well-coordinated event.  It had both indirect and direct fire, and it had military maneuvers that were all part of this very organized attack. That’s concerning. That means we are going to have to make sure, working with the Libyans hopefully, that these folks are brought to justice very swiftly.  We cannot allow this to stand for the United States.”

Rogers added, “I’m not exactly sure what Gov. Romney was specifically talking about. I think probably what you saw there was the frustration with a foreign policy that probably is a little out of kilter of where the governor would be when it comes to the Middle East. I think that’s probably what you’re seeing there.”

Romney foreign-policy adviser, former Amb. Richard S. Williamson, stood up for Romney.

"When you don't have the facts, you argue process,” Williamson said of Romney’s critics. In fact, he added that the “substance of what the governor said last night was true then and is true now."

Williamson also dismissed Burns’ criticism, deriding him as someone who first served under former President Jimmy Carter. But Burns, who rose to the third-ranking official in the State Department during the George W. Bush administration, actually began his foreign-service career during the Reagan administration. Burns has also served George H.W. Bush and on Bill Clinton’s national-security council.

Williamson said he believes the choice in this election is between someone who "apologizes" for American values and one who doesn't.

Here was the Egyptian embassy's statement, hours before its compound was breached:

The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.

Here was Romney's response to that in a statement last night:

“It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”

Today, Romney did not back down, saying it's "never too early to condemn attacks." "I don’t think we ever hesitate when we see something which is a violation of our principles," Romney said. "We express immediately when we feel that the president and his administration have done something which is inconsistent with the principles of America."

Romney also called the embassy's statement an "apology for American principles."

NBC's James Rankin contributed to this report.

The Obama campaign is going up with a huge TV ad buy in Florida, including in the expensive Miami market, according to a senior campaign official.

The Obama camp, in fact, is claiming this is the largest and earliest buy in Miami for a presidential contest.

The statewide buy targets 10 media markets -- including Tampa (2,700 advertising points), Orlando (2,700 points), Miami (1,300 points), Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and even neighboring Mobile, Ala.

Related: Romney camp jumps the gun on criticism

This huge buy reflects the Obama campaign's increasing confidence of being able to win Florida, which would potentially deliver a knockout blow to Romney in the race to 270 electoral votes. According to NBC's electoral map, if Obama wins Florida, he would need to win just one other toss-up state to reach or surpass the 270 number.

The ad blitz also appears intended to put pressure on the Romney campaign to spend more in Florida, including Miami.

Earlier this week, we took a look at the spending breakdown, but hadn't seen the buys in Wisconsin yet.

Here are the updated numbers by state, including the Wisconsin buy:

1. Florida - $119.7 million
2. Ohio - $113.8 million
3. Virginia - $83.9 million
4. North Carolina - $57.6 million
5. Colorado – $55.0 million
6. Iowa - $47.3 million
7. Nevada - $37.4 million
8. New Hampshire – $25.5 million
9. Pennsylvania – $19.3 million
10. Wisconsin - $11.8 million
11. Michigan - $8 million
12. Minnesota - $3.2 million
13. New Mexico - $49,000

Total spending: $581 million

Also note that Crossroads GPS made buys earlier this summer, but it was unclear if those were for the presidential or for Senate races. Now, it's clear that about $6 million that was counted for Crossroads GPS was for Senate races and not presidential, so that has been adjusted and updated, according to data from ad tracker SMG Delta.

President Obama's campaign is still the top single spender, but with all the outside groups factored in, Romney and his supporters are outspending the president $307 million to $276 million.

Here's the full breakdown:

Obama $222 million
Romney $86.8 million
Crossroads GPS $52.9 million
American Crossroads $48.4 million
Priorities USA $48.1 million
Americans for Prosperity $46.5 million
Restore Our Future PAC $40 million
RNC $18.7 million
Concerned Women $4.8 million
American Future Fund $4.5 million
AEA $3.2 million
SEIU $2.5 million
Planned Parenthood $1.4 million
Priorities-LCV $980,000
MoveOn.org $145,000

It's notable that the Crossroads groups combined to be the second-biggest spender at $101.3 million.

*** This post was updated at 3:25 pm ET to reflect new Obama campaign ad spending.

Romney issues over-the-top attack on embassy attacks… And his statement looks worse and worse as new information comes out, including the death of the U.S. ambassador to Libya…  Romney camp stands by its attack saying embassy statement came after the u nrest began…  More tensions between Obama and Netanyahu… Focusing on Florida… Obama camp goes on the air in Wisconsin… Team Romney again outspending Team Obama on the airwaves this week… And this week’s 10 hottest TV markets.

***  Over the top : Yesterday we noted that Mitt Romney, down in the polls after the convention, was   throwing the kitchen sink   at President Obama. Little did we know the kitchen sink would include -- on the anniversary  of 9/11 -- one of the most over-the-top and (it turns out)  incorrect attacks of the general-election campaign . Last night after 10:00 pm ET, Romney released a statement on the attacks on the U.S. embassies in Egypt and Libya. After saying he was “outraged” by these attacks and the death of an American consulate worker, Romney said, “It's disgraceful that the Obama administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.” Yet after learning every piece of new information about those attacks, the Romney statement looks worse and worse -- and simply off-key. First, Romney was referring to a statement that the U.S. embassy in Egypt issued condemning the “efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.” But that embassy statement, which the White House has distanced itself from, was in reference to an anti-Islam movie and anti-Islam pastor Terry Jones, and it came out BEFORE the embassy attacks began. Then this morning, we learned that the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and others died in one of the attacks.

David Calvert / Getty Images

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses the crowd at the 134th National Guard Association Convention at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, September 11, 2012 in Reno, Nevada.

*** When news-cycle campaigning goes awry: Bottom line: This was news-cycle campaigning by the Romney campaign gone awry. Why didn’t the Romney campaign wait until it had all the facts? On his overseas trip in the summer, Romney was so careful not to criticize Obama while on foreign soil. But how much time do you give an administration to work through a diplomatic and international crisis before trying to score immediate political points? You’d expect the Sarah Palins of the world to quickly pounce on something like this, and she predictably did. But a presidential nominee running for the highest office in the land? After the facts have come out, last night’s Romney statement only feeds the narrative that his campaign is desperate. And given that the Romney camp has already moved on to other subjects this morning -- issuing a press release on debt and not the embassy attacks -- it appears the campaign realizes it, too. Right before our publication time, the Romney camp responds to us that it stands by its statement from last night. The controversial embassy statement, the Romney camp argues, had occurred AFTER the unrest in Egypt and Libya had already begun (citing this CBS report) and that the statement had served as the administration’s sole response until about 10:00 pm ET.

*** More tensions between Obama and Netanyahu: In another sign that foreign affairs and national security have jumped to the top of the issues in the past day, there’s renewed tension between Israel PM Netanyahu and the Obama White House over Iran. The New York Times: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel inserted himself into the most contentious foreign policy issue of the American presidential campaign on Tuesday, criticizing the Obama administration for refusing to set clear ‘red lines’ on Iran’s nuclear progress that would prompt the United States to undertake a military strike.” Then came a dispute over whether or not Obama was snubbing Netanyahu by not meeting with him when he comes to the U.S. later this month. In the evening, the White House released a statement saying that Obama and Netanyahu had talked by phone for an hour and adding: “Contrary to reports in the press, there was never a request for Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet with President Obama in Washington, nor was a request for a meeting ever denied.” The Israelis have another version of this phone call and still believe they have been snubbed by not getting that invite. By the way, don’t think Israeli political leaders are united on this. Check out the headline over lead story in the Jerusalem Post: “Mofaz to PM: Are you trying to oust Obama or Ahmadinejad?

*** Focusing on Florida: Today, most of the campaign activity is in Florida, with Romney holding an event in Jacksonville at 9:30 am ET and with Bill Clinton stumping in Orlando at 6:30 pm (after stopping in Miami yesterday). Here is where things stand in Florida right now: It is a must-win state for Romney, and it’s a luxury for Obama -- which could be a knockout blow in this contest if he wins it. Why? According to our battleground map, if Obama wins Florida and just one other toss-up state -- but loses every other one -- he hits or surpasses 270 electoral votes. In other campaign news today, Obama holds an event in Las Vegas at 8:25 pm ET (and conducts an interview with Telemundo).

*** Obama camp goes on the air in Wisconsin: But this map news has to make the Romney campaign smile: The Obama camp is now advertising in Wisconsin, purchasing $670,000 of airtime in the state from Sept 13-19 to match (and exceed) the Romney advertising there. While we’ve had Wisconsin as “toss up” on our battleground map for months, we’ve told you that we’d know if the state were TRULY competitive if both sides were advertising there. Well, now we know… Speaking of TV ads, the Obama camp has this new one that revives its charge that Romney’s tax plan would end up raising taxes on the middle class. And the Romney camp has a new Spanish-language one hitting Obama on Medicare.

*** Team Romney again outspending Team Obama: This week – from Sept. 10-16 –Team Romney (the campaign and outside groups) is outspending Team Obama (campaign and outside groups), $10.7 million to $9.4 million. Here’s the breakdown: Obama camp $7 million, Romney camp $6.9 million, American Crossroads $2.7 million, Priorities USA $2.1 million, Americans for Prosperity $1 million, and SEIU/Priorities $240K. Note: These numbers are a bit smaller than in past weeks because the campaigns pulled down their ads on Sept. 11.

*** This week’s 10 hottest TV markets:

1.  Columbus, OH (Romney 1200, Obama 800, Priorities 500, American Crossroads 250)
2. Des Moines, IA (Romney 1100, Obama 1000, American Crossroads 270, Priorities 245)
3. Richmond, VA (Obama 1100, Romney 1100, American Crossroads 220, Priorities 180)
4. Norfolk, VA (Obama 1200, Romney 1000, American Crossroads 200, Priorities 100)
5. Cleveland, OH (Obama 1200, Romney 780, Priorities 270, American Crossroads 180)
6. Raleigh, NC (Romney 1200, Obama 880, American Crossroads 365)
7. Tampa, FL (Romney 1000, Obama 880, American Crossroads 250, Priorities 230)
8. Toledo, OH (Obama 1000, Romney 815, American Crossroads 340, Priorities 240)
9. Reno, NV (Romney 980, Obama 845, American Crossroads 545)
10. Las Vegas (Obama 1000, Romney 800, American Crossroads 500)

Countdown to 1^st presidential debate: 21 days
Countdown to VP debate: 29 days
Countdown to 2^nd presidential debate: 34 days
Countdown to 3^rd presidential debate: 40 days
Countdown to Election Day: 55 days

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*** Wednesday’s “The Daily Rundown” line-up: NBC’s Richard Engel and Andrea Mitchell with the latest on Libya, Egypt and Israel… Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and former Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) on the political ramifications… Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) on the fiscal cliff forecast… Latest 2012 news and impact of the Middle East developments with TIME’s Bobby Ghosh, The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus, Democratic strategist and former DCCC spokesman Doug Thornell, and former Bush 43 White House Political Director Sara Taylor Fagen

*** Wednesday’s “Jansing & Co.” line-up: MSNBC’s Chris Jansing interviews Robin Wright, Dem Rep. Peter Welch, New York Times’ David Sanger, USA Today’s Susan Page, Nevada political reporter Jon Ralston, Dem strategist Chris Kofinis, GOP strategist Chip Saltsman, and Chicago Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

*** Wednesday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell interviews (among others) NBC’s Chuck Todd and Richard Engel, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Romney foreign-policy adviser Dan Senor.

*** Wednesday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Today’s guests include NBC Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel, the Washington Post’s Nia-Malika Henderson, and Democratic strategist Bob Shrum

The American ambassador in Libya was killed and the U.S. embassy in Egypt was attacked. Mitt Romney’s response was: “It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”

Secretary Clinton released this statement about the time of Romney’s: “Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet,’’Clinton said. ‘‘The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.”

The context: A film made in the U.S. is what triggered the attacks. The film in question: “Variously titled ‘Innocence of Muslims’ or ‘Muhammad, Prophet of the Muslims,’ the movie was allegedly produced by Coptic Christians in Egypt with help from U.S. Koran-burning pastor Terry Jones, and portrays Islam’s holiest prophet as a violent womanizer,” the New York Daily News writes.

The U.S. embassy in Cairo “put out a statement that apologized for an anti-Muslim film being circulated by an Israeli-American real estate developer and soon ‘came under widespread criticism for failing to defend free speech in the face of threats of violence. Egyptian protesters rioted anyway, breaching the embassy walls and tearing down the American flag,’” Political Wire notes, per Politico. Politcal Wire: “Romney attacked the administration claiming its first response was ‘to sympathize’ with the attackers -- even though the embassy statement came out before the attack on the embassy.”

And: “The Obama administration is disavowing a statement from its own Cairo embassy that seemed to apologize for anti-Muslim activity in the United States. ‘The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government,’ an administration official told Politico.”

USA Today: “The violence in Libya and Egypt is now an issue in the United States presidential campaign.”

“Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says Sept. 11 is a time to renew the resolve of protecting Americans against ‘evil’ attacks,” AP writes, adding, “Back in Washington, President Barack Obama marked the day by participating in solemn ceremonies at the White House and the Pentagon.”

Dick Cheney suggested yesterday that President Obama didn’t deserve credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden, the New York Daily News writes. "If President Obama were participating in his intelligence briefings on a regular basis then perhaps he would understand why people are so offended at his efforts to take sole credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden. Those who deserve the credit are the men and women in our military and intelligence communities who worked for many years to track him down. They are the ones who deserve the thanks of a grateful nation."

A Pew poll finds 60% rated Obama’s convention speech as either excellent or good, higher than the 53% who said so for Romney. But Bill Clinton overshadowed Obama’s speech with 29% saying it was the highlight vs. 16% who said it was the president’s speech. That might not be bad news for Obama, considering the speech eviscerated Republicans’ arguments over the last four years and was very much on message, as compared to the Clint Eastwood speech. The Eastwood speech was called the highlight of the GOP convention 20%-17% over Romney’s speech.

USA Today picks up on First Read’s analysis of state-by-state ad spending. The amount now is up to $579 million in total spending, with Romney ad Obama ads going up in Wisconsin and other places. 

Iran looms as Netanyahu said this yesterday: "The world tells Israel, 'wait, there's still time.' And I say,'Wait for what? Wait until when?' … "Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don't have a moral right to place a red light before Israel."

“President Obama's re-election campaign on added Wisconsin to its list of targeted states,” the New York Times reports. “The campaign's first television advertisements there are set to begin on Thursday, a sign that the state is more competitive than the Obama campaign had once expected. Mitt Romney's campaign started its advertisements in Wisconsin earlier this week. Outside groups on both sides have also been advertising in the state.’”

Salty: Biden to a Shanksville, PA, firefighter: “ ‘He's going to call you, no bullsh-t,’ Biden told Shober, pointing at an aide,” the New York Daily News writes. “When he noticed the reporters listening in, the Veep quickly adjusted his language. ‘I didn't know you guys were here," he said, before adding to Shober: ‘This is no malarkey. You come to the White House. I'll buy you a beer.’”

USA Today looks at how the man who picked up Obama was being targeted by Obama critics, including taking to Yelp to give him low ratings and nasty comments. But then there was a backlash to that as Obama fans took to the site to give it good ratings.

“On the last night of the Democratic National Convention, a retired Navy four-star took the stage to pay tribute to veterans. Behind him, on a giant screen, the image of four hulking warships reinforced his patriotic message. But there was a big mistake in the stirring backdrop: those are Russian warships,” Navy Times reports.

Bill Clinton talked yesterday in an interview with Buzzfeed about how Mormon missionaries tried to convert him: “Clinton spoke highly of their effort, recounting the different degrees of heaven as was explained to him 50 years ago, describing it as a pyramid with many levels that put Hitler and Stalin at the very bottom, faithful Mormons on top, and everyone else in between. Clinton, a Baptist, said the sticking point for him was leaving his friends and family out of the top level of heaven. ‘I didn’t want to leave all these other people behind,’ he said.”

Paul Ryan’s about to start running ads for his House seat reelection. Of course, Joe Biden ran Senate ads as well when he ran for reelection in 2008 and was on the presidential ticket.

MILWAUKEE -- Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan will begin airing television ads for his congressional re-election race in Wisconsin beginning Wednesday.

The news was first reported by the Associated Press.

"Congressman Ryan is on the ballot twice in the 1st Congressional District for both the House and the vice presidency, so Ryan for Congress is running ads locally in Milwaukee and Madison media markets," Kevin Seifert, Ryan's congressional re-election spokesman, told NBC News.

Wisconsin law permits candidates who are running for either president or vice president to also have their name on the ballot for another election. The theory -- if the candidate doesn't win their race for the White House -- is he or she can still hold on to the previous job in Congress.

Both the Romney team and Ryan's House re-election campaign have pushed back on any suggestion that Ryan might be hedging his bets against a possible loss in November's presidential contest, and they noted previous VP nominees have done this in the past.

"We made clear from day one he'd remain on the congressional ballot, as Wisconsin law allows," Brendan Buck, the GOP VP nominee's spokesman, said in an email. "Joe Biden and Joe Lieberman both ran for re-election in the Senate concurrently with their VP runs."

Ryan filmed several congressional re-election ads in Wisconsin the week leading up to Romney tapping him as his VP -- one day before Ryan's trip to Massachusetts to meet with Romney personally and two days after.

Among other locations, the ad sites included a home construction site, a clinic, and a space management facility. Ryan's family -- his wife and three children -- joined him in one ad outside of a residential home in their hometown.

The seven-term Wisconsin Congressman used Wilson Grand Communications -- a firm from Northern Virginia -- to shoot the ads over an intense three-day period.

But Ryan is not in a competitive race in the Badger State. He is ahead of his opponent in Wisconsin's 1st District -- Rob Zerban, a former county official -- by nearly a 25%margin according to a poll of 400 likely voters that was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies (R) Sept. 9-10. (Public Opinion Strategies co-conducts the NBC/WSJ poll.)

While Ryan's ads have allowed critics to charge that he might be hedging his bets against a possible Romney loss, the airtime could also potentially help the Romney ticket in the battleground state of Wisconsin.

Indeed, voters in the Madison and Milwaukee markets will begin seeing not only Ryan's re-election ads this week, but also the Romney campaign ads -- as the former Massachusetts governor's campaign made its first ad buy of the general election in Wisconsin.

RENO, Nev. -- The men at the top of the Republican presidential ticket largely set aside partisan campaigning today to focus instead on remembering and paying tribute to victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as the first responders and military members who stepped forward in the aftermath.

Here in Nevada, an important battleground state this fall, Mitt Romney addressed the convention of the U.S. National Guard, recounting his own experience in Washington D.C. during the terrorist attacks 11 years ago. He thanked the men and women who stood up to defend the country at home and abroad in the wake of the attacks.

"It is an honor to be with you on this day of memorial and appreciation. We remember with heavy hearts the tragic loss of life, and we express thankfulness for the men and women who responded to that tragedy," Romney began. "We honor them, and we honor those who secure our safety even to this day."

Romney's speech came after he received criticism -- from both Democrats and even some Republicans -- for not once mentioning "Afghanistan" in his GOP convention speech, despite the U.S. troops who are serving in that war zone.

Across the country in another state targeted by Republicans, running mate Paul Ryan had lunch with firefighters in his home state of Wisconsin after meeting with members of the Air National Guard.

"I have been flying into this airport for a long time back and forth from Washington to see my family. But when we hit the ground today flying home, this day meant a bit more because this is the anniversary of 9/11," he told roughly 100 members of  the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. "And I just wanted to come with my associates and thank each and every one of you for what you do every day. For what you do to make us safe. For what you do to make us proud."

The seven-term Wisconsin congressman stopped by a firehouse in his district to thank two-dozen first responders for what they do each and every day.

"This is a day where we as Americans need to think and remember the people who lost their lives and be thankful for those of you who put your lives on the line for us every day," Ryan said before sitting down to enjoy lasagna and salad inside the Oak Creek Fire Station.

In his speech from Nevada, Romney largely refrained from politics in his 19-minute address to a few thousand guardsmen and women here, with the name of President Obama never passing his lips. While Romney spoke of creating an American century -- a regular part of his stump speech -- and improving the Veterans Affairs department, he did not target the president or Democrats for explicit criticism as he does in more traditional campaign appearances.

"With less than two months to go before Election Day, I would normally speak to a gathering like this about the differences between my and my opponent’s plans for military and for our national security," he said. "There is a time and a place for that, but this day is not that. "

But Romney did make an implied contrast with the president on the issue of cuts to the military budget -- an attack that the GOP presidential nominee makes against Obama on the campaign trail.

"The return of our troops cannot and must not be used as an excuse to hollow out our military through devastating defense budget cuts. It is true that our armed forces have been stretched to the brink -– and that is all the more reason to repair and rebuild," he said.

"We can always find places to end waste. But we cannot cancel program after program; we cannot jeopardize critical missions; and we cannot cut corners in the quality of the equipment and training we provide to our men and women in uniform."

Obama campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith issued this response to Romney: “The president agrees that we should avoid the automatic defense cuts in the Budget Control Act. That’s why he has called on congressional Republicans to help prevent them by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share.”
                                        

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said Tuesday that he is "not confident at all" that Congress can reach a deal with President Barack Obama to avoid the effects of the so-called "fiscal cliff" before January.

"I'm not confident at all," Boehner exclaimed at his weekly press conference when asked if he thought lawmakers could reach a deal during the lame-duck Congress to avert a series of automatic spending cuts and tax hikes that would trigger into place at the beginning of the next year.

"The House has done its job on both the sequester and the looming tax hikes that will cost our economy some 700,000 jobs," the Republican speaker continued. "The Senate at some point has to act. On both of these where's the president? Where's the leadership? Absent without leave."

The fiscal cliff represents the combined impact of the inability this term in Congress to resolve the future of the Bush tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of this year, and a long-term solution to mounting deficits to replace the automatic cuts -- which fall heavily on defense spending -- that were included in the 2011 deal to raise the debt ceiling.

Because the bipartisan "supercommittee" was unable to agree upon a plan to replace these automatic cuts (called the "sequester"), Congress must now scramble to cobble together an alternative. Economists warn the combined effects of the tax hikes and spending cuts would imperil an already-shaky economy. House Republicans have passed legislation to avoid the mandatory defense cuts by slashing spending from social programs, a proposal which Democrats have rejected.

The mere specter of additional gridlock over the fiscal cliff prompted credit ratings agency Moody's to warn officials about a downgrade in its outlook on U.S. debt, long considered one of the most secure holdings of debt. The ratings agency Standard & Poor's downgraded its rating of U.S. debt a notch after the debt-ceiling battles in August of 2011.

"It was a difficult time. I still look at my failure to come to an agreement with the president as the biggest disappointment of my speakership," Boehner said in reflecting on that period, which is detailed in a new book by journalist Bob Woodward. "But I don't think there's anybody that's worked harder than Eric and I to try and work with the president to come to an agreement."

The immediacy of the fight over the fiscal cliff is further complicated by November's elections, which could change the composition of Congress and even replace Obama with Mitt Romney in the White House. The makeup of the next Congress and administration will inevitably shape and constrain lawmakers' ability to cut deals during the lame-duck Congress -- the period between the election and the inauguration of the new Congress.

And already, blame is being spread around.

"Look at Mr. Woodward's book this morning on page 326, it is made perfectly clear where the sequester came from," Boehner said. "The president didn't want his re-election inconvenienced by another fight by a $1.2 trillion dollar increase in the debt ceiling. Having said that, somehow we have to deal with our spending problem. America continues to spend more money than we bring in and we have to resolve it and stop this business of kicking the can down the road."

SHANKSVILLE, PA -- Of all Joe Biden's political skills and foibles, perhaps his most powerful asset was on display in Shanksville, PA on Tuesday: Compassion in the face of others' grief.

Biden, who lost his wife and daughter in a 1972 car accident, commemorated 9/11 victims at the site of the Flight 93 crash and described with heavy emotion the grief he knows their families felt in the aftermath of the terror attacks.

Jeff Swensen / Getty Images

Vice President Joseph Biden speaks at the Flight 93 National Memorial during observances commemorating the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, in Shanksville, Pa, on September 11, 2012.

"No matter how many anniversaries you experience, for at least an instant, the terror of that moment returns, the lingering echo of that phone call, that sense of total disbelief that envelops you," he said. "You feel like you're being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest."

"My hope for you all is that as every year passes, the depth of your pain recedes," he continued. "And you find comfort - as I have - genuine comfort in recalling his smile, her laugh, their touch."  

The ceremony, which included a reading of each of the 40 passengers and crew members' names, took place at the still-incomplete memorial in the small Pennsylvania town where the hijacked plane crashed.

Offering comfort on a sparkling morning not unlike the one of the terror attacks, Biden said the nation has not forgotten the heroes' sacrifice.

"They’ve not forgotten the heroism of your husbands, wives, sons daughters, mothers, fathers," he said. "And that what they did for this country is still etched in the minds of not only you, but millions of Americans forever."

Video edited by NBC's Jay Rankin.