Trail Mix: Ann stands by her man!

Want to know what's popping in campaign news? Meet our column "Trail Mix" -- your guide to the fun, the quirky, and, oh yeah, the news from the 2012 campaign.

Don't cross Ann Romney!

Apparently fed up with critics of her husband -- especially those from his own party -- Ann Romney took to the offensive Thursday, telling detractors to "Stop it!" The comments came in an interview with Radio Iowa. She followed up the command with a challenge to the naysayers, saying, "This is hard. You want to try it? Get in the ring." 

It’s time to start voting! (in South Dakota)

Think Election Day is still weeks away? Nope! Voters can start casting ballots today in the Republican stronghold of South Dakota. And battleground state voters will also soon be able to record their choices as well. All but two of CNN’s “toss up” states allow for early in-person voting. The first swing state to open its polls is Iowa on September 27.

Race tied at 47%

The race is officially tied. Thursday’s daily Gallup tracking poll among registered voters puts both President Obama and Mitt Romney at 47% each. The poll, a moving average of daily surveys, is updated each day at 1 p.m., so tune in later to see what the new numbers are. Just keep in mind that the poll is a national survey -- if you want a more precise read of who’s up and who’s down, try to keep track of the constantly changing poll results coming out of the nine or so battleground states which will really decide the victor in November.

DVR Alert: Candidates and wives hit the talk shows

Obama’s appearance on "Letterman" this week and the Romneys on "Live!" are just the beginning of both campaigns' efforts to place their candidates in the fun and lighter atmosphere of daytime and late-night talk shows. Ann Romney will join Jay Leno Tuesday night, while Barack and Michelle Obama will make their first joint appearance on "The View" Tuesday afternoon.

One talk appearance that might not be so light and fun will come next month, when the Romneys appear on "The View." One likely question: What Mitt Romney meant when he called the hosts of "The View" “sharp-tongued” during his now not-so-private comments at a Florida fundraiser.

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