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First Read's Morning Clips

A roundup of the most important political news stories of the day

OBAMA AGENDA: “Many Missteps”

The fallout from Obama's 60 Minutes quote: the New York Times front-pages "Many Missteps in Assessment of ISIS Threat." MORE: 'By late last year, classified American intelligence reports painted an increasingly ominous picture of a growing threat from Sunni extremists in Syria, according to senior intelligence and military officials. Just as worrisome, they said, were reports of deteriorating readiness and morale among troops next door in Iraq. But the reports, they said, generated little attention in a White House consumed with multiple brush fires and reluctant to be drawn back into Iraq. 'Some of us were pushing the reporting, but the White House just didn’t pay attention to it,' said a senior American intelligence official. 'They were preoccupied with other crises,' the official added. 'This just wasn’t a big priority.'"

Via the Washington Post: "The United States has likely spent between $780 million and $930 million in its military campaign against the Islamic State militant group so far, and it will likely cost between $200 million and $320 million per month going forward if conducted with about 2,000 U.S. service members on the ground, according to a new report published Monday."

Obama meets again today with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More from the Washington Post: "President Obama welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House on Monday for their first face-to-face meeting as the administration seeks to revive the stagnant relationship between the nations and enlist Asia’s largest democracy in its broader regional strategy."

From NBCNews.com: “Afghanistan and the United States signed a long-awaited security pact in Kabul Tuesday, allowing Washington to leave a contingent of troops in the country beyond 2014. Ambassador James Cunningham signed the Bilateral Security Agreement on behalf of the White House, opposite Afghanistan’s national security adviser Mohmmad Hanif Atmar.”

Last night's Washington Post scoop from Carol Leonnig: "The man who jumped the White House fence this month and sprinted through the front door made it much farther into the building than previously known, overpowering one Secret Service officer and running through much of the main floor, according to three people familiar with the incident."

U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson testifies about the breach before a House committee at 10:00 am ET today.

John Cornyn tells the Dallas Morning News that Democrats shouldn't try to push a new AG through before year's end: "There is so much ill will already that this will poison the well even further."

From the Wall Street Journal: "Hundreds of thousands of Americans face a Tuesday deadline to verify their income and are at risk of losing or having to pay back their federal health-insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act."

And here's the latest in Hong Kong, from the AP: "Hong Kong's leader said Tuesday that China won't back down from its decision to limit voting reforms in the Asian financial hub, dashing hopes that the standoff between demonstrators and authorities could be resolved quickly through negotiations. As pro-democracy protests that have blocked Hong Kong's streets entered a fifth day, the unequivocal statement from Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying does not come as a surprise. Showing a willingness to talk would have made the Chinese leadership in Beijing appear weak, which could embolden dissidents and separatists on the mainland."

OFF TO THE RACES: Crunching the ground-game numbers

Mark Leibovich spends time with Mitt Romney, exploring his future and his open "dread of becoming irrelevant."

The Upshot crunches some numbers about how much more Democrats are investing in their ground game in key Senate races.

The AP looks at Harry Reid's behind-the-scenes role in shoring up cash and support for his colleagues up for re-election. "Aides said Reid has attended 116 meetings and fundraisers in 14 cities this election cycle for the Senate Majority PAC, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and other groups. Aside from its chairman, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Reid is the top Senate fundraiser for the DSCC."

NBCNews.com reports on Chris Christie's appearance for Scott Walker.

ALASKA: "The lawsuit that could have ended the “unity” ticket of Bill Walker and Byron Mallott has been dropped, with the plaintiff who brought it saying the Legislature should enact a permanent regulation to prevent future confusion," writes the Alaska Dispatch News.

ARKANSAS: Bill Clinton will stump for Mark Pryor and Mike Ross early next month.

Cocaine monkeys? AFP uses an old favorite to try to tie Mark Pryor to goofy-sounding government spending.

COLORADO: The Denver Post writes that Mitt Romney said John Hickenlooper "stands out as indecisive" during an appearance for Bob Beauprez.

KENTUCKY: The warm and fuzzy side of Mitch McConnell? The Kentucky Republican is up with an ad about how he helped a constituent whose child was abducted in 2011 and taken to Mali.

LOUISIANA: The Club for Growth is going after 'kissing congressman' Rep. Vance McAllister.

MASSACHUSETTS: ‘Choakley’ again? A Suffolk University/Boston Herald poll finds Martha Coakley and Charlie Baker in a dead heat.

MICHIGAN: Headlines that make Democrats smile, from NPR: "GOP Candidate In Michigan's U.S. Senate Race Avoids Media"

NEW HAMPSHIRE: From NhJournal.com: "Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has refused to appear on stage with Republican challenger Scott Brown at a Manchester and Nashua Chambers of Commerce event scheduled for Oct. 14 at Saint Anselm College, a top debate organizer confirmed Monday night."

NORTH CAROLINA: Bill Clinton is headed to North Carolina to raise cash for Kay Hagan.

PROGRAMMING NOTES.

*** Tuesday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Tamron Hall interviews John Tomlinson, former Deputy Assistant Director of the U.S. Secret Service on today’s Capitol Hill hearing; CASE Medical Center’s Medical director for child advocacy and protection, Dr. Lolita McDavid on the possible links between enterovirus and paralysis; and Early Lead’s Cindy Boren on the Kansas City Chiefs safety penalized after a post-touchdown prayer.