1. The New York Times Gone was the maddening coyness of recent years in which he has avoided candidly talking about the mess that President George W. Bush dumped into his lap. He didn't hesitate to go after Mitt Romney. "You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can't visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally," he said … Mr Obama went into this convention with an actual record at governing - not just the Republican posture of saying "No" to everything. He has far better ideas about how to create jobs, make tax burdens more equitable and improve economic prospects than the tired, failed trickle-down fantasies served up by Mitt Romney and the Republican Party. (New York) 2. Chicago Tribune Barack Obama lights up a stage. When he strode before the cameras to accept his party's nomination on Thursday night, you saw him ignite pure triumphalism among the Democrats waving back at him. That incandescence obscured the menacing signs under which his party's convention begun. The RealClearPolitics average of national surveys showed Obama slipping into a dead tie with Republican Mitt Romney… Romney and running mate Paul Ryan cast themselves as The Serious Ticket, ready to make those big decisions … And now, enough of conventions until 2016. Bring on the debates, starting October 3. Put these candidates side by side, take away their teleprompters and let's see what happens. (Chicago) 3. Global Times Romney has showed a tough posture toward China, vowing to label China as a currency manipulator on his first day in office if he is to be elected. But he has attracted less attention from the Chinese public than previous candidates. To China, the US matters less than before … The majority of Chinese think the US intends to contain China and are worried about potential confrontation … but the worry hasn't generated much apprehension. Washington cannot easily threaten us. The White House often criticises China as arrogant. Chinese are running out of patience over the empty and senseless demands Washington has raised toward China. If this is seen as arrogance, so be it. (Beijing)