Welcome to a review of media stories about the US presidential election with just 18 days to go until the next occupant of the White House will be decided. The day after the second presidential debate found the candidates addressing the distaff side of the US electorate.

Polls show that President Barack Obama and his Republican opponent Mitt Romney are locked in a struggle for women’s votes, but the president obviously felt he picked up an advantage in the debate. At a rally in Iowa, the Financial Times reports, he pointed to a perceived flaw, the vagueness of Mr Romney’s economic plans, as well as milking one of his rival’s few uncomfortable moments in Tuesday’s clash.

“Everyone here has heard of the new deal, the fair deal, the square deal? Mitt Romney is trying to sell you a sketchy deal,” Mr Obama said to wild applause from his supporters.

With his sleeves rolled up and his tie loose, the president mocked his rival for an awkwardly phrased line in the debate. Answering a question about equal pay for women, Mr Romney touted his record as governor of Massachusetts by saying he had received “whole binders full of women” to help him recruit qualified females. The line quickly went viral on the internet.

Mr Obama said: “We don’t have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified talented women.”

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