Although America's big cities tend to lean Democratic, Indianapolis is not so clear-cut: Mr Lugar was once mayor there, and the city is home to one of America's biggest motor speedways.

ECONOMIST: A close contest in a naturally conservative place

But it will not be easy to cut what is by international standards already a lean government.

ECONOMIST: Hong Kong

The right response to lean defence budgets, argues Mr Rasmussen, is not to cut NATO's joint projects, but to have more of them.

ECONOMIST: NATO and Russia

He seemed about fifty, a lean, fairly tall fellow wearing triple-seam bluejeans and a matching heavy denim shirt with the sleeves cut to the armpits.

NEWYORKER: Idols