The rhetoric of small government has helped Republicans attract some support in the past, but it is hard to take such rhetoric seriously given the historical record -- and it is a now a question whether this rhetoric is even appealing since many Americans want government to help them cope with the current crisis.

CNN: Commentary: GOP's "small government" talk is hollow

That is a box he had to tick, but it will be down to a question of rhetoric and reality.

BBC: President Bush

Still the Obama campaign has made women a focal point of the election, and the question is will this rhetoric actually drive more women to vote for him?

FORBES: With the War On Women, Is There Any "There" There?

The more intriguing question is how far Mr Sarkozy will follow up his leftish-sounding rhetoric with concrete policies.

ECONOMIST: A question that worries a few and excites others

The often-strident rhetoric on both sides of the issue, which spread rapidly through social-media channels, raised the question of whether Komen, a private charity, was caving in to political pressure in both its initial decision and when it backed off.

WSJ: Komen Reverses Move to Cut Planned Parenthood Funding