The Early Word: Money Machines In a worrisome development for the Obama campaign, Mitt Romney easily outraised the president's formidable money machine for the second month in a row, with a nonstop schedule of high-dollar events and growing success with small-dollar donors as well, Nicholas Confessore reports. President Obama's fund-raising deficit in part reflects how drastically the terrain has shifted since 2008, as many of the Republican donors who embraced him back then now swing back to their party. President Obama and Congressional Republicans pressed ahead on Monday with politically charged proposals on tax cuts and health care, Mark Landler and Jonathan Weisman report. Lawmakers from both parties offered alternatives to the plans announced by their leaders, underscoring the stakes for the president and the Republicans as they battle for control of the election-year debate. President Obama's push on Monday to extend tax cuts for the middle class - but not for the rich - is being joined by an all-out effort from his allies to portray Mitt Romney as a wealthy candidate who is out of touch with most Americans, Michael D. Shear writes. But top aides from the Obama campaign say they are not attacking their opponent's fortune; instead, they say, the focus is part of a broader plan to disqualify Mr. Romney's economic credentials in the eyes of voters. The House Ethics Committee has formally opened an investigation into the actions of Representative Shelley Berkley, Democrat of Nevada, Eric Lipton reports. Her bid for a Senate seat will probably remain under a cloud through Election Day, with the committee looking into allegations that she used her office to help her husband's medical practice. Graduating from the dual program at Harvard University for a joint law and business degree puts Mitt Romney into one of the most exclusive academic circles in the world, Peter Lattman and Richard Pérez-Peña write. Some House Democrats are striking a nerve with Republican congressmen and candidates by recording video of their homes and posting the footage online, Politico reports. President Obama's re-election campaign went to court on Monday with the hope of banning Demstore.com from selling merchandise with the campaign's signature "O" logo on it, The Associated Press reports. President Obama will travel to Iowa to make his case for middle-class tax relief. He will be back in Washington this evening. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation will hold a ceremony to honor close to 2,000 military children with more than $6 million in scholarships.