The Early Word: Bloomberg - NYTimes.com November 2, 2012, 6:00 am The Early Word: Bloomberg In Today's Times: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York City reversed his plan not to back a candidate in the presidential race on Thursday, endorsing President Obama as the better option to take on climate change, which he said might have contributed to the violent storm that took the lives of at least 38 New Yorkers and caused billions of dollars in damage this week, Raymond Hernandez reports. With a close presidential race and a notable lack of trust between campaigns, thousands of lawyers are gearing up to monitor polling places on Tuesday, prepared to take legal action if need be, Ethan Bronner reports. Mr. Obama and Mitt Romney returned to the campaign trail in earnest on Thursday, offering their closing arguments as Mr. Obama emphasized a series of recent displays of bipartisanship and Mr. Romney strived to break away from the president in polls that show them virtually tied, Michael D. Shear and Mark Landler report. The nonpartisan research arm of the Library of Congress has taken back a report that challenged a central conservative economic theory - that there is a correlation between top tax rates and economic growth - after protests from Senate Republicans, who took issue with its findings and wording, Jonathan Weisman reports. David Axelrod has put up a tough fight in this campaign, a contrast to his stewardship of the idealism defining the president's 2008 campaign. Jim Rutenberg reports on the political strategist who has been with Mr. Obama since the Illinois State Senate. Washington Happenings: The Labor Department releases the unemployment numbers for October on Friday morning, offering the last set of data on a closely watched barometer of economic well-being before Election Day. Mr. Obama makes a swing through Ohio with three campaign events there Friday.