No clear leader in mayoral race, Globe poll shows

With just over a week until the preliminary election, the field is so tightly bunched and volatile that as many as nine candidates have a plausible shot at the final.

Volunteers for John Connolly worked their cellphones before a meeting in the Roslindale field office.

KAYANA SZYMCZAK FOR THE GLOBE

Volunteers for John Connolly worked their cellphones before a meeting in the Roslindale field office.

Mitalene Fletcher and her husband, Clark Warner, campaigned for Charlotte Golar Richie in Roxbury on Saturday.

JONATHAN WIGGS/GLOBE STAFF

Mitalene Fletcher and her husband, Clark Warner, campaigned for Charlotte Golar Richie in Roxbury on Saturday.

Maureen O’Connor (left) and Marlin Jimenez, working for Felix Arroyo, canvassed at an apartment building in Jamaica Plain.

WENDY MAEDA/GLOBE STAFF

Maureen O’Connor (left) and Marlin Jimenez, working for Felix Arroyo, canvassed at an apartment building in Jamaica Plain.

Tina Cole talked with Morlins Saintilus in Hyde Park on behalf of Daniel Conley.

WENDY MAEDA/GLOBE STAFF

Tina Cole talked with Morlins Saintilus in Hyde Park on behalf of Daniel Conley.

John Barros volunteers Maria Teixeira (middle) and Farid Dessources (right) talked with Carla Stovell in Dorchester.

WENDY MAEDA/GLOBE STAFF

John Barros volunteers Maria Teixeira (middle) and Farid Dessources (right) talked with Carla Stovell in Dorchester.

Candidates’ ground game seen as key to mayor’s race

The Sept. 24 preliminary election for mayor in Boston is expected to play out as a fierce ground war.

Yvonne Abraham

From pals to pariahs

We’ve gotten to the point in this city, with its proud working tradition, where being endorsed by unions is seen as a liability.

Boston still split on casino proposal

A new Boston Globe poll suggests that months of mayoral debates have not changed opinions in the city significantly.

US, Russia strike deal on Syria chemical arms

The joint announcement set the stage for one of the most challenging undertakings in the history of arms control.

President Obama called the diplomatic breakthrough with Syria “an important step” on Saturday.

Obama’s moves on Syria mark defining moment

The president’s shift on Syria gave critics fodder and supporters something to cheer — and could define and complicate his second term.

By almost every statistical measure, Koji Uehara has been the best relief pitcher in the American League.

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

Koji Uehara finds a home with Red Sox

At the age of 38, the Red Sox closer is having one of the best seasons for a reliever in baseball history.

Unsuspected, UMass Medical worker stole millions

Leo Villani siphoned off nearly $3.4 million from payments intended for the state Medicaid insurance program over the past five years.

Opinion

JEFF JACOBY

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/15/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/Jeff_Jacoby_150px-2324.jpg The world has lost respect for the US

America’s standing is so low that Syrian President Bashar Assad can thumb his nose at an explicit presidential “red line.”

Sports

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Red Sox 5, Yankees 1

Jon Lester is the picture of concentration during his eight innings of one-run ball Saturday against the Yankees.

Strong showing by Jon Lester in Red Sox win

The big lefty threw eight solid innings in a 5-1 victory over the Yankees, proving once again that he is still capable of pitching like an ace.

Books

Book Review

Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans.

‘Five Days at Memorial’ by Sheri Fink

The book is Fink’s heroic expansion of the Pulitzer Prize winning article “The Deadly Choices at Memorial.”