The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News' Carrie Halperin, Jayce Henderson and Amanda VanAllen

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NEWS CONFERENCE

The New York Times' Mark Landler: " Obama Details Lines of Battle in Budget Plan, and on Libya " President Obama, riding the winds of re-election, signaled Wednesday that he was prepared to battle with Republicans over budget negotiations and his national security team's handling of the deadly attack on an American mission in Libya. Displaying a mix of resolve and restraint, Mr. Obama flatly rejected any budget deal that did not raise tax rates on income above $250,000 a year, even if it meant driving the economy into a recession. LINK

The Washington Post's Scott Wilson: " In first post-election news conference, Obama lays out second term" President Obama said in his victory speech last week that "elections matter." On Wednesday, he made clear how much the election matters to him - and to the way he intends to govern in his second term. Appearing in his first post-victory news conference, the customarily cautious Obama spoke like a politician with nothing to lose after winning the last race of his life. LINK

Politico's Carrie Budoff Brown and Josh Gerstein: " Obama steamed over Rice" President Barack Obama didn't appear riled up Wednesday by a sex scandal that claimed his CIA director. Or even the looming fiscal showdown that could plunge the economy into a recession. What annoyed Obama more than anything was Republican attacks on United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice. LINK

Bloomberg's Hans Nichols and Margaret Talev: " Obama Says Nation Can't Afford Deadlock Over Debt Talks" President Barack Obama said voters sent a "very clear message" on Election Day that they want both parties work together to cut the budget deficit with a mix of tax increases for the wealthy and cuts in spending. Obama opened a White House news conference today reiterating his call for immediate action by Congress to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the first $200,000 of annual income for individuals and $250,000 for married couples. LINK

The Hill's Amie Parnes: " Obama claims mandate on taxes, warns GOP of new political capital" President Obama claimed a mandate to raise taxes on the wealthy at a Wednesday afternoon press conference where he also refused to "meddle" into the FBI's investigation into ex-CIA Director David Petraeus. In the 53-minute news conference, his first formal question-and-answer session with reporters in months, Obama - using the power of the bully pulpit - repeatedly mentioned his electoral victory and set the tone by warning Republicans in Congress he'd earned political capital in advance of talks to begin Friday at the White House on avoiding the "fiscal cliff." LINK

The Washington Times' Susan Crabtree and Stephen Dinan: " Obama, GOP clash on Benghazi, Rice" An angry President Obama on Wednesday demanded his congressional critics "go after me" rather than snipe at his top aides, after two top Republican senators said U.N. Ambassador Susan E. Rice's inaccurate account of the cause of the terrorist attacks in Benghazi makes her unfit to be promoted. LINK

MITT ROMNEY

ABC News' Devin Dwye: " As Obama Offers Olive Branch, Romney Dings President for 'Gifts' to Minority Voters" President Obama today heaped praise on his defeated rival, GOP nominee Mitt Romney, saying the former governor's record and ideas "could be very helpful" in shaping policy over the next four years "My hope is, before the end of the year… that we have a chance to sit down and talk," Obama told reporters in his first post-election press conference. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Maeve Reston: " Romney attributes loss to 'gifts' Obama gave minorities" Mitt Romney said Wednesday that his loss to President Obama was due in large part to his rival's strategy of giving "gifts" during his first term to three groups that were pivotal in the results of last week's election: African Americans, Latinos and young voters. LINK

GENERAL PATREAUS

The Wall Street Journal's Adam Entous and Sibhan Gorman: " In Final Days, Petraeus Hurt by Libya Clash, Then Affair" In David Petraeus's final days at the helm of the Central Intelligence Agency, his relations with chiefs of other U.S. agencies, including his boss, National Intelligence Director James Clapper, took a contentious turn. At issue was whether the CIA should break its silence about its role in Benghazi, Libya, to counter criticism that increasingly was being leveled at the agency and Mr. Petraeus, said senior officials involved in the discussions. LINK

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