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Mitt Romney heads for nomination after primaries victory – live Mitt Romney heads for nomination after primaries victory – live
(40 minutes later)
12.08pm: A new Obama campaign ad takes on Mitt Romney by name on the issue of sustainable energy and oil industry subsidies.
"In all these fights, Mitt Romney stood with big oil, for their tax breaks, attacking higher mileage standards and renewables."
11.41am: First lady Michelle Obama will appear on the Colbert Report next Wednesday, the White House has announced. She first appeared on the show four years ago, in the thick of the 2008 primary battle.
"We are honored that the First Lady is joining us and I trust that the feeling is mutual," said Stephen Colbert.
Here's the first lady's April 2008 appearance:
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
11.17am: Now that Mitt Romney has cleared up the GOP nomination, all he has to worry about is his own inauthenticity, writes Ana Marie Cox today in Comment Is Free:11.17am: Now that Mitt Romney has cleared up the GOP nomination, all he has to worry about is his own inauthenticity, writes Ana Marie Cox today in Comment Is Free:
So, this is how the Romney team wants people to see the race: first, don't bother with information that might make your decision difficult. "This campaign will deal with many complicated issues," Romney said, "but there is a basic choice before us." That done, just open up your Ayn Rand textbooks and follow along. Obama, Romney argued, "has spent the last four years laying the foundation for a new 'Government-Centered Society'". Romney, on the other hand, promised that he would "spend the next four years rebuilding the foundation of our 'Opportunity Society'".So, this is how the Romney team wants people to see the race: first, don't bother with information that might make your decision difficult. "This campaign will deal with many complicated issues," Romney said, "but there is a basic choice before us." That done, just open up your Ayn Rand textbooks and follow along. Obama, Romney argued, "has spent the last four years laying the foundation for a new 'Government-Centered Society'". Romney, on the other hand, promised that he would "spend the next four years rebuilding the foundation of our 'Opportunity Society'".
11.02am: Your excitement level about the upcoming Pennsylvania primary on April 24 probably depends on whether you are currently locked in a padded cell with political news as your only interface with the outside world. In which case you're wondering: Can Mitt Romney swipe Rick Santorum's home state out from under him? And would that finally convince the Republican straggler to get out of the race?11.02am: Your excitement level about the upcoming Pennsylvania primary on April 24 probably depends on whether you are currently locked in a padded cell with political news as your only interface with the outside world. In which case you're wondering: Can Mitt Romney swipe Rick Santorum's home state out from under him? And would that finally convince the Republican straggler to get out of the race?
As my colleague Chris McGreal points out, a Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters released Tuesday shows Santorum with a 6-point lead over Romney in the Pennsylvania primary. That's before the Romney camp floods the Pennsylvania airwaves with the wiliest advertising money can buy.As my colleague Chris McGreal points out, a Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters released Tuesday shows Santorum with a 6-point lead over Romney in the Pennsylvania primary. That's before the Romney camp floods the Pennsylvania airwaves with the wiliest advertising money can buy.
As he will never be allowed to forget, Santorum lost his 2006 Senate race in Pennsylvania – his last run for state office – by 17 points. Can he redeem himself in 2012?As he will never be allowed to forget, Santorum lost his 2006 Senate race in Pennsylvania – his last run for state office – by 17 points. Can he redeem himself in 2012?
Santorum is like MySpace: he technically still exists but no one cares.Santorum is like MySpace: he technically still exists but no one cares.
— Andy Borowitz (@BorowitzReport) April 4, 2012— Andy Borowitz (@BorowitzReport) April 4, 2012
10.41am: Good news for the incumbent? U.S. businesses stepped up hiring in March, with 35% of U.S. adult workers saying their employers are hiring and expanding the size of their workforces, and only 17% saying their employers are letting workers go and reducing the size of the workforces, according to a new Gallup poll.10.41am: Good news for the incumbent? U.S. businesses stepped up hiring in March, with 35% of U.S. adult workers saying their employers are hiring and expanding the size of their workforces, and only 17% saying their employers are letting workers go and reducing the size of the workforces, according to a new Gallup poll.
Gallup's Job Creation Index jumped 4% in February, the largest one-month jump in the index that Gallup has recorded since instituting the measure in 2008.Gallup's Job Creation Index jumped 4% in February, the largest one-month jump in the index that Gallup has recorded since instituting the measure in 2008.
10.14am: Here's what the candidates are up to today:10.14am: Here's what the candidates are up to today:
Mitt Romney: 11:45pm: Speaking to the Newspaper Association of America, Washington, D.C. 6:30pm: Campaign event at The Iron Shop, Broomall, Penn.Mitt Romney: 11:45pm: Speaking to the Newspaper Association of America, Washington, D.C. 6:30pm: Campaign event at The Iron Shop, Broomall, Penn.
Rick Santorum: 11:30am: Greeting patrons at Bob's Diner, Carnegie, Penn. 3pm: Campaign rally, Hollidaysburg, Penn. 7pm: Bowling at Trindle Bowl, Mechanicsburg, Penn.Rick Santorum: 11:30am: Greeting patrons at Bob's Diner, Carnegie, Penn. 3pm: Campaign rally, Hollidaysburg, Penn. 7pm: Bowling at Trindle Bowl, Mechanicsburg, Penn.
Newt Gingrich: 3:30pm: Hosting rally at UNC-Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C.Newt Gingrich: 3:30pm: Hosting rally at UNC-Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C.
Ron Paul: 8:30pm: Hosting a town hall meeting, University of California, Los Angeles.Ron Paul: 8:30pm: Hosting a town hall meeting, University of California, Los Angeles.
9.49am: Huh?9.49am: Huh?
President Obama: Gone fishin'. twitpic.com/95hjjmPresident Obama: Gone fishin'. twitpic.com/95hjjm
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) April 4, 2012— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) April 4, 2012
9.43am: News not from the campaign trail: President Barack Obama has provided commentary to air before a special 50th anniversary broadcast of "To Kill A Mockingbird," the Gregory Peck film based on the 1960 novel by Harper Lee.9.43am: News not from the campaign trail: President Barack Obama has provided commentary to air before a special 50th anniversary broadcast of "To Kill A Mockingbird," the Gregory Peck film based on the 1960 novel by Harper Lee.
The book tells the story of a white lawyer who defends a black man suspected of raping a white woman in Alabama. The jury convicts despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The convict is then lynched. The president's remarks will air before a broadcast of the film on the USA Network on Saturday, April 7.The book tells the story of a white lawyer who defends a black man suspected of raping a white woman in Alabama. The jury convicts despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The convict is then lynched. The president's remarks will air before a broadcast of the film on the USA Network on Saturday, April 7.
"I'm deeply honored that President Obama will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of To Kill A Mockingbird by introducing it to a national audience," Lee said. "I believe it remains the best translation of a book to film ever made, and I'm proud to know that Gregory Peck's portrayal of Atticus Finch [the lawyer] lives on – in a world that needs him now more than ever.""I'm deeply honored that President Obama will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of To Kill A Mockingbird by introducing it to a national audience," Lee said. "I believe it remains the best translation of a book to film ever made, and I'm proud to know that Gregory Peck's portrayal of Atticus Finch [the lawyer] lives on – in a world that needs him now more than ever."
9.00am: Good morning! Tom McCarthy here in New York with live blog politics coverage. Here's a roundup of where things stand after last night's voting.9.00am: Good morning! Tom McCarthy here in New York with live blog politics coverage. Here's a roundup of where things stand after last night's voting.
• Mitt Romney defeated Rick Santorum in three out of three primaries – Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington, D.C. – by fat margins. In Wisconsin, the closest race, Romney won 43-38. In Maryland, Romney seemed to make headway with voter groups who've resisted him, winning strong supporters of the Tea Party by 19 points and evangelicals by 6 percent. Romney's overall delegate lead now stands at 646-278.• Mitt Romney defeated Rick Santorum in three out of three primaries – Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington, D.C. – by fat margins. In Wisconsin, the closest race, Romney won 43-38. In Maryland, Romney seemed to make headway with voter groups who've resisted him, winning strong supporters of the Tea Party by 19 points and evangelicals by 6 percent. Romney's overall delegate lead now stands at 646-278.
• Rick Santorum is staying in. It's impossible for him to lose any elections in the next three weeks because there aren't any. Then, on 24 Apri, Santorum hopes to win Pennsylvania, his home state. "Pennsylvania is a must-win for us," the Philadelphia Inquirer quotes Santorum senior adviser John Brabender. "If we win, we get all sorts of momentum going into May, which figures to be a great month for us." (h/t @jmartpolitico)• Rick Santorum is staying in. It's impossible for him to lose any elections in the next three weeks because there aren't any. Then, on 24 Apri, Santorum hopes to win Pennsylvania, his home state. "Pennsylvania is a must-win for us," the Philadelphia Inquirer quotes Santorum senior adviser John Brabender. "If we win, we get all sorts of momentum going into May, which figures to be a great month for us." (h/t @jmartpolitico)
• "The race for the GOP nomination is still over." – conservative oracle Hugh Hewitt, as quoted by morning TV sage Joe Scarborough (h/t Mike Allen's Playbook)• "The race for the GOP nomination is still over." – conservative oracle Hugh Hewitt, as quoted by morning TV sage Joe Scarborough (h/t Mike Allen's Playbook)
• Barack Obama thinks Mitt Romney is going to win. The president went after the former governor by name for the first time yesterday. Specifically, Obama went after Romney's diction. "He said that he's 'very supportive' of this new [Paul Ryan] budget," Obama said. "And he even called it 'marvelous,' which is a word you don't often hear when it comes to describing a budget; it's a word you don't hear generally." Dayum. Barack said Mitt said "marvelous."• Barack Obama thinks Mitt Romney is going to win. The president went after the former governor by name for the first time yesterday. Specifically, Obama went after Romney's diction. "He said that he's 'very supportive' of this new [Paul Ryan] budget," Obama said. "And he even called it 'marvelous,' which is a word you don't often hear when it comes to describing a budget; it's a word you don't hear generally." Dayum. Barack said Mitt said "marvelous."
• Was this you? Admit it, this was you, wasn't it?• Was this you? Admit it, this was you, wasn't it?
Three cheers to the gentleman enjoying a 5 Guys burger with bacon, egg, and cheese + french fries for breakfast. America is awesome.Three cheers to the gentleman enjoying a 5 Guys burger with bacon, egg, and cheese + french fries for breakfast. America is awesome.
— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) April 4, 2012— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) April 4, 2012