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| Romney clinches GOP nomination amid Trump 'birther' talk | |
| (2 days later) | |
| 5.49pm: And finally tonight, Mitt Romney is about to get endorsed by someone who believes Barack Obama is born in America: | 5.49pm: And finally tonight, Mitt Romney is about to get endorsed by someone who believes Barack Obama is born in America: |
| Sources close to fmr Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice say she will endorse Mitt Romney at a fundraiser in Hillsborough, CA tonight | Sources close to fmr Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice say she will endorse Mitt Romney at a fundraiser in Hillsborough, CA tonight |
| Condoleezza Rice, potential vice presidential pick? Romney could do worse. | Condoleezza Rice, potential vice presidential pick? Romney could do worse. |
| 5.33pm: The clever Edward Luce of the Financial Times runs through the reasons why Mitt Romney might want support from the birtherific Donald Trump, and dismisses them all before concluding: | 5.33pm: The clever Edward Luce of the Financial Times runs through the reasons why Mitt Romney might want support from the birtherific Donald Trump, and dismisses them all before concluding: |
| It is possible there is some complex psychological explanation as to why Mr Romney keeps doing this. None of the sane ones hold up. | It is possible there is some complex psychological explanation as to why Mr Romney keeps doing this. None of the sane ones hold up. |
| 5.20pm: The Fox & Friends video nasty plot thickens: the blog TVNewser runs this statement, suggesting that Fox News is backing away from the harshly negative video attacking Obama's term in office that ran this morning: | 5.20pm: The Fox & Friends video nasty plot thickens: the blog TVNewser runs this statement, suggesting that Fox News is backing away from the harshly negative video attacking Obama's term in office that ran this morning: |
| Update: A statement from Bill Shine, [Executive Vice President] of programming for Fox News: "The package that aired on FOX & Friends was created by an associate producer and was not authorized at the senior executive level of the network. This has been addressed with the show's producers." | Update: A statement from Bill Shine, [Executive Vice President] of programming for Fox News: "The package that aired on FOX & Friends was created by an associate producer and was not authorized at the senior executive level of the network. This has been addressed with the show's producers." |
| That sound you can hear is an associate producer getting his or her ass kicked. | That sound you can hear is an associate producer getting his or her ass kicked. |
| 5pm: On the Fox & Friends video nasty mentioned earlier, the New York Times's Brian Stelter has wrung an intriguing comment from Fox News: | 5pm: On the Fox & Friends video nasty mentioned earlier, the New York Times's Brian Stelter has wrung an intriguing comment from Fox News: |
| A spokeswoman for Fox News, which is run by the former Republican strategist Roger Ailes, did not respond to requests for interviews. However, when asked about Mr Ailes, she said, "Roger was not aware of the video." | A spokeswoman for Fox News, which is run by the former Republican strategist Roger Ailes, did not respond to requests for interviews. However, when asked about Mr Ailes, she said, "Roger was not aware of the video." |
| At Politco, Dylan Byers calls it: | At Politco, Dylan Byers calls it: |
| For all its blatantly conservative programming, Fox News does a pretty incredible job of swearing up and down that it's nonpartisan. But it's kind of impossible to see how you walk this one back. | For all its blatantly conservative programming, Fox News does a pretty incredible job of swearing up and down that it's nonpartisan. But it's kind of impossible to see how you walk this one back. |
| 4.39pm: Despite some speculation that the recall election in Wisconsin was getting closer, the latest poll today [pdf] shows that Governor Scott Walker retains a significant lead over his Democratic challenger Tom Barrett, with Walker leading by 52% to 45% among likely voters. | 4.39pm: Despite some speculation that the recall election in Wisconsin was getting closer, the latest poll today [pdf] shows that Governor Scott Walker retains a significant lead over his Democratic challenger Tom Barrett, with Walker leading by 52% to 45% among likely voters. |
| The election is next Tuesday – and almost all the polls conducted by neutrals show Walker in the lead. | The election is next Tuesday – and almost all the polls conducted by neutrals show Walker in the lead. |
| 4.13pm: Lots of talk on the internets today about this strange four minute video that appeared this morning on Fox News's "Fox and Friends": | 4.13pm: Lots of talk on the internets today about this strange four minute video that appeared this morning on Fox News's "Fox and Friends": |
| A brief fact check suggests some of the numbers being used are dodgy – but more to the point, as an openly hostile attack on the Obama administration this is closer to a Mitt Romney super pac ad than cable news channel output. Even by Fox News's standards. | A brief fact check suggests some of the numbers being used are dodgy – but more to the point, as an openly hostile attack on the Obama administration this is closer to a Mitt Romney super pac ad than cable news channel output. Even by Fox News's standards. |
| Media Matters for America – as you might expect – exhaustively fact-checks the clip here. | Media Matters for America – as you might expect – exhaustively fact-checks the clip here. |
| 4pm: So when I was questioning whether Mitt Romney's birth certificate could be fake, it was a joke. | 4pm: So when I was questioning whether Mitt Romney's birth certificate could be fake, it was a joke. |
| But the Atlantic's Elspeth Reeve has gone one step further and asked actual birthers – the swivel-eyed types who dispute the legitimacy of Barack Obama's birth certificate – what they think of Romney's birth certificate. | But the Atlantic's Elspeth Reeve has gone one step further and asked actual birthers – the swivel-eyed types who dispute the legitimacy of Barack Obama's birth certificate – what they think of Romney's birth certificate. |
| While some of them won't take the bait – "Well I'm sure you Marxists will find some lies to tell about it," writes one in response – some of the others, including the Birther Queen herself, Orly Taitz, are at least consistent about Romney's: | While some of them won't take the bait – "Well I'm sure you Marxists will find some lies to tell about it," writes one in response – some of the others, including the Birther Queen herself, Orly Taitz, are at least consistent about Romney's: |
| She is much more lenient with Romney, but he's still not off the hook. "Even though I do not have any evidence to show that there's a forgery in the copy provided by Romney," [Taitz] told us over the phone, "just to be impartial and even-handed I am asking that both candidates release the original documents." | She is much more lenient with Romney, but he's still not off the hook. "Even though I do not have any evidence to show that there's a forgery in the copy provided by Romney," [Taitz] told us over the phone, "just to be impartial and even-handed I am asking that both candidates release the original documents." |
| 3.31pm: The White House got itself into trouble with the people of Poland for President Obama's remark yesterday during the Medal of Freedom presentation ceremony. | 3.31pm: The White House got itself into trouble with the people of Poland for President Obama's remark yesterday during the Medal of Freedom presentation ceremony. |
| In praising the second world war Polish resistance hero Jan Karski, Obama made a reference to "Polish death camps" – meaning the sites of the Holocaust in occupied Poland and the creation of Nazi Germany. Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, apologised in a statement: | In praising the second world war Polish resistance hero Jan Karski, Obama made a reference to "Polish death camps" – meaning the sites of the Holocaust in occupied Poland and the creation of Nazi Germany. Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, apologised in a statement: |
| The president misspoke – he was referring to Nazi death camps in German occupied Poland. We regret this misstatement, which should not detract from the clear intention to honour Mr Karski and those brave Polish citizens who stood on the side of human dignity in the face of tyranny. | The president misspoke – he was referring to Nazi death camps in German occupied Poland. We regret this misstatement, which should not detract from the clear intention to honour Mr Karski and those brave Polish citizens who stood on the side of human dignity in the face of tyranny. |
| 3.10pm: At today's White House press briefing, spokesman Jay Carney says that Barack Obama called Mitt Romney to congratulate him on winning the GOP's presidential nomination. "It was very collegial and friendly. It was not particularly long," said Carney. | 3.10pm: At today's White House press briefing, spokesman Jay Carney says that Barack Obama called Mitt Romney to congratulate him on winning the GOP's presidential nomination. "It was very collegial and friendly. It was not particularly long," said Carney. |
| 2.54pm: Basically, yes: | 2.54pm: Basically, yes: |
| MAKE NO MISTAKE: In the most delusional, racist way possible, @realDonaldTrump is accusing our President of a crime. Where's his proof? | MAKE NO MISTAKE: In the most delusional, racist way possible, @realDonaldTrump is accusing our President of a crime. Where's his proof? |
| Crime? Ana Marie Cox, in her piece today, puts it like this: | Crime? Ana Marie Cox, in her piece today, puts it like this: |
| Donald Trump's request for Obama's birth certificate (or his college transcripts, for that matter) are only the most ludicrous and high-profile versions of the kind of "let me see your license" bullshit that African Americans have to put up with every day. | Donald Trump's request for Obama's birth certificate (or his college transcripts, for that matter) are only the most ludicrous and high-profile versions of the kind of "let me see your license" bullshit that African Americans have to put up with every day. |
| 2.23pm: It feels as if Donald Trump is almost daring Mitt Romney to slap him down, via Twitter: | 2.23pm: It feels as if Donald Trump is almost daring Mitt Romney to slap him down, via Twitter: |
| In his own words, @BarackObama "was born in Kenya, and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii." This statement was made, (cont) tl.gd/hkim3j | In his own words, @BarackObama "was born in Kenya, and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii." This statement was made, (cont) tl.gd/hkim3j |
| One wonders exactly what post a grateful President Romney will reward Donald Trump with after the election – US ambassador to Twatistan? | One wonders exactly what post a grateful President Romney will reward Donald Trump with after the election – US ambassador to Twatistan? |
| 2.08pm: The Guardian's Ana Marie Cox has a reflective and thoughtful piece on the different natures of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, as expressed by their presidential campaigns and politics: | 2.08pm: The Guardian's Ana Marie Cox has a reflective and thoughtful piece on the different natures of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, as expressed by their presidential campaigns and politics: |
| Romney seems genuinely not to understand that people are prepared to think the worst of him, and do the worst to him. His protestations to criticism almost always fall along the lines of, "Oh, come on, you don't mean to think I meant to kill the dog/fire the workers/employ the illegals." For Pete's sake, he's running for office! | Romney seems genuinely not to understand that people are prepared to think the worst of him, and do the worst to him. His protestations to criticism almost always fall along the lines of, "Oh, come on, you don't mean to think I meant to kill the dog/fire the workers/employ the illegals." For Pete's sake, he's running for office! |
| 1.45pm: This is very good: a site named Politiwoops, billed as "deleted tweets from politicians," from the Sunlight Foundation: | 1.45pm: This is very good: a site named Politiwoops, billed as "deleted tweets from politicians," from the Sunlight Foundation: |
| Sure, we all tweet things we don't mean to share, but now politicians have no way to hide them. Discover tweets that your politicians shared and then promptly deleted. | Sure, we all tweet things we don't mean to share, but now politicians have no way to hide them. Discover tweets that your politicians shared and then promptly deleted. |
| 1.30pm: Donald Trump asks the real questions: | 1.30pm: Donald Trump asks the real questions: |
| What could be better than dinner with @MittRomney and me? bit.ly/Kj5jSH | What could be better than dinner with @MittRomney and me? bit.ly/Kj5jSH |
| Let's see. Dinner with the Florida face-eating guy? | Let's see. Dinner with the Florida face-eating guy? |
| 1.18pm: And another "Amercia" photo from AFP's Brendan Smialowski: | 1.18pm: And another "Amercia" photo from AFP's Brendan Smialowski: |
| This time from the north of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. | This time from the north of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. |
| 1.09pm: AFP photographer Brendan Smialowski appears to be having some fun with the Mitt Romney "Amercia" iPhone app. | 1.09pm: AFP photographer Brendan Smialowski appears to be having some fun with the Mitt Romney "Amercia" iPhone app. |
| This one is from a Washington DC metro station near the White House. The fallen newspaper stand is a charming touch. | This one is from a Washington DC metro station near the White House. The fallen newspaper stand is a charming touch. |
| My Guardian colleagues have produced this excellent explanation of the 'Amercia' business. | My Guardian colleagues have produced this excellent explanation of the 'Amercia' business. |
| 12.50pm: Donald Trump shows no signs of ... backing down, rational thought, hubris, you name it: | 12.50pm: Donald Trump shows no signs of ... backing down, rational thought, hubris, you name it: |
| I want to see @BarackObama's college records to see how he listed his place of birth in the application. | I want to see @BarackObama's college records to see how he listed his place of birth in the application. |
| As James I once quipped: "God's wounds! I will pull down my breeches and they shall see my arse." | As James I once quipped: "God's wounds! I will pull down my breeches and they shall see my arse." |
| 12.28pm: A smart piece from the LA Times on how Joe Biden became more and more of an electoral asset for the Obama campaign: | 12.28pm: A smart piece from the LA Times on how Joe Biden became more and more of an electoral asset for the Obama campaign: |
| Obama's reelection effort will depend heavily on Biden as "Middle Class Joe" — playing up his roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, vouching for the president to wary blue-collar voters. He's particularly needed in a string of majority-white counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other battleground states where Hillary Rodham Clinton bested Obama in the 2008 primaries. It's familiar territory for him. Last campaign, Biden held more events in Ohio than in any other state. | Obama's reelection effort will depend heavily on Biden as "Middle Class Joe" — playing up his roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, vouching for the president to wary blue-collar voters. He's particularly needed in a string of majority-white counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other battleground states where Hillary Rodham Clinton bested Obama in the 2008 primaries. It's familiar territory for him. Last campaign, Biden held more events in Ohio than in any other state. |
| This is not necessarily turf – or a voting bloc – that the Obama campaign expects to win. But they need to keep Mitt Romney's margin down. If Biden can win over enough culturally conservative, blue-collar voters to push Obama's percentage from the low 30s to the high 30s in counties where the Obama-Biden ticket lagged behind John Kerry's 2004 numbers, that would be enough to win Ohio, a senior official with the Ohio campaign said. | This is not necessarily turf – or a voting bloc – that the Obama campaign expects to win. But they need to keep Mitt Romney's margin down. If Biden can win over enough culturally conservative, blue-collar voters to push Obama's percentage from the low 30s to the high 30s in counties where the Obama-Biden ticket lagged behind John Kerry's 2004 numbers, that would be enough to win Ohio, a senior official with the Ohio campaign said. |
| 12.04pm: A cracking observation from the New Yorker on Donald Trump: | 12.04pm: A cracking observation from the New Yorker on Donald Trump: |
| There are some people who, having been born on third base, stand there believing they hit a triple. Donald Trump was born on third base and thinks he invented baseball. | There are some people who, having been born on third base, stand there believing they hit a triple. Donald Trump was born on third base and thinks he invented baseball. |
| (My colleagues and I are trying to think of a British equivalent for the "born on third base" putdown – but we can't.) | (My colleagues and I are trying to think of a British equivalent for the "born on third base" putdown – but we can't.) |
| 11.45pm: In the Texas Senate showdown, the Tea Party and Sarah Palin have another chance to scalp an establishment Republican – if Ted Cruz can overcome the cards stacked against him in July's run-off with David Dewhurst. | 11.45pm: In the Texas Senate showdown, the Tea Party and Sarah Palin have another chance to scalp an establishment Republican – if Ted Cruz can overcome the cards stacked against him in July's run-off with David Dewhurst. |
| The pollsters at PPP think Cruz has a slim but significant chance: | The pollsters at PPP think Cruz has a slim but significant chance: |
| I think it's going to end up being a lot closer than that though, and think Cruz even has a modest chance to win. It's all about turnout and enthusiasm. We found last week that 49% of Cruz's supporters were 'very excited' about voting for him. Only 27% of Dewhurst's expressed the same sentiment. Among that most enthusiastic group of voters Cruz led Dewhurst 42-37 for yesterday's primary, and trailed only 48-46 in a hypothetical runoff contest. It's hard to say what turnout will be in July but assuming it's lower than it was yesterday that will work to Cruz's advantage due to the passion of his supporters. | I think it's going to end up being a lot closer than that though, and think Cruz even has a modest chance to win. It's all about turnout and enthusiasm. We found last week that 49% of Cruz's supporters were 'very excited' about voting for him. Only 27% of Dewhurst's expressed the same sentiment. Among that most enthusiastic group of voters Cruz led Dewhurst 42-37 for yesterday's primary, and trailed only 48-46 in a hypothetical runoff contest. It's hard to say what turnout will be in July but assuming it's lower than it was yesterday that will work to Cruz's advantage due to the passion of his supporters. |
| 11.15am: By the way, the Romney campaign really did release Mitt Romney's certificate of live birth last night. That part was real, as is the image. | 11.15am: By the way, the Romney campaign really did release Mitt Romney's certificate of live birth last night. That part was real, as is the image. |
| Here's how Reuters covered it: | Here's how Reuters covered it: |
| Finally, there is definitive proof: The presidential candidate was born in the United States, and his father was not. | Finally, there is definitive proof: The presidential candidate was born in the United States, and his father was not. |
| See what they've done there? Hilarious: "Yes, Republican Mitt Romney appears eligible to be president, according to a copy of Romney's birth certificate released to Reuters by his campaign." | See what they've done there? Hilarious: "Yes, Republican Mitt Romney appears eligible to be president, according to a copy of Romney's birth certificate released to Reuters by his campaign." |
| 10.51am: There is a serious point about Mitt Romney's awkward dance around Donald Trump's birther nonsense: | 10.51am: There is a serious point about Mitt Romney's awkward dance around Donald Trump's birther nonsense: |
| If Mitt Romney doesn't have the courage to stand up to Donald Trump, how will he stand up to Putin, the Iranians, or the Chinese? | If Mitt Romney doesn't have the courage to stand up to Donald Trump, how will he stand up to Putin, the Iranians, or the Chinese? |
| Summed up here eloquently by Doug Mataconis. | Summed up here eloquently by Doug Mataconis. |
| 10.36am: Last night – under the cover of darkness – the Mitt Romney campaign published what it claims to be a birth certificate for "Willard Mitt bin Romney". | 10.36am: Last night – under the cover of darkness – the Mitt Romney campaign published what it claims to be a birth certificate for "Willard Mitt bin Romney". |
| As we can plainly see, this is obviously a forgery, and Donald Trump and Sheriff Joe Arpaio need to get right on it. Here are the five key signs: | As we can plainly see, this is obviously a forgery, and Donald Trump and Sheriff Joe Arpaio need to get right on it. Here are the five key signs: |
| 1. This is clearly not a birth certificate at all. It's something called a "Certificate of Live Birth" – which suggests the obvious question: where is the birth certificate? | 1. This is clearly not a birth certificate at all. It's something called a "Certificate of Live Birth" – which suggests the obvious question: where is the birth certificate? |
| 2. This is only the "short form" of the certificate and that is plainly inadequate. Why won't Mitt Romney publish his "long form" birth certificate? What does he have to hide? | 2. This is only the "short form" of the certificate and that is plainly inadequate. Why won't Mitt Romney publish his "long form" birth certificate? What does he have to hide? |
| 3. Notice that the "date of birth" is listed as March 12, 1947 – but the so-called "certificate" was filed on March 17, 1947. How can Mitt Romney explain this mysterious five day gap during which time he may (or may not) have been smuggled in from Canada? – the foreign country bordering on Michigan. | 3. Notice that the "date of birth" is listed as March 12, 1947 – but the so-called "certificate" was filed on March 17, 1947. How can Mitt Romney explain this mysterious five day gap during which time he may (or may not) have been smuggled in from Canada? – the foreign country bordering on Michigan. |
| 4. Using my computer I note that this "certificate" image is labeled: "Adobe Photoshop JPEG file". Clear signs of a forgery? | 4. Using my computer I note that this "certificate" image is labeled: "Adobe Photoshop JPEG file". Clear signs of a forgery? |
| 5. "Father's birthplace: Mexico". Come on, do I have to paint you a picture for this one? | 5. "Father's birthplace: Mexico". Come on, do I have to paint you a picture for this one? |
| To be clear, none of these obvious errors, omissions and forgery are evidence that Mitt Romney was born abroad and has engaged in a decades-long conspiracy to conceal his foreign birth – we are merely asking questions. And putting words in italics for sinister effect. That's all. Over to you, Donald. | To be clear, none of these obvious errors, omissions and forgery are evidence that Mitt Romney was born abroad and has engaged in a decades-long conspiracy to conceal his foreign birth – we are merely asking questions. And putting words in italics for sinister effect. That's all. Over to you, Donald. |
| 10.17am: While Mitt Romney's win in Texas was entirely predictable, the US Senate primary result certainly was not. | 10.17am: While Mitt Romney's win in Texas was entirely predictable, the US Senate primary result certainly was not. |
| David Dewhurst received 45% of the GOP vote, forcing him into a run-off with Ted Cruz, who received just 34% – but who now has the momentum given that Dewhurst was confidently expected to get more than 50% and so win the nomination outright. | David Dewhurst received 45% of the GOP vote, forcing him into a run-off with Ted Cruz, who received just 34% – but who now has the momentum given that Dewhurst was confidently expected to get more than 50% and so win the nomination outright. |
| Here's RedState's Erick Erickson explaining how the Republican party in Texas finds itself shaken up today: | Here's RedState's Erick Erickson explaining how the Republican party in Texas finds itself shaken up today: |
| It is hard to overstate just how extraordinary Ted Cruz's underdog entry into the Texas runoff is and just how the odds are still stacked against him unless conservatives rally quickly with lots of money. | It is hard to overstate just how extraordinary Ted Cruz's underdog entry into the Texas runoff is and just how the odds are still stacked against him unless conservatives rally quickly with lots of money. |
| David Dewhurst has been Lt Governor of Texas for more than a decade. He has massive name ID throughout the state. Ted Cruz started this race with a three or four percent showing in polling. | David Dewhurst has been Lt Governor of Texas for more than a decade. He has massive name ID throughout the state. Ted Cruz started this race with a three or four percent showing in polling. |
| More so, Dewhurst is a multimillionaire who can write large sums of money to fund his campaign. Ted Cruz cannot. Texas has several of the most expensive media markets in the country and the state is too large to go door to door across the state. | More so, Dewhurst is a multimillionaire who can write large sums of money to fund his campaign. Ted Cruz cannot. Texas has several of the most expensive media markets in the country and the state is too large to go door to door across the state. |
| 10am: Mitt Romney has mathematically clinched the Republican presidential nomination, after winning enough delegates in last night's Texas primary – but his triumph was overshadowed by the continuing presence of his most high profile supporter, Donald Trump. | 10am: Mitt Romney has mathematically clinched the Republican presidential nomination, after winning enough delegates in last night's Texas primary – but his triumph was overshadowed by the continuing presence of his most high profile supporter, Donald Trump. |
| Romney has even gone so far as to release a version of his own birth certificate – perhaps a deliberate pander to the likes of Trump and the underground nation of "birthers" who dispute that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, despite all evidence to the contrary. | Romney has even gone so far as to release a version of his own birth certificate – perhaps a deliberate pander to the likes of Trump and the underground nation of "birthers" who dispute that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, despite all evidence to the contrary. |
| Texas, meanwhile, had an exciting primary night of its own, with insurgent Tea Party-backed candidate Ted Cruz managing to force the heavily favoured David Dewhurst into a run-off for the GOP's US Senate nomination. | Texas, meanwhile, had an exciting primary night of its own, with insurgent Tea Party-backed candidate Ted Cruz managing to force the heavily favoured David Dewhurst into a run-off for the GOP's US Senate nomination. |
| Here's a brief summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: | Here's a brief summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: |
| • Mitt Romney clinched the Republican presidential nomination with a predictable win in Texas's primary while raising money with real estate tycoon, Donald Trump, in Las Vegas. Trump has played a public part by continually insisting president Obama was born in Kenya. Trump managed to avoid broaching the "birther" subject at Romney's fundraising event on Tuesday night, but earlier in the day he clashed with CNN host Wolf Blitzer, who challenged Trump's widely-discredited theory. Referring to the proof of Obama's birth in the United States, his Hawaiian birth certificate, Trump said "A lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate." Blitzer informed Trump he was "beginning to sound a little ridiculous," to which Trump replied "I think you sound ridiculous." | • Mitt Romney clinched the Republican presidential nomination with a predictable win in Texas's primary while raising money with real estate tycoon, Donald Trump, in Las Vegas. Trump has played a public part by continually insisting president Obama was born in Kenya. Trump managed to avoid broaching the "birther" subject at Romney's fundraising event on Tuesday night, but earlier in the day he clashed with CNN host Wolf Blitzer, who challenged Trump's widely-discredited theory. Referring to the proof of Obama's birth in the United States, his Hawaiian birth certificate, Trump said "A lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate." Blitzer informed Trump he was "beginning to sound a little ridiculous," to which Trump replied "I think you sound ridiculous." |
| • The other hitch for Romney came when the GOP's 2012 presidential candidate launched a new iPhone app aimed at supporters. Only one problem, the application spelled America as "Amercia", to widespread hilarity. | • The other hitch for Romney came when the GOP's 2012 presidential candidate launched a new iPhone app aimed at supporters. Only one problem, the application spelled America as "Amercia", to widespread hilarity. |
| • Despite being one-upped on his big day, Romney has managed to launch a new line of attack on the Obama administration, arguing the president has squandered taxpayer dollars on companies such as Solyndra, which declared bankruptcy last year. The company had received $528m in federal loans. The strategy is seen as counter to the president's relentless attacks on Romney's record at the private equity firm, Bain Capital, where he oversaw the firing of scores of employees. | • Despite being one-upped on his big day, Romney has managed to launch a new line of attack on the Obama administration, arguing the president has squandered taxpayer dollars on companies such as Solyndra, which declared bankruptcy last year. The company had received $528m in federal loans. The strategy is seen as counter to the president's relentless attacks on Romney's record at the private equity firm, Bain Capital, where he oversaw the firing of scores of employees. |
| • Romney also ventured into foreign policy yesterday, issuing a statement in support of the mass expulsion of Syrian diplomats by the US and other countries to protest the weekend massacre of dozens of civilians, including children. Romney contended that president Obama "lack of leadership" had created a "policy of paralysis" which has resulted in the death of an estimated 10,000 Syrians. Romney believes the United States should "arm the opposition so they can defend themselves" against the regime of president Bashar al Assad. The White House, meanwhile, supports convincing Syria's allies, Russia and China, to pressure Assad into stopping the violence and believes supporting Syrian opposition forces with weapons would lead to more violence. | • Romney also ventured into foreign policy yesterday, issuing a statement in support of the mass expulsion of Syrian diplomats by the US and other countries to protest the weekend massacre of dozens of civilians, including children. Romney contended that president Obama "lack of leadership" had created a "policy of paralysis" which has resulted in the death of an estimated 10,000 Syrians. Romney believes the United States should "arm the opposition so they can defend themselves" against the regime of president Bashar al Assad. The White House, meanwhile, supports convincing Syria's allies, Russia and China, to pressure Assad into stopping the violence and believes supporting Syrian opposition forces with weapons would lead to more violence. |