Mitt Romney

TAMPA, Fla. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told a group of out-of-work Floridians on Thursday that "I'm also unemployed," quickly drawing criticism from Democrats who said it showed that the former Massachusetts governor and multimillionaire was out of touch. Romney made the comment while criticizing President Obama's economic plan to a small group of business owners and unemployed workers at a Tampa coffee shop. The former equity-firm CEO told the group that he did have his eye on one particular job, however.

RISING GOP STAR Herman Cain inched ahead of President Obama in the latest Rasmussen Reports survey, the pollster announced yesterday. The Georgia businessman pulled in 43 percent of support in a national telephone poll of likely U.S. voters, compared with 41 percent for Obama, Rasmussen said. Cain is the only Republican in the poll to hold a lead over the president, although Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who trails Obama by 2 points in the latest survey, previously held a similar advantage.

MITT ROMNEY has pulled into a tie with President Obama in the latest Pew Research Center poll, with both getting 47 percent of the national vote. Of course, what really matters is the Electoral College voting. Here's a look at how that breaks down, according to the latest Real Clear Politics analysis: 201: Electoral votes for Obama 191: Electoral votes for Romney 146: Votes that RCP declares toss-ups, including Florida (29), Pennsylvania (20), Ohio (18), Michigan (16), North Carolina (15)

Dignified vs. bullying President Obama came to the debate intending to dialogue and contrast his policies with Mitt Romney's ("Romney puts heat on Obama," Thursday). Romney came to the debate with a sledgehammer and salesperson approach to misleading the American people, apart from the 47 percent he has revealed he doesn't care about. The president was dignified and did not engage in combat with an imposter; similar to arguing with an irrational person, it just creates more confusion and frustration.

Republicans on Sunday escalated their attacks on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) over his claim that presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney did not pay taxes for years, with the Republican Party head calling Reid a "dirty liar. " Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus, speaking on ABC's This Week , contrasted Reid's allegations relating to Romney's wealth with Reid's own lifestyle as a resident of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Washington, where he lives.

"The seeds for what appears to be a very robust remodeling recovery have been planted. " - Harvard University Center for Joint Housing Studies, on increased investment in the home remodelers Home Depot Inc. and Lowe's Cos. "We may sharply curtail our hiring, and our total employment in corporate functions may begin to fall as we have voluntary turnover within the company. " - CEO Gary Kelly on Southwest Airlines Co.'s plans to contend with rising fuel prices and weaker travel demand.

BURLINGTON, Mass. - As Mitt Romney's campaign claimed new momentum in the race for the White House, President Obama's political advisers on Sunday promised the incumbent would unleash his more aggressive side in Tuesday's debate to prevent their Republican rival from delivering another "magical and theatrical performance. " Obama and Romney hunkered down in debate preparation for much of the day as aides offered a pre-debate sparring match on television. They disagreed on much, but agreed that Romney bested Obama in their first meeting nearly two weeks ago - a performance that shifted the direction of a race that had favored the president but has since tightened in national and battleground state polls.

WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney has won the New Mexico Republican presidential primary, adding to a delegate total that already exceeds the number needed to win the nomination. Romney also won presidential primaries Tuesday in New Jersey and South Dakota. Two more states, Montana and California, also were having presidential primaries. A total of 264 delegates were at stake in Tuesday's contests, and Romney had a chance to win them all. He has 1,266 delegates. He needs 1,144 to win the nomination.

HOUSTON - A spokesman says former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, will not attend the Republican National Convention next month in Tampa, Fla., because of health reasons. The spokesman, Jim McGrath, says it will be the first time since 1976, when Bush was director of the CIA and refrained from partisan activities, that he won't attend the Republican Party gathering. Bush, 88, has a form of Parkinson's disease that afflicts his legs. He now gets around using a wheelchair or motorized scooter.