Here are ten things you need to know today.
- New poll shows President Obama back up: A new Fox News survey shows Obama leading both Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in head-to-head match-ups. The two Republicans have a bit of a favorability problem: Romney has a 39% approval level; for Santorum, it’s 35% who approve versus 47% who disapprove.
- Casey looks strong in Pennsylvania: Though first-term Senator Bob Casey’s approval ratings aren’t great, voters pick him far above any Republican challenger in the race. A new survey from Public Policy Polling shows Casey has bipartisan support, with only 58% of Democrats approving of him but fully 22% of Republicans as well.
- Biden heads to Ohio: Joe Biden will make the first of four speeches in Ohio Thursday that are meant to frame the upcoming election. In the speech at the United Auto Workers Local 12 Hall in Toledo, Biden will talk about support for the auto bailout and slam the Republican candidates for their opposition to the bailout. He will also mention the GOP candidates by name, which CNN points out, the Obama camp has made a point to avoid.
- Obama campaign releases documentary film: The Obama campaign Thursday will release its well-publicized, 17-minute documentary about Obama’s first term. Called, “The Road We’ve Traveled,” supporters who sign up at the campaign website will get access at 8pm and there will be house parties to view the movie across the country, reports CNN.
- The ad wars come to Illinois: Santorum bought about $120,000 worth of cable airtime ahead of next Tuesday’s primary there. But that’s a drop in the bucket to the combined $3.4 million from the Romney camp and supporting PAC Restore Our Future. ROF has put down $1.2 million in the Chicago media market alone, as the campaign relies on more urban voters in the north and Santorum looks to conservative voters in the south of the state.
- Santorum claimed a special connection with Puerto Rico: On the trail in Puerto Rico, whose primary is Sunday, Santorum said that when he was in the Senate, he had a special nickname. “I was referred to by many in my state as Senador Puertorriqueño. They used to make fun of me, ‘Why are you representing Puerto Rico?’ Well, someone has to because they don’t have a voice,” Santorum said, reports Politico. “I felt a responsibility to the island,” Santorum said.
- Berkley challenges Heller to oppose outside spending: Rep. Shelley Berkley, who is challenging Republican Senator Dean Heller, called on Heller Wednesday to oppose spending in their Nevada race. The pact would be similar to an agreement Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown made in Massachusetts. So far, the Heller campaign has rebuked the offer.
- Newt working hard in Illinois: Newt and Callista will hold several events in Illinois Thursday. Callista will do her part by reading to school children at two stops in the state.
- Romney has no public appearances, again: For the second day in a row, Mitt Romney has no public speeches or events scheduled, as far as we know. Ron Paul is in Missouri ahead of their Saturday caucuses.
- Santorum still in Puerto Rico: Rick Santorum will continue to campaign in Puerto Rico Thursday morning after spending the day there yesterday.
