Here are 10 things you need to know today.
- Jobs numbers hound Obama campaign on Day One: The April jobs report produced lousy numbers (115,000 jobs added), and it cast a shadow over Saturday’s first day of campaigning for the president, a trip to nearby Virginia, and to Ohio. Obama left the bad news to Alan Krueger, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, who said, “The economy is continuing to heal from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, but much more remains to be done to repair the damage caused by the financial crisis and the deep recession.”
- Romney piles on, says jobs numbers are “not progress”: Romney took the bad jobs report as an immediate cue to employ his favorite attack on Obama, going after him on the economy. “Clearly the American people are wondering why this recovery isn’t happening faster, why it’s taking years and years for the recovery to occur and we seem to be slowing down, not speeding up. This is not progress; this is very, very disappointing and a lot of American people are having very hard times and this is not good news this morning,” he said in a statement Friday.
- Democrats turn Santorum’s words on Romney: With Romney on the attack following the jobs report, the Democratic National Committee tried to turn the tables using Romney’s previous competition in the Republican presidential primary. The DNC released a web video highlighting an interview from former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, in which he said, “If Mitt Romney’s an economic heavyweight, we’re in trouble,” which you can see here.
- Democratic primary in Wisconsin governor recall on Tuesday: Wisconsin Democrats will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide which Democrat will take on current Gov. Scott Walker (R) in the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election. The two major candidates, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk will be touring the state this weekend. Barrett hits events in Racine, Stevens Point, the Wisconsin Dells, Platteville and Kaukauna, while Falk will stick on the western side of the state in La Crosse, Hudson and Eau Claire.
- Analysis shows Falk has spent most money in recall primary: An analysis of ad spending in Wisconsin shows a super PAC supporting Falk has spent the most in the Democratic primary, while Barrett, who is leading in the polls, has only matched about one-fourth. “On the Democratic side, Wisconsin for Falk, the super PAC backing former Dane County executive Kathleen Falk, has spent $1.9 million, while Falk herself has spent $180,710. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, meanwhile, has spent $534,630,” the Huffington Post reported.
- Conservative talk show host says Romney can be bullied: Conservative talk show host Bryan Fischer, happy that an openly gay aide to Romney was pressured into resigning after the right wing balked, said Romney can be bullied in a Friday appearance. “Let me ask you this question, people have raised this question, if Mitt Romney can be pushed around, intimidated, coerced, coopted by a conservative radio talk show host in Middle America, then how is he going to stand up to the Chinese?” Fischer said. The appearance can be seen here.
- Indiana Senate primary down to the wire: In an turn that was unimaginable before the rise of the tea party, a new poll showed that longtime Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) may be on his way out in Indiana, which will hold its Republican primary on Tuesday. Lugar is being challenged by state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, who has a lead of 10 points in a new poll of primary voters. Lugar, clearly feeling the heat, made an appeal to voters beyond fellow Republicans in the Indianapolis Star — the state has an open primary, and the senator implored “Every person in Indiana who wants me to continue, every person wherever they might be at this point, I encourage them to come out.”
- Santorum endorses Mourdock: Santorum endorsed Mourdock late on Friday, over his old colleague in the Senate.
- Romney says it’d be good to have a president who’s “had a job”: In a radio interview while campaigning in Virginia, Romney drove home the idea that his career in business is his best asset. “I think it’s good to have a president who’s worked in the private sector, who’s had a job,” he said. Listen here.
- Obama campaigns in Ohio and Virginia: President Obama will hold a campaign rally at The Ohio State University in Columbus just before noon today, and will fly to Richmond, Va. for another rally at Virginia Commonwealth University.
