Here are 10 things you need to know today.
- NBC/WSJ poll shows Obama by 6: A new poll from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal shows President Obama with a 6-point lead, as his approval rating is at a positive 49 percent to 46 percent split. His presumptive GOP challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has recovered slightly on his favorability rating after the Republican primary season, scoring a near-even 33 percent to 36 percent split. “Obama’s advantage is fueled by his traditionally strong-standing among African Americans, Latinos and young voters, as well as with women and even political independents,” NBC wrote in its analysis.
- Montana governor says Romney’s father was born on a “polygamy commune”: Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) told the Daily Beast that Romney’s family history would be an issue, alluding to his father living in a Mormon colony in Mexico. “Women, he said, are ‘not great fans of polygamy, 86 percent were not great fans of polygamy. I am not alleging by any stretch that Romney is a polygamist and approves of [the] polygamy lifestyle, but his father was born into [a] polygamy commune in Mexico,'” the site reported.
- Walker says Paul Ryan would be a “great” VP pick, Christie helps the ticket: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) told the Weekly Standard that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee, would be a “great” vice presidential pick for Romney. But a new national survey from Public Policy Polling (D) showed that Romney would actually lose a few points if Ryan was his running mate, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) brought the race to an even 47 percent for both sides.
- Huntsman daughter — Romney won’t pick my dad for VP: Abby Huntsman, daughter of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, said in a CNN interview that she didn’t think Romney would consider her father for a spot on the ticket. “I think [Jon Huntsman’s] wonderful, but I don’t think the Romney team is going to go there if I have to go on the record as saying that,” she said, predicting that Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (R) would be the choice. Watch it here.
- Walker video hits Barrett on tone: A new web video from the campaign of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) highlight’s Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s rhetoric on the trail in the 2010 gubernatorial recall race, after Barrett released a TV ad calling for an end to the “civil war in Wisconsin.” The Walker video shows Barrett using a number of boxing metaphors under the title “Civility?” Watch it here.
- Giffords to be honored by EMILY’S List: Former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ) will be honored by EMILY’s List, the campaign organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to office, on Friday. Giffords will receive the “We Are EMILY” award, which “recognizes women who have changed the face of political power and provided leadership and inspiration to the EMILY’s List community.” A new award to given out in Gifford’s honor will also be announced.
- EMILY’s List endorses five candidates: EMILY’S List also announced that they will be endorsing five House candidates: Shelley Adler (NJ-03), Kathy Boockvar (PA-08), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09).
- Quinnipiac poll shows voters still very pessimistic on the economy: A national poll from Quinnipiac found President Obama leading by 4 points nationally, but also showed that many Americans remain very unsure of their economic footing. “The surge of economic optimism may have stalled as American voters say 41 percent to 35 percent they are worse off financially than four years ago, and 51 percent don’t expect their personal financial situation to change in the next 12 months, while 32 percent expect it to get better and 13 percent expect it to get worse,” Quinnipiac wrote in their analysis.
- Romney campaigns in Arizona: Mitt Romney will speak at a Republican National Committee meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., today before heading to Tempe for a business roundtable and a rally at the Arizona Historical Society Museum there.
