Here are ten things you need to know today.
- If the election were held today: President Obama would beat Mitt Romney 51% to 44%, according to the latest Washington Post/ABC News Poll. Obama’s victory would be in part due to strong support among women voters. The poll found that “Romney is up eight percentage points among male voters but trails by 19 among women.”
- Poll shows Obama’s advantages over Romney: That new Washington Post/ABC News Poll out Tuesday shows the President with a double-digit lead over Romney on who would better address “middle class, addressing women’s issues, handling international affairs and dealing with health care.” On personal attributes, Obama’s lead is even higher. He even holds a 12-point lead on who better understands our economic problems — Romney’s signature issue. Romney leads Obama on who would better address the deficit.
- Obama camp attacks on taxes: The Obama campaign has renewed its attacks on Romney for not releasing more years of tax returns, calling for 23 years of returns.
- GOP voters think Romney will be nominee: Bad news for Rick Santorum: nearly 75% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters believe Mitt Romney will be the GOP nominee, a survey from the Pew Research Center finds. Republicans also want the nomination process to wrap up, saying 47% to 36% that the race is bad for the party and should come to an end.
- GOP leaning towards Romney: The Washington Post/ABC News poll shows the GOP picking Romney as the ultimate nominee by 44% to 25% for Rick Santorum. That’s not quite the margin that Pew found. A slim majority of GOP and GOP-leaning voters want Santorum to stay in the race — also contradicting Pew’s findings Monday.
- Bella home from the hospital, Santorum back on the trail: The Santorum campaign announced that the candidate’s daughter Bella had returned home from the hospital and Rick Santorum would be back on the trail Tuesday. Santorum will appear at two events in Pennsylvania Tuesday.
- GOP trying to neutralize ‘war on women’ attacks: The GOP is trying to stop the damage caused by the recent contraception debate that polls show have caused women voters to move into the Democratic column over the last few months. The latest to deny the “war” exists was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
- Herman Cain weighs in on VP talk: Herman Cain had some advice for Mitt Romney on Monday: Pick Rep. Allen West (R-FL) of Florida as your running mate. “Here’s why. He is direct. People in Florida love him. He has a huge following. He is from Florida – Florida is going to be one of those key states But more importantly, Col. Allen West is a dedicated patriot, he served in the military and he’s willing to serve his country some more.” Sarah Palin said recently that West, a Tea Party favorite, would be at the top of her list, too.
- Obama raises money in Florida: President Obama will be in Florida Tuesday holding a series of private fundraising events.
- Candidates back on the trail: Santorum is back on the trail in Pennsylvania Tuesday; Romney’s holding a rally in Wilmington, Delaware; Ron Paul is holding an event at Texas A&M University, and Newt Gingrich will campaign in North Carolina.
