Here are ten things you need to know today.
- Romney calls Buffett Rule a ‘gimmick’: Mitt Romney said the Obama-backed Buffett tax on those making over $1 million is a “gimmick” Tuesday in an interview with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow. “People recognize that these gimmicks are not going to get America strong again, they’re not going to create jobs. They’re going to have the opposite effect of creating jobs,” he said. A recent CNN poll showed 7 out of 10 Americans supports the Buffett Rule.
- Obama campaign launches Latinos for Obama: Wednesday, Obama for America will announce Latinos for Obama along with a series of Spanish-language TV ads and increased outreach to Latino voters, including phone-banking and knocking on doors. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez will join a call with Jim Messina and other surrogates to launch the initiative.
- Obama campaign releases Spanish-language ads: As both Romney and Obama turn their attention to Latino voters this week, the Obama campaign is releasing its first set of Spanish-language TV and radio ads. The ads will feature first-hand accounts of how Obama’s policies have affected Latinos in America. They will begin airing in Colorado, Nevada, and Florida.
- DNC ties Romney to Corbett: Now that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has endorsed Mitt Romney, the DNC is out with a new video hitting them both as too extreme for women. Corbett backed his state’s controversial mandatory ultrasound law, advising women who don’t want to see the ultrasound to “close your eyes.”
- Green groups endorse Obama: The Sierra Club and other big environmental groups are planning a major endorsement of President Obama, reports Politico. So far, environmental groups are pleased Obama has not buckled under pressure to approve the Keystone XL pipeline — if Obama did, it would be “a shot straight to the gut,” the executive director of the Sierra Club told Politico.
- DCCC plans major ad blitz: The DCCC is buying up time for a $32 million ad blitz after labor day as part of its strategy to take back the House of Representatives in November, reports Politico.
- Hagan to hold call on Romney’s speech: North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan will hold a press conference call on Wednesday morning as Mitt Romney travels to her home state for fundraisers and a speech in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Mitt Romney will speak in Charlotte tomorrow and lay out his plans to return to the same failed policies of the past,” says a release on the call.
- Jesse Kelly will compete for Gifford’s seat: On Tuesday, Jesse Kelly won the four-way GOP primary in Gabrielle Giffords’ old seat in Arizona’s 8th District and will now compete with former Giffords aide Ron Barber for the seat in a special election on June 12.
- Obama hits the trail: President Obama will make three campaign speeches today. First, he’ll travel to Elyria, Ohio, Wednesday, where he will meet with unemployed workers in a job training program at the Lorain County Community College before delivering a speech at the college on unemployment. Obama will then travel to Dearborn, Michigan, where he’ll speak at a fundraising event and finally speak at a second fundraiser at a home in Bingham Farms, Michigan.
- Romney campaigns, raises money in North Carolina: Mitt Romney will spend Wednesday in North Carolina with two fundraisers and a speech in Charlotte — where the Democratic National Convention will be held later this summer.
