Here are ten things you need to know today.
- Romney takes the lead in Pennsylvania: For the first time, Mitt Romney has taken the lead in the polls. The latest from Public Policy Polling shows Romney leading the former Senator by 5 points, 42% to 37%. In the last month, “Romney’s gained 17 points, going from 25% to 42%. Meanwhile Santorum’s dropped 6 points from 43% to 37%, for an overall swing of 23 points in the last four weeks.”
- Santorum advisor says PA is ‘critical’: Top Santorum advisor John Brabender said on Wednesday that winning in his home state of Pennsylvania is critical for Rick Santorum’s campaign. “We need Pennsylvania. We believe it is critical for us, there’s no doubt about it. It is our home state,” he said on CNN.
- Obama camp challenges Romney’s ‘reality’: The Obama campaign responded to Mitt Romney’s new stump speech about Obama’s attack on free enterprise with a new video that juxtaposes lines from Romney’s speech attacking Obama with Obama’s own words. Romney’s attack is that the president is turning America into a “government-centered society,” but the president’s own words tout the importance of the private sector.
- RNC chair talks Santorum’s chances: RNC chair Reince Priebus weighed in Wednesday on Rick Santorum’s odds, saying that winning Pennsylvania would be key to him staying in the race. “I think these candidates, for whatever it’s worth, have set up a narrative that if you can’t win your home state, that spells a pretty big problem,” Priebus said on CNN.
- Will Giuliani endorse Romney?: One Romney advisor says that Rudy Giuliani will soon set aside his personal grudges against Mitt Romney and endorse him for the good of the party, reports the Washington Post.
- VP Paul Ryan?: After spending several days together on the trail in Wisconsin, Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan got along well off-stage and had “chemistry” campaigning together. Which leads to the inevitable question, will Romney — if he’s the nominee — pick Ryan to be his running mate? Campaign staff deny there’s even a shortlist, but the two hit it off so well that rumors are swirling.
- Obama talks about 6% unemployment: Speaking to journalists at the White House Wednesday, President Obama named two lagging areas of the economy that are keeping unemployment above 6%: construction and local government. But Congress has been unwilling to put more money into infrastructure projects and aid to state and local government.
- Obama to speak on women and the economy: As both parties vie for women voters, President Obama will speak Friday at a White House forum on women and the economy. The White House will be releasing a report on what the administration has done to “ensure women’s economic security.” Obama recently opened up a wide lead among women voters in key swing states.
- Kaine promotes economic agenda: Democratic Senate candidate Tim Kaine in Virginia began a statewide tour Wednesday to promote his three-pronged economic plan. As with most 2012 races, the economy looks to be front and center in Virginia.
- Newt and Callista are in Delaware, Romney in PA: Newt and Callista Gingrich will continue to campaign in Delaware, where they’ll collectively hold 4 events there Thursday. Mitt Romney has two events planned in Pennsylvania.
