Here are 10 things you need to know today.
- Paul Ryan to endorse Romney: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the chairman of the House Budget Committee and architect of the Republican budget plan, will endorse former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination, according to reports. Buzzfeed reports that in exchange for the endorsement, Romney had to publicly endorse Ryan’s budget, which privatizes Medicare while making other cuts to domestic programs and cuts taxes, all of which Ryan argues will spur growth.
- DNC immediately hits Romney on Ryan plan: Hours after news broke that Ryan would endorse Romney, the Democratic National Committee was out with a web ad depicting the “‘bro-mance’ between Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan, whose extreme budget proposal Romney has fully embraced.” Watch it here.
- Senate candidates steer clear of Ryan plan: Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT), a candidate for Senate in his home state against Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) voted against the Ryan budget plan yesterday, while Florida Senate candidate Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) didn’t vote. Nevada Senate candidate Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) released a statement after her vote against the legislation: “This proposal to kill Medicare by turning it over to private insurance companies is nearly identical to the one Senator Heller proclaimed he was proud to vote for nearly one year ago. It was wrong to slash Medicare benefits for struggling Nevada seniors then, and it’s just as wrong now.”
- Ad hits Obama on gas prices: A new ad from conservative group American Energy Alliance attacks President Obama on a host of energy issues, including gas prices, subsidies for green energy and the Keystone XL pipeline. The ad is playing in New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Michigan according to the AP. Watch it here.
- Former President George H. W. Bush formally endorses Romney: Former President George H.W. Bush formally announced his support for Mitt Romney at a press event in Houston, Texas, yesterday. “This is a man who knows from the ground up — and from the top down — the meaning of responsibility in exercising leadership in our democracy. I am proud to have him as my mentor,” Romney said in a statement.
- Santorum makes Reagan connection in California: Romney’s chief rival for the GOP nomination, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, campaigned at the Jelly Belly Jellybean factory in Fairfield, Calif. The company’s jelly beans were a favorite of Republican icon President Ronald Reagan, and Santorum sought to make the connection in a speech there. “We must elect a leader whose conservative principles are etched in stone and will not bend on important national security issues. We need a leader like Reagan who believes that we achieve peace through strength and stand firm in that conviction,” Santorum said in remarks.
- Maryland primary looks strong for Romney: Romney looks very strong in the Maryland Republican primary, according to a new poll of state GOP voters from Rasmussen. Romney gets a near majority at 45 percent, while Santorum lags behind at 28 percent. Romney has consistently been the top choice in Eastern states during the GOP nomination process.
- Santorum fundraising off of swearing at NYT reporter: Santorum continues to use a tense moment in which he swore at New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny as a point of pride on the campaign trail. In a fundraising email that went out Thursday night, Santorum’s camp said, “In just the past four days, we won the Lousiana primary, received national attention for calling out the New York Times, and received kind words of support from Governor Sarah Palin.”
- Another poll on gay marriage in North Carolina: Elon University will release a poll on state residents’ opinion on a state constitutional amendment that bans gay marriage, which faces a referendum vote. A Public Policy Polling (D) survey on the issue showed wide support for the initiative in the state.
- Santorum and Gingrich in Wisconsin: Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will both be in Wisconsin Friday, Santorum heading to three stops in the western part of the state in the morning before heading north to Weston, Wisconsin for a fish fry at a bowling alley, a tradition in the state. Gingrich will host a rally in Green Bay.
