CNN Poll: Obama holds 7-point lead over Romney  —  Washington (CNN) - Mitt Romney's unfavorable rating is up, most Americans think the Republican presidential challenger favors the rich, and it appears the number of people who believe that the economy will not get better if Romney is elected …

Obama camp acknowledges knowing man's story (Updated)  —  Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki acknowledged Thursday that the campaign was no longer pleading ignorance about the story of a man who has appeared in both a super PAC ad and a campaign ad.  —  “No one is denying he was in one of our campaign ads.

Why Not Paul Ryan?  —  Romney can win a big election over big issues.  He'll lose a small one.  —  The whispering over Mitt Romney's choice of a running mate is getting louder, and along with it we are being treated to the sotto voce angst of the GOP establishment: Whatever else Mitt does …

Conservative Group Launches “Dump Romney” Campaign  —  “Disgusting and highly inappropriate,” says Ron Paul's campaign manager.  Also a bit late in the game.  —  A group called “Jews and Christians Together,” which backed Rick Santorum in the Republican primary, is sending a memo …

Obama: Let's repeat auto industry success with every manufacturing industry  —  PUEBLO, Colo. - President Obama, while villifying Mitt Romney for opposing the auto industry bailout, bragged about the success of his decision to provide government assistance and said he now wants to see every manufacturing industry come roaring back.

Super PAC Attack Ad Depicts Allen West Punching White Women  —  The American Sunrise PAC has launched its first attack ad against Congressman Allen West.  The political action committee was founded by the father of Congressman West's general election opponent Democrat Patrick Murphy.

State charges 4 McCotter ex-staffers with forging petitions, faking signatures in election fiasco  —  Four staffers of former U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter, R-Livonia were charged today in connection with the false nominating petitions that led to McCotter's departure from Congress.

Exclusive Romney Interview: On Humility and Tax Returns  —  Much of the case you make to voters is that you're a successful entrepreneur and a successful executive, and thus you'll make a successful president.  Why were you so successful as a businessman?  —  Well, I had the privilege …

City officials pull the plug on vibrator giveaway, leaving thousands dissatisfied  —  They must have rubbed Mayor Bloomberg the wrong way.  —  City officials pulled the plug on a vibrator giveaway by the Trojan condom company yesterday, disappointing potentially thousands of pleasure-seeking women …

Democrats' Platform Draft Gets Specific On LGBT Workplace Nondiscrimination Bill  —  The platform draft addresses both sexual orientation and gender identity in its support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.  It does not, as the ACLU had hoped, endorse a specific LGBT nondiscrimination bill focused on students.

Joe Walsh Accused Of Racial Insensitivity For Referring To Obama As ‘Son’  —  Joe Walsh Accused Of Racial Insensitivity For Referring To Obama As ‘Son’  —  Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), who recently made news for criticizing his opponent's willingness to talk about her military service, has a new target: President Obama.

Trump Declines Prime Time GOP Convention Speech  —  More ways to share...  Mixx  —  Stumbled  —  LinkedIn  —  Vine  —  Buzzflash  —  Newstrust  —  Technocrati  —  Forward Article  —  Donald Trump has declined an offer to deliver a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention …

Harry Reid's Mitt Romney Tax Source A Republican, Says Top Aide … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Elections 2012, Harry Reid , Mitt Romney, Elections 2012, Video, Mitt Romney Tax Returns, Harry Reid Mitt Romney, Harry Reid Mitt Romney Tax Returns, Harry Reid Source, Mitt Romney 2012 …

Man with Bible threatens to rape woman during ‘Gay Day’ in Michigan  —  Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan say that there was nothing they could do after Bible-preaching protesters threatened to rape and murder pro-LGBT activists at a “Gay Day” event over the weekend.

Landslide on the Horizon  —  When I read Nate Silver, Sean Trende, Charlie Cook, Jay Cost, and the others who make a profession of political prognostication, I pay close attention to their attempts to dissect the polling data and predict what is to come.  But I also take everything that they say with a considerable grain of salt.

Modern-day McCarthyism regarding Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin  —  There are frequent bouts of McCarthyism in the capital, but the latest version has the special touch of being delivered by a guy named McCarthy.  —  This McCarthy isn't your average Joe: Andrew McCarthy's work is providing …

The Journalistic Mind  —  Mark Halperin of Time provides some important insight into the behavior of his colleagues  —  Few media behaviors are more pitiful than the intense fixation over the “Veepstakes”: a word that is at once nauseatingly vapid and yet incomparably valuable as a symbol …

Young in G.O.P. Erase the Lines on Social Issues  —  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Hoagland, the county leader of a group of young North Carolina Republicans, is busy trying to ramp up enthusiasm for Mitt Romney at the grass-roots level.  So there are a few things he avoids mentioning …