Messina writes Rhoades on Romney taxes  —  Seeking to make the most out of the renewed public attention on Mitt Romney's personal tax returns, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina has penned a public letter to Romney manager Matt Rhoades, pledging not to pressure Romney to release more than five years …

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan pursue united front strategy  —  Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan plan to campaign together again sooner than aides had originally planned, likely twice next week, as part of a new offensive to take on the touchy issue of Medicare, campaign officials tell POLITICO.

And Playing the Role of Paul Ryan ...  Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, has emerged as the choice to play Representative Paul D. Ryan in mock debates with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.  —  People familiar with the planning …

CNN Electoral Map: Wisconsin moves to true “toss up”  —  (CNN) - CNN Thursday turned the important battleground state of Wisconsin from “lean Obama” to true “toss up” on its electoral map, in the wake of Mitt Romney's naming of House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, a seven term congressman from the Badger state, as his running mate.