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.

MSNBC's Touré: Romney Engaging In The ‘Niggerization’ Of Obama  —  On Thursday's edition of MSNBC's The Cycle the group discussed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's assertion that President Obama should “take [his] campaign of division and anger and hate back to Chicago.”

Mitt Romney paid taxes at a rate of at least 13 percent.  And he's proud to say so.  —  Can we stand back and pause a short minute to take in the spectacle of a man who wants to be President of The United States, who wants us to seriously regard him as a paragon of the American civic ideal …

Letter from Jim Messina to Matt Rhoades  —  Dear Matt:  —  I am writing to ask again that the Governor release multiple years of tax returns, but also to make an offer that should address his concerns about the additional disclosures.  Governor Romney apparently fears that the more he offers …

SPLC: Family Research Council License-to-Kill Claim ‘Outrageous’  —  Editor's Note: The following statement may be attributed to Mark Potok, Senior Fellow of the Southern Poverty Law Center and editor of its Intelligence Report and Hatewatch blog.  —  Yesterday's attack on the Family Research Council …

White House says Obama will stick with Biden as running mate  —  President Obama has no intention of getting rid of Vice President Biden as his running mate, the White House said Thursday.  —  Republicans are being “ridiculous” and are trying to “distract attention” with their focus …

How I became George Obama's ‘brother’  —  A few days ago I received a call from a man I recently met named George.  He was a bit flustered, and soon informed me that his young son was sick with a chest condition.  He pleaded with me to send him $1,000 to cover the medical bills.

Paul Ryan Set to Appear With Mom at World's Largest Retirement Community, Defend Medicare Plan  —  WARREN, Ohio—Paul Ryan is headed to a Florida retirement community with his mother on Saturday to make his argument about the need to change Medicare for future generations.  Ryan's mother is in her late 70s.

Serial Fraud Kept Congressman in Office  —  A new Washington Post poll found that 74 percent of Americans support having voters show ID at the polls, and a full 81 percent think voter fraud is a problem.  —  They have reason to be concerned.  This month, four staffers for former Michigan …

Exclusive: White House studying potential oil reserve release  —  (Reuters) - The White House is “dusting off old plans” for a potential release of oil reserves to dampen rising gasoline prices and prevent high energy costs from undermining the success of Iran sanctions, a source with knowledge of the situation said on Thursday.

New York Democrats Skipping Convention for, Well, You Name It  —  ALBANY — Representative Timothy H. Bishop of Long Island is visiting the Rocky Point Civic Association.  Representative Kathy Hochul of Erie County is meeting with small-business owners.  And Representative Bill Owens …