New York Times: “Presidents running for re-election typically boast of programs they created, people they helped or laws they signed. They talk about rising test scores or falling deficits or expanding job rolls. President Obama is increasingly taking the unusual route of bragging about how he killed a man.”

“To be sure, that man was Osama bin Laden, and he is not mourned among either the president’s supporters or detractors. But in the days leading up to the first anniversary of the raid that finally caught up to the Qaeda mastermind, Mr. Obama has made a concerted, if to some indecorous, effort to trumpet the killing as perhaps the central accomplishment of his presidency.”

Mitt Romney had some advice for students at Ohio’s Otterbein University, telling them that if they want to start a business or pay for their education, they should just borrow from their parents.

Said Romney: “Take a shot, go for it, take a risk, get the education, borrow money if you have to from your parents, start a business.”

[Read more…]

“The dullest audience I have ever spoken to. Just sitting there, staring at me. Pretend you like me!”

— Vice President Joe Biden, quoted by NBC News, speaking to a crowd at a fundraiser.

Sarah Palin endorsed Richard Mourdock (R) in his GOP primary challenge of Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN):

“Senator Lugar’s 36 years of service as a Senator are appreciated, but it’s time for the torch to pass to conservative leadership in Washington that promises to rein in government spending now.”

The Indiana primary is on May 8.

Karl Rove-backed American Crossroads is up with a video which strings together clips of President Obama dancing, singing, drinking a beer and “slow-jamming” the news.

The tagline: “After 4 years of a celebrity president, is your life any better?”

First Read: “The ad picks up where John McCain left off with his Biggest Celebrity in the World ad, a narrative that was starting to take hold… until McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate.”

[Read more…]

Even though Newt Gingrich has announced he’ll end his presidential campaign next week, the New York Times reports he’s still campaigning.

“One of the quirky indulgences of modern campaigns is that candidates announce their intent to run for president on multiple occasions — essentially, stunts to milk media attention. They announce the formation of exploratory committees, announce that they intend to run, announce that they are actually running, etc. Ever the innovator, Mr. Gingrich has applied that ritual to quitting.”