Presidential races

Mitt Romney's campaign is seeking to pin blame on President Obama for the high unemployment rate among Hispanics.

"Under President Obama, more Hispanics have struggled to find work than at any other time on record," the campaign said in a statement on Friday.

The release notes an increase in the Hispanic unemployment rate from 10 percent in January 2009, when Obama took office, to 10.3 percent last month.

The campaign also notes a drop in the median household income for Hispanics from 2008 to 2010 and an increase in the poverty rate.

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Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Thursday that Mitt Romney was reticent to discuss his Mexican heritage on the campaign trail because his father was “born on a polygamy commune in Mexico.”

Schweitzer's comments came in the middle of a discussion on presidential swing states, when the governor argued Romney would have a “tall order to position Hispanics to vote for him."

When Ben Jacobs of the Daily Beast noted that was ironic because Romney's father had been born in Mexico, Schweitzer said Romney couldn't mention his heritage because it carried political liability.

He said he ate escargot in France but nothing "particularly unusual"

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) has endorsed Mitt Romney, making him the latest GOP leader to throw his support to the likely nominee.

"After a long primary, it is time for the Republican Party to come together and support the candidate who will defeat President Obama. That is why I am proud to support Mitt Romney," Kyl said in a statement released by Romney's campaign. "President Obama’s record is full of broken promises and failed policies. Mitt Romney will restore American greatness at home and abroad. He has a bold economic plan that will create jobs and help middle class families prosper."

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Mitt Romney collected more than $12.5 million in March and has $10.1 million in the bank.

American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS have combined to raise $100 million since the beginning of 2011, a group spokesman told The Hill on Friday. 

It's a huge haulf for the GOP-affiliated outside groups that makes even most presidential fundraising look paltry by comparison, and highlights the influence the two groups are likely to have in this year's election.

The figure includes $49 million raised in the last three months, a sign that the groups should have no problem hitting their targeted goal of raising and spending $250 million on the election.

American Crossroads, the super-PAC side of the group, has nearly $25 million cash on hand, more than double the amount Mitt Romney has in the bank. Crossroads GPS, which is technically an issue advocacy group that does not have to say who its donors are, did not divulge how much money it has saved.

The groups are crucial for the GOP: Because Romney is currently at a major cash disadvantage to Obama, the outside groups will have to carry his water on television advertising until he can replenish his coffers. The two groups already went up with a major ad buy criticizing President Obama this month.

They have also spent heavily in Senate races where the GOP has a contested primary, targeting Democratic incumbents to weaken their numbers.

President Obama may have found the one person his supporters would be even more excited to dine with than the president himself: George Clooney.

The Obama campaign announced Thursday a new contest where donors could win a ticket to a May 10 fundraiser with the president at Clooney's Los Angeles home.

"George Clooney is doing his part to help re-elect the President, but he knows that it's grassroots supporters like you who will decide this election," the campaign said in a message to supporters. "That's why he'd like you to invite you to donate for a chance to be a part of this event. Support the campaign with a donation today to be automatically entered to win a spot for you and your guest."

Mitt Romney spoke inside a shuttered Ohio factory Thursday, arguing the closed plant illustrated the failure of President Obama to turn around a stagnant economy.

"Had the president's economic plans worked, it'd be open now. But it's still empty," Romney said of the National Gypsum plant in Lorain, Ohio. "If you want to know where his vision leads, open your eyes. Because we've been living it for the past three years."

The speech came one day after the president also addressed economic issues in the Buckeye State, whose 18 electoral votes will play a crucial role in November's presidential election. A large banner reading "Obama's not working" hung behind Romney across an empty factory floor.

In an interview, Perry said if he decides to run again, he intends to enter the campaign early.

Romney said Obama was looking to scapegoat when he said he wasn’t “born with a silver spoon” in his mouth.