Our take: Gov. Romney’s decision to directly enlist himself in the birther movement should give pause to any rational voter across America.

I welcome the support of the delegates formerly pledged to @RickSantorum. Together we will take back the White House.

Today's a good day to buy one of our Made in the USA mugs—with the President's birth certificate on the back: OFA.BO

“This is personal now”: Republican women on why they’re voting for President Obama. OFA.BO

Some statistics ahead of next week's Republican National Convention:

- The convention will play host to 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates

- The convention will host 15,000 credentialed media (including several journalists from Reuters)

- 50,000 people are expected to flock to Tampa, Florida during the convention

- 150 staff members will "live, dine and shop" in the Tampa Bay area during the convention

(source)

A new low for Mitt Romney: OFA.BO

If you’re looking for the President’s birth certificate, these will come in handy: OFA.BO

Romney birth certificate remark rekindles Obama controversy - Sam Youngman (@samyoungman)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took a dig at President Barack Obama on Friday over his birth certificate in comments that re-ignited a controversy over the Democrat's eligibility to be president.

"No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate," a smiling Romney told a rally of some 7,000 people in his home state of Michigan.

"They know that this is the place that we were born and raised," he said to the laughter of the crowd, speaking alongside his wife, Ann.

Romney's remarks drew a strong rebuke from Obama's team in the tight presidential contest that has become more ill-tempered in recent weeks. They also further obscured Romney's attempts to keep his message focused on jobs.

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RT @peterbakernyt: Out of luck: Those speaking in primetime Monday when nets won't broadcast will be Nikki Haley, Mike Huckabee and Jeb Bush.

In an interview tonight with Scott Pelley on the CBS Evening News (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network, Mitt Romney says his birth certificate comment was not a swipe at President Obama.

Click here to watch the excerpt on CBSNews.com. The transcript is below.

SCOTT PELLEY: You said in a rally today, ‘No one has ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know this is the place we were born and raised.’ Why did you say that?

MITT ROMNEY: Oh, we’re in Michigan, and Ann and I were both born in Detroit. And, of course, a little humor always goes a long way. So, it was great to be home, to be in a place where Ann and I had grown up. And the crowd loved it and got a good laugh.

SCOTT PELLEY: But this was a swipe at the President, and I wonder why you took it.

MITT ROMNEY: No, no, not a swipe. I’ve said throughout the campaign, and before, there’s no question about where he was born. He was born in the U.S. This was fun about us and coming home and humor. You know, we’ve got to have a little humor in a campaign, as well.

RT @NathanWurtzel: For anyone going to Tampa: There will be trackers with cameras outside every strip club. Don't be an idiot.

RT @Reuters: Biden postpones Tampa campaign event next week reut.rs

Re the Romney birther joke: distracted from "doing fine," yes, but somehow doubt that was what campaign intended as the message of the day.

RT @usNWSgov: Remember, a tropical storm is not a single point on a map. High winds, flooding, rough seas can extend 100s of miles from the center. #Isaac

RT @charlesjaco: Mason Dixon MO phone poll of 625 voters taken Wed. & Thurs. McCaskill +9 over Akin. Romney +7 over Obama. 47% think Akin should withdraw.

Tropical Storm #Isaac advisory 17 issued. #Isaac emerging from the coast of haiti go.usa.gov

8 am EDT Tropical Weather Outlook issued. #twoat hurricanes.gov

Death metal, the sound of Tampa, won't be heard at Republican convention
- Andy Sullivan (@andysullivan)

When they convene in Tampa to nominate Mitt Romney for president next week, Republicans will not hear a note from the city's most notable musical exports: death-metal bands such as Deicide and Obituary.

The South Bronx hatched hip-hop and Seattle birthed grunge rock. Tampa gave the world death metal, a boundary-pushing style of heavy rock that features lyrics that can be decidedly anti-Christian.

Some say it's ironic that a party that includes large numbers of religious conservatives would hold its convention in the city that fostered a musical genre known for album titles like "To Hell With God" and "Butchered At Birth."

"It's kind of like having a group called Abstinence for the Sexually Anxious holding its convention in San Francisco," said Steve Huey, a critic at AllMusic.com. "Or a group called Society for the Hatred of Corn deciding to meet up in Iowa."

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It’s up to us to get this country back on track, and @MittRomney is going to provide the leadership our country needs.

Kasich praising Ryan's budget. Must not have got the memo