Romney and Santorum meet Friday, Obama campaigns Saturday, plus more to watch for this weekend in politics

— -- Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have a private meeting Friday in Pittsburgh, Pa. Santorum's agenda is expected to include assurances that conservatives and tea party Republicans will be represented by the Romney campaign. The outcome no doubt will influence the tone and timing of a Santorum endorsement.

No public Romney-Santorum appearance is scheduled, but look for reports on what goes on behind the closed doors.

President Barack Obama holds his first official campaign rallies of the 2012 election Saturday in the battleground states of Ohio and Virginia — both of which he won in 2008. He will start the day at Ohio State University in Columbus and wrap up at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama will be with him.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who campaigned with Romney in Virginia over the past two days, holds a press conference Friday on Obama's Saturday rally. Don't expect McDonnell to roll out the welcome mat.

Obama also will be in Virginia on Friday to talk about keeping interest rates low on federally subsidized student loans. He and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visit Washington-Lee High School in Arlington to speak with juniors and graduating seniors and their parents.

And then there is: The April jobless rate comes out Friday. The monthly figure is always good for political spin no matter if it's up, down or unchanged.

And this: Sunday marks six months before the presidential election.

Sources: Yahoo! News reporter Chris Moody, Associated Press

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