Home Is Where The Heat Is

Romney Makes A Birther Joke…Maybe?

Mitt Romney today campaigned in Michigan, his home state, where he made this joke - "No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate," said Romney. "They know that this is the place that we were born and raised."

On first listen, it sounds like Mitt Romney is taking a shot at President Obama over his place of birth, which has been questioned by right-wing activists commonly referred to as "birthers."

That's what Obama For America thought. This was Obama's campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt's response - "Governor Romney has embraced the most strident voices in his party instead of standing up to them. It's one thing to give the stage in Tampa to Donald Trump, Sheriff Arpaio, and Kris Kobach. But Governor Romney's decision to directly enlist himself in the birther movement should give pause to any rational voter across America."

But, according to Romney advisor Kevin Madden, it was all a misunderstanding - "The governor has always said, and has repeatedly said, he believes the president was born here in the United States," said Madden. "He was only referencing that Michigan, where he is campaigning today, is the state where he himself was born and raised."

You decide. http://abcn.ws/QzHG8o

Let's All Go to the Movies? The Anti-Obama documentary "2016: Obama's America" has grossed more than $2.6 million since it was first released in Houston last month. The film is now the eleventh highest-grossing political documentary in history. Full story by Amy Bingham http://abcn.ws/RKwCwl

From Junior Prom King to Homecoming King - Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan will return to Janesville, Wisconsin, ahead of next week's Republican National Convention for a send-off rally at Janesville Craig High School.

It's a great time to look at Paul Ryan through the years again - http://abcn.ws/PjaBzg

Another Factoid - Paul Ryan Favors Asparagus Over Cake, and Obama - http://abcn.ws/R79HVB

Romney and Ryan: Keep the Bromance, Lose the Matching Shirts - After landing in Michigan this afternoon, Romney was joined on his charter plane by Ryan, who appeared to be wearing an identical shirt - a white dress shirt with a light-blue checkered pattern - to Romney. It's a shirt that Ryan and Romney frequently wear on the stump. http://abcn.ws/Sx0s6E

The Tithes That Bind: Romney says his tithing to the Mormon church is why he won't reveal more tax documents http://abcn.ws/TZ4ov2

We Get It, He's Staying: Todd Akin once again affirms he's not dropping out. http://abcn.ws/P9R9c3

Out of the eye of Isaac, but not out of the woods - The forecast in Tampa calls for lots of rain due to Isaac passing to the West. We'll be there with boots on! http://abcn.ws/Qz94TY

For all our RNC coverage in one place, bookmark http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/elections/republican-convention.htm and OTUSnews.com