Obama for America is up with two new ads in Florida and eight other swing states, hitting Mitt Romney’s failed economic policies.

“Mosaic” focuses on Romney’s efforts as Massachusetts governor to balance the budget while pledging to not increase taxes. The ad claims Romney “cut taxes for millionaires like himself” while unleashing “1,000 fee hikes” on things like health-care, milk and school bus rides.

The other spot, “Come and Go” accuses Romney of shipping  jobs overseas.  “As a corporate raider, he shipped jobs to China and Mexico,” the narrator says in the spot. “As governor, he did the same thing, outsourcing state jobs to India.”

'Ovewhelming Response From Supporters'

It took less than five hours for President Barack Obama’s Friday visit to Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus to be handed out due to “overwhelming response from supporters”, according to Eric Jotkoff, a Florida spokesman for Obama.

Why Romney Won't Pick Rubio as VP

First Read: "But here's a little rule of thumb in American politics: If you have to say you're vetting someone, is that someone really under serious consideration? Indeed, despite being the party's rising star and a favorite of the GOP base, the signs always have pointed AGAINST Rubio being Romney's pick.

Why? For starters, he's only been a U.S. senator for a year and a half, and he didn't endorse Romney until late in the GOP primary season. Then there's the opposition research out there on him -- something that the Romney folks who worked for Charlie Crist's 2010 Senate campaign know pretty well:

Rubio charged more than $100,000 to state GOP credit cards, had racked up nearly $1 million in personal debt, and had nearly foreclosed on a home. No doubt that Rubio has plenty of assets (young, Latino, from Florida). But he also carries a lot of risk for the usually risk-averse Romney."

On Wednesday, Rubio endorsed Virginia's George Allen’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Inetl, SAP to Host RNC RNC Convention Golf Event

SAP and Intel have joined forces with D.C.-based veterans to host a charity golf event 'Birdies for the Brave' on Aug. 27 at TPC Tampa Bay during the Republican National Convention. Initially looking to raise a few thousand dollars, the fundraiser is now expected to raise around $1 million in support of veterans in Tampa and across the country, according to a Politico Influence. Honorary co-chairmen for the event include House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. Ari Storch of Artemis Strategies is serving as the event chairman. Other sponsors include the National Association of Home Builders, Amway, the Ford Motor Co., Yamaha, eBay and Bridgestone.

Personnel Note: Veteran Republican spokesperson and strategist Kyle Downey has been named press secretary for the 2012 Republican National Convention. Profile on Downey here.

George Lemieux Drops Out

Former Sen. George LeMieux "abruptly quit Florida's Republican U.S. Senate race on Wednesday, all-but-assuring frontrunner Connie Mack IV the GOP nomination," the Tampa Bay Times reports.

"LeMieux was behind in fundraising, behind in name identification and behind in big-name endorsements when compared to Mack, a sitting congressman from Fort Myers and the son and namesake of former Florida senator."

Kansas Senator Brownback Endorses Dave Weldon in #FLSEN

Rep. Dave Weldon on Wednesday received the endorsement of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback for his Senate bid.

“Dave will be a conservative hero in the US Senate. His expertise, sound principles and strong personal character will make him a uniquely effective advocate for Florida’s values and interests,” Brownback said in a statement released by Weldon’s campaign.

Like Weldon, Brownback was elected to Congress during the Republican Revolution of 1994 and is a champion of conservative social issues.

CHALLENGER TAKES ALLEN WEST TO TASK FOR NOT DEBATING HIM

Republican Congressional candidate Robert Crowder, who is challenging Rep. Allen West in this year’s Republican primary election, is taking the Florida congressman to task for refusing to debate him.

Crowder believes West’s refusal to debate is part of the broken system of radical party politics. “My sole reason for running was to give people a choice in who will represent them in congress,” Crowder said in a campaign release. “The people deserve to hear where we stand on the issues so they can make an informed decision based on a legitimate debate process.  Right now, Mr. West is only offering voters slick television advertisements that he paid a quarter of a million dollars to air.  Voters deserve more than an advertising campaign.”

Sarasota Congressman Must Testify in Lawsuit

Sarasota Congressman Vern Buchanan will have to testify under oath in a lawsuit involving his former partner, who alleged Buchanan was the architect of a plan to violate federal elections laws, reports Mike Deeson of WTSP.

Buchanan lost a bid in court to force the matter to arbitration, which would have allowed him to avoid testifying.

According to The Hill, Buchanan's former business partner alleges that Buchanan was the architect of a plan to violate federal elections laws by soliciting illegal contributions, a potential black eye for the National Republican Congressional Committee's fundraising head. He's also facing an ongoing investigation from the House Ethics Committee.