Interesting that President Obama’s stumping in Florida with 2 weeks to go. Apparently, the Obama campaign must believe it’s still neck and neck there. That’s great news, as Florida is a must-win for Romney, not so much for Obama (although it would be great to win it, certainly, Obama doesn’t need it to get to 270 electoral votes).

From the Kaine campaign:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2012 CONTACT: Kaine for Virginia Press Office (804) 359-7106 press@kaineforva.com   RICHMOND FREE PRESS: WE'RE FOR KAINE “Throughout his remarkable 18-year political career, we have strongly endorsed the candidacies of Tim Kaine.” “…[Mr.Kaine] has significantly built on the Holton legacy by uncommonly standing up for equal rights, along with social and economic justice.”  We're for Kaine By: Richmond Free Press Editorial Board Throughout his remarkable 18-year political career, we have strongly endorsed the candidacies of Tim Kaine.   When he first ran for the Richmond City Council in 1994, we were there for the freshman candidate in whom we saw much promise. He was elected in 1994 from the city’s 2nd District and was re-elected three more times.   He also was elected in 1998 to the ceremonial office of mayor of the majority black council, with our endorsement based on his qualifications and what we thought best for the council and the city at that time.   He stepped down in September 2001 as mayor and councilman after winning the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, a position that he won on the ticket with now U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, who won the governorship.   The Free Press endorsed Mr. Kaine during each one of his victorious campaigns.   We are proud of these endorsements. That pride is escalated by our confidence that he will continue to build on the courageous legacy of A. Linwood Holton Jr., his father-in-law who, in 1970, became the first Republican governor since Reconstruction. The editor of the Free Press, then editor of the Richmond Afro-American, played a large role in persuading the leadership of the largely Democratic Richmond Crusade for Voters to back candidate Holton who, against the bitter opposition of white segregationists in both the Democratic and Republican parties, stood up courageously for racial justice. An example: Gov. Holton and his wife, “Jinks,” decided in 1970 to enroll their four children in the majority-black Richmond Public Schools.   The governor even escorted his daughter, Tayloe, to a previously allblack school in the East End in still segregated Richmond, where there remained strong opposition to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision that outlawed segregation in public schools.   While we have not agreed with Mr. Kaine on all occasions, we still feel that he, a former civil rights lawyer, has significantly built on the Holton legacy by uncommonly standing up for equal rights, along with social and economic justice. One of his most unforgettable achievements: His becoming the first governor outside of Illinois to endorse Barack Obama for president in the historic 2008 presidential campaign. One of our most disturbing disagreements with Tim Kaine is that, under his gubernatorial leadership, he often said that Virginia was the “Best State to Do Business,” although black-owned businesses were and still remain outrageously discriminated against.   Gov. Kaine, as most voters know, is now involved in another political campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Specifically, his opponent is Republican George Allen, whose disgraceful record clearly shows that he, along with the Cantor and Romney types, are only concerned about getting President Obama out of the White House and turning the clock back on hard-earned civil rights gains.   The Allen mentality is not a surprise. It is an extension of his racist record, including the demeaning “macaca” utterance he made in his unsuccessful 2006 re-election campaign, his glorification of Confederate flags and his deplorable opposition to a public holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.   Mr. Kaine staunchly rejects this Confederate brand of bigotry.   Again, without reservation, we endorse Tim Kaine for the U.S. Senate to succeed Democrat Jim Webb, who is retiring for personal reasons.   Unlike former Gov. Allen, former Gov. Tim Kaine doesn’t need boots and a wad of chewing tobacco to identify with Virginians, their needs and aspirations.   Tim Kaine’s record substantiates this. He once again has earned our endorsement.   He also deserves the opportunity to extend the glowing legacy of our longtime, good friend A. Linwood Holton.

FACT CHECK: Romney Repeats Debunked Claim About Apologizing for America

Tonight, Mitt Romney once again repeated his long-debunked claim that President Obama apologized for America. But as independent fact-checkers have exhaustively said over and over again, the “apology tour” never happened.

FACT-CHECKERS REPEATEDLY DEBUNKED ROMNEY’S LIE ABOUT AN OBAMA APOLOGY TOUR THAT NEVER HAPPENED

Washington Post Fact Check: Romney’s “Claim That Obama Repeatedly Has Apologized For The United States Is Not Borne Out By The Facts…The Apology Tour Never Happened.” “The claim that Obama repeatedly has apologized for the United States is not borne out by the facts, especially if his full quotes are viewed in context …  Note to GOP speechwriters and campaign ad makers: The apology tour never happened.” [Washington Post Fact Checker, 2/22/11]

Tampa Bay Times’ Politifact: Romney’s Claim That Obama Apologized For America In His Speeches Was False; “There’s Not A Full-Throated, Sincere Apology In The Bunch.” “Here, we're checking Romney's statement that Obama ‘has apologized for what he deems to be American arrogance, dismissiveness, and derision’ and a host of other reasons. If you think American presidents should never admit to any sort of error at any time, you might find yourself in philosophical agreement with Romney's criticisms. We set out to discover whether Obama really had apologized in his speeches, and what he was apologizing for. But in our review of his words, we came up short. Yes, there is criticism in some of his speeches, but it's typically leavened by praise for the United States and its ideals, and often he mentions other countries and how they have erred as well. There's not a full-throated, sincere apology in the bunch. And so we rate Romney's statement False.” [Politifact, 3/15/10]

Tampa Bay Times’ Politifact: Romney’s “Pants On Fire” Attack Claiming Obama Went On An Apology Tour Was “A Ridiculous Charge.” “On the substance of Romney’s charge, we believe that what we wrote in March 2010 still stands. While Obama's speeches contained some criticisms of past U.S. actions, those passages were typically leavened by praise for the United States and its ideals, and he frequently mentioned how other countries have erred as well. We found not a single, full-throated apology in the bunch. And on the new angle he added — that the trips were intended to offer the president a forum to apologize to other countries — we think it’s a ridiculous charge. There’s a clear difference between changing policies and apologizing, and Obama didn’t do the latter. So we rate Romney’s statement Pants on Fire.” [Tampa Bay Times’ Politifact, 6/3/11]

Tampa Bay Times’ Politifact Debunked Romney’s Apology Tour Attack A Third Time, Giving It Another “Pants On Fire” Rating After He Repeated His “Ridiculous Charge” That President Obama Had Gone On An Apology Tour.   [Tampa Bay Times’ Politifact, 9/22/11]

New York Times: President Obama Has Offered “A Robust Defense Of American Policies.” “It is true that early in his term, Mr. Obama promised to abandon policies of his predecessor, George W. Bush, on issues like the military prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and a foreign policy in Iraq and elsewhere that Mr. Obama described as unilateral. But it is hard to find evidence that Mr. Obama ever said he was “sorry” for the United States. And in some speeches, notably after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Mr. Obama offered a robust defense of American policies, including the war in Afghanistan.” [New York Times, 09/22/11]

PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS DEFENDED AMERICAN VALUES SINCE THE DAY HE TOOK OFFICE

President Obama Said Americans “Will Not Apologize For Our Way Of Life, Nor Will We Waver In Its Defense.” “We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense.  And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken — you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.” [Inaugural Address, 1/20/09]

President Obama: America “Will Never Apologize For Our Way Of Life; We Will Never Waver In Its Defense.”  “Just as you protected America, we’re going to pass our country to the next generation, stronger and safer and more respected in the world.  So if anyone tries to tell you that our greatness has passed, that America is in decline, you tell them this:  Just like the 20th century, the 21st is going to be another great American Century.  For we are Americans, blessed with the greatest form of government ever devised by man, a democracy dedicated to freedom and committed to the ideals that still light the world.  We will never apologize for our way of life; we will never waver in its defense.  We are a nation that freed millions and turned adversaries into allies.  We are the Americans who defended the peace and turned back aggression.  We are Americans who welcome our global responsibilities and our global leadership.  The United States has been, and will remain, the one indispensable nation in world affairs.” [Remarks at VFW Convention, 7/23/12]

President Obama Called For “Putting Aside The Tired Notion That Says [American] Influence Has Waned Or That America Is In Decline.”“Let’s start by putting aside the tired notion that says our influence has waned or that America is in decline.  We’ve heard that talk before.  During the Great Depression, when millions were unemployed and some believed that other economic models offered a better way, there were those who predicted the end of American capitalism.  Guess what, they were wrong.  We fought our way back.  We created the largest middle class in history and the most prosperous economy the world has ever known.” [Remarks at Air Force Academy Commencement, 5/23/12]

President Obama: “The United States Has Been, And Always Will Be, The One Indispensable Nation In World Affairs. It’s One Of The Many Examples Of Why America Is Exceptional.” “After all this, you would think folks understand a basic truth — never bet against the United States of America.  (Applause.)  And one of the reasons is that the United States has been, and will always be, the one indispensable nation in world affairs.  It's one of the many examples of why America is exceptional.  It’s why I firmly believe that if we rise to this moment in history, if we meet our responsibilities, then — just like the 20th century — the 21st century will be another great American Century.  That’s the future I see.  That’s the future you can build.”  [Remarks at Air Force Academy Commencement, 5/23/12]

President Obama: The Founding Fathers’ Ideals “Still Light The World, And We Will Not Give Them Up For Expedience Sake.” “As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.  Our Founding Fathers — (applause) — our Founding Fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man — a charter expanded by the blood of generations.  Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience sake.” [Remarks on the Death of Osama Bin Laden, 5/1/11]

President Obama: I Will Never Apologize For Defending American Interests. “Now, like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests.” [Remarks at UNGA, 9/23/09]

FACT CHECK: Romney Stands Shoulder To Shoulder With Cheney, Bush

As President Obama just said, the last thing we can afford is to go back to the foreign and economic policies of Dick Cheney and George W. Bush. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney called President George W. Bush a “good economic steward” and praised Vice President Dick Cheney for his “wisdom and judgment.”

ROMNEY PRAISED CHENEY AS A MAN OF “WISDOM AND JUDGMENT”

Romney: Former Vice President Cheney Is “A Man Of Wisdom And Judgment And He Could Have Been President Of The United States… That The Kind Of Person I’d Like To Have.” “In what was a free-wheeling town hall that felt more like a rally, Mitt Romney, with shirt sleeves rolled up and pacing the stage, seemed to be able to do no wrong — receiving generous applause, even as he praised one of the most controversial political figures in recent American history: former Vice President Dick Cheney. ‘I think it was last weekend I was watching C-SPAN, and I saw Vice President Dick Cheney and he was being asked questions about a whole host of issues — following 9/11, the affairs in various countries in the world. And I listened to him speak. and said whether you agree or disagree with him, this a man of wisdom and judgment, and he could have been president of the United States,’ Romney told the crowd to their loud approval. ‘That's the kind of person I'd like to have —  a person of wisdom and judgment.’’ [First Read, MSNBC,9/14/11]

Romney Said Former Vice President Cheney Is “An Individual Who Has The Confidence Of The American People” That He Could Be President. ROMNEY: “I think that's pretty straightforward. I listened to the vice president speak the other day, and his thoughtfulness and his deliberation and his intelligence shown through. I remember watching the debates, the vice presidential debates and between Joe Lieberman and the vice president, Dick Cheney, and I thought both of those men were men of substance and thoughtfulness and experience. Dick Cheney served in the Department of Defense, he served with prior presidents. You know, I know he's criticized by many, many people, but you do want in the vice presidency an individual who has the confidence of the American people that that person could be president, and I think Dick Cheney was certainly a man of that character.” [Situation Room, CNN, 9/15/11]  

Andrew Sullivan: Electing Romney Would Be “A Return To Cheneyism In Foreign Policy.” [Andrew Sullivan, Daily Beast, 6/18/12]

Reuters: “A Long-Time Republican Activist Who Has Been In Contact With Some Of The Romney Camp's More Centrist Elements Said That Moderates ‘Are Very Concerned About The Fact That If Romney Needs To Call Anyone, His Instinct Is To Call The Cheney-Ites.’” [Reuters, 6/28/12]

Think Progress: “With Their Closely Mirrored Language On These Controversial Issues, It’s No Surprise That Romney Said Last Year That Cheney Was A ‘Man Of Wisdom And Judgment.’” “That Sort Of Lavish Praise And The Fundraising Relationship Could Portend More War And Strife For The U.S. In A Potential Romney Administration.” [Think Progress, 7/12/12]

ROMNEY’S ECONOMIC PLAN: DO JUST WHAT GEORGE BUSH DID

Romney Said Of His Economic Plan “The First Thing To Do In A Tough Economy [Just] As George Bush Did When He Was In A Recession.”[American Morning, CNN, 1/8/08]

Washington Post’s Ezra Klein: “Romney Can’t Explain How His Policies Differ From That Of George W. Bush.” [Ezra Klein, Washington Post, 7/27/12]

Romney Said “Yes” George W. Bush Was A Good Economic Steward. Fineman: “Do you think George W. Bush has been a good economic steward?” Romney: “Yes, I think George Bush has faced some extraordinary challenges that have tested his mettle. The first was a declining economy when he came in, which shortly thereafter got hit by 9/11 and the Internet bubble burst. And he was able to take swift action to get the economy to turn around … I likewise think that in the current situation, with us having been hit by the subprime-mortgage crisis spreading throughout our economy, that he has moved quickly to reach agreement with Congress to put in place a stimulus plan.” [Romney Interview with Howard Fineman, Newsweek, 2/4/08]