On the Trail: Aug. 3

Obama and Romney gear up for their national conventions.

Now It's Real - With just 97 days to go before the big events in Tampa and Charlotte, Republican Mitt Romney and President Obama are sharpening their rhetorical knives for fresh attacks. Romney returned to the U.S. this week to the news that he has lost ground in key battleground states. Look for him to try to regain it during the next few weeks, while President Obama tries to maintain his fragile lead. —Joyce Jones (Photos: from left AP Photo/Tony Dejak, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) 

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Now It's Real - With just 97 days to go before the big events in Tampa and Charlotte, Republican Mitt Romney and President Obama are sharpening their rhetorical knives for fresh attacks. Romney returned to the U.S. this week to the news that he has lost ground in key battleground states. Look for him to try to regain it during the next few weeks, while President Obama tries to maintain his fragile lead. —Joyce Jones (Photos: from left AP Photo/Tony Dejak, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) 

Blame the Media - Fresh off of his trip overseas, Romney faces criticism that he is not a nimble politician. He offended the British by questioning whether they were prepared to host the Olympics and the Palestinians by suggesting that they were culturally, and therefore economically, inferior to the Israelis. Romney is blaming the media for focusing too much on his gaffe-filled trip. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

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Blame the Media - Fresh off of his trip overseas, Romney faces criticism that he is not a nimble politician. He offended the British by questioning whether they were prepared to host the Olympics and the Palestinians by suggesting that they were culturally, and therefore economically, inferior to the Israelis. Romney is blaming the media for focusing too much on his gaffe-filled trip. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Not Ready - "At every level, this trip has shown more of how Mitt Romney is not ready for the Oval Office," said former Obama chief of staff, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I don’t know how he’ll handle the head of state job. He’s made a mess of being a tourist."(Photo: REUTERS /CHRIS KLEPONIS /LANDOV)

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Not Ready - "At every level, this trip has shown more of how Mitt Romney is not ready for the Oval Office," said former Obama chief of staff, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I don’t know how he’ll handle the head of state job. He’s made a mess of being a tourist."(Photo: REUTERS /CHRIS KLEPONIS /LANDOV)

App vs. App - Both Romney and Obama unveiled smartphone apps this week. Romney's promises users that they'll be the first to learn who he nominates to be his Number Two. Obama's app helps users find local campaign events and get the latest campaign communications. On Tuesday, according to Apple's ranking of the top free apps, Romney's was number 14, far above Obama's at 165. (Photos: from left courtesy of mittromney.com, courtesy of barackobama.com)

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App vs. App - Both Romney and Obama unveiled smartphone apps this week. Romney's promises users that they'll be the first to learn who he nominates to be his Number Two. Obama's app helps users find local campaign events and get the latest campaign communications. On Tuesday, according to Apple's ranking of the top free apps, Romney's was number 14, far above Obama's at 165. (Photos: from left courtesy of mittromney.com, courtesy of barackobama.com)

Back on the Bus - Next week Romney will embark on a second campaign bus tour to Washington, D.C., and Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. The theme of the tour will be Romney's vision for the economy.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Back on the Bus - Next week Romney will embark on a second campaign bus tour to Washington, D.C., and Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. The theme of the tour will be Romney's vision for the economy.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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To Thine Ownself... - Obama set the gold standard for presidential campaign fundraising in 2008, but in 2012 he will likely be outraised by rival Romney. To encourage supporters to help him catch up, the president donated $5,000 to his own campaign. "I want to make sure that folks know I'm not just talking the talk, I'm walking the walk," he said in a video of himself making the campaign contribution to himself. (Photo: Courtesy of BarackObama.com)

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To Thine Ownself... - Obama set the gold standard for presidential campaign fundraising in 2008, but in 2012 he will likely be outraised by rival Romney. To encourage supporters to help him catch up, the president donated $5,000 to his own campaign. "I want to make sure that folks know I'm not just talking the talk, I'm walking the walk," he said in a video of himself making the campaign contribution to himself. (Photo: Courtesy of BarackObama.com)

Noooo!!! - "Mr. President, don't do it! Don't hit the donate button; don't give you your email address. You'll end up spamming the living [expletive] out of you," joked late-night comedian Jon Stewart of Obama’s donation to his own campaign. "It'll run you $10,000 just to get a photo-op with yourself. What do you get for $5,000? The only thing you get is Biden says your full name in a single belch." (Photo: Courtesy of Comedy Central)

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Noooo!!! - "Mr. President, don't do it! Don't hit the donate button; don't give you your email address. You'll end up spamming the living [expletive] out of you," joked late-night comedian Jon Stewart of Obama’s donation to his own campaign. "It'll run you $10,000 just to get a photo-op with yourself. What do you get for $5,000? The only thing you get is Biden says your full name in a single belch." (Photo: Courtesy of Comedy Central)

Damage Control - Seeking to dim the memory of his overseas trip, Romney spoke in Colorado on Aug. 2, where he unveiled a plan to strengthen the middle class and "a presidential accountability scorecard" of promises Obama made when he accepted the 2008 Democratic nomination in the battleground state.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Damage Control - Seeking to dim the memory of his overseas trip, Romney spoke in Colorado on Aug. 2, where he unveiled a plan to strengthen the middle class and "a presidential accountability scorecard" of promises Obama made when he accepted the 2008 Democratic nomination in the battleground state.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)