On the Trail: May 8

Obama’s kicks off campaign; Romney has an awkward moment.

In the Beginning ... - As President Obama officially kicks off his re-election bid, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney receives a tepid endorsement from former rival Rick Santorum. —Joyce Jones(Photos: Scott Olson/Getty Images; MARK MAKELA/Landov)

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In the Beginning ... - As President Obama officially kicks off his re-election bid, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney receives a tepid endorsement from former rival Rick Santorum. —Joyce Jones(Photos: Scott Olson/Getty Images; MARK MAKELA/Landov)

It's On! - President Obama officially kicked off his re-election campaign with a pair of rallies in battleground states Ohio and Virginia. In his speeches, Obama sought to not only defend his record but also to define likely opponent Mitt Romney as an empty suit who hasn’t a clue about the lives and struggles of ordinary Americans.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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It's On! - President Obama officially kicked off his re-election campaign with a pair of rallies in battleground states Ohio and Virginia. In his speeches, Obama sought to not only defend his record but also to define likely opponent Mitt Romney as an empty suit who hasn’t a clue about the lives and struggles of ordinary Americans.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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What Enthusiasm Gap? - After delivering remarks at Ohio State University last Saturday, President Obama waded into the audience to greet supporters who grabbed the opportunity to grasp his hand.(Photo: AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Photo By AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

Michelle Obama's Fired Up - First Lady Michelle Obama helped warm up the crowd before the president spoke on Saturday. “It sounds like you all are already fired up and ready to go,” said Obama to cheers, in an outfit that matched the sea of blue campaign signs rally attendees waved. “Let me tell you, I’m pretty fired up and ready to go myself.”(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Michelle Obama's Fired Up - First Lady Michelle Obama helped warm up the crowd before the president spoke on Saturday. “It sounds like you all are already fired up and ready to go,” said Obama to cheers, in an outfit that matched the sea of blue campaign signs rally attendees waved. “Let me tell you, I’m pretty fired up and ready to go myself.”(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Awkward - At a Cleveland campaign event on May 7, an African-American female supporter posing a question to Mitt Romney said that President Obama should be tried for treason, an assertion the Republican candidate ignored. He drew criticism for not challenging her and prompted comparisons to Sen. John McCain who, in 2008, corrected a woman who said Obama was an Arab and couldn’t be trusted.(Photo: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Awkward - At a Cleveland campaign event on May 7, an African-American female supporter posing a question to Mitt Romney said that President Obama should be tried for treason, an assertion the Republican candidate ignored. He drew criticism for not challenging her and prompted comparisons to Sen. John McCain who, in 2008, corrected a woman who said Obama was an Arab and couldn’t be trusted.(Photo: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Rick Santorum - Rick Santorum is a former U.S. senator and former U.S. representative for the state of Pennsylvania. He was a Republican candidate for president before ending his campaign in April 2012. (Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

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While You Were Sleeping - Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum endorsed Mitt Romney in an email to supporters sent out at 11 p.m. EST on Monday. The former rivals had a sit-down last week so Santorum could assess Romney’s commitment to issues important to conservatives. His lukewarm endorsement appeared in paragraph 13 of the 16-paragraph-long email.(Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

"The Life of Julia" - President Obama’s re-election campaign has created “The Life of Julia,” a slide show that contrasts how government programs — from Head Start to low-interest, federally funded student loans, to a Small Business Administration loan and Social Security — have helped the character move through the different phases of her life and how she’d fare under a Mitt Romney presidency. Republicans, including the Romney campaign, have called it “creepy” and “pathetic.”(Photo: Courtesy Barackobama.com)

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"The Life of Julia" - President Obama’s re-election campaign has created “The Life of Julia,” a slide show that contrasts how government programs — from Head Start to low-interest, federally funded student loans, to a Small Business Administration loan and Social Security — have helped the character move through the different phases of her life and how she’d fare under a Mitt Romney presidency. Republicans, including the Romney campaign, have called it “creepy” and “pathetic.”(Photo: Courtesy Barackobama.com)

Down But Not Out - Texas Rep. Ron Paul knows he’ll never be president, but he still intends to have a voice on the GOP platform at the national convention and is using his delegates as a bargaining chip that may even win him a prime-time speaking slot, ABC News reports.(Photo: REUTERS/Mark Makela)

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Down But Not Out - Texas Rep. Ron Paul knows he’ll never be president, but he still intends to have a voice on the GOP platform at the national convention and is using his delegates as a bargaining chip that may even win him a prime-time speaking slot, ABC News reports.(Photo: REUTERS/Mark Makela)