On the Trail: May 24

Romney fills campaign coffers, Obama sharpens attacks.

Obama vs Mitt Romney - Mitt Romney has spent the past several days filling up his campaign war chest at a series of fundraisers. He also released his first general election TV ad, highlighting the top three items on his to-do list if he wins in November. Meanwhile President Obama’s team has been sharpening attacks against their Republican rival, slamming Romney’s tenure as head of Bain Capital and the Massachusetts state legislature.–Joyce Jones (Photos from left: REUTERS/Larry Downing,  Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

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Obama vs Mitt Romney - Mitt Romney has spent the past several days filling up his campaign war chest at a series of fundraisers. He also released his first general election TV ad, highlighting the top three items on his to-do list if he wins in November. Meanwhile President Obama’s team has been sharpening attacks against their Republican rival, slamming Romney’s tenure as head of Bain Capital and the Massachusetts state legislature.–Joyce Jones (Photos from left: REUTERS/Larry Downing,  Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Mitt Romney Cash Flow - The Republican presidential hopeful has been furiously raising campaign cash from big money donors around the nation, including himself. The former Massachusetts governor and his wife, Ann, each contributed $75,000 to Romney Victory Inc., the joint fundraising effort with the Republican National Committee. It’s a small sum compared to the more than $42 million Romney loaned his campaign in 2008, The Wall Street Journal reports.   (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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Mitt Romney Cash Flow - The Republican presidential hopeful has been furiously raising campaign cash from big money donors around the nation, including himself. The former Massachusetts governor and his wife, Ann, each contributed $75,000 to Romney Victory Inc., the joint fundraising effort with the Republican National Committee. It’s a small sum compared to the more than $42 million Romney loaned his campaign in 2008, The Wall Street Journal reports.   (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

"Middle Class Joe" Biden - The vice president is planting the banner of economic fairness during his swing through battleground states. He will support President Obama’s re-election team’s efforts to define rival Mitt Romney as a candidate who doesn’t “get” the dreams and challenges of ordinary Americans and who wants to take the nation backward. “We will not go back to the '50s on social policy, to the Cold War on foreign policy, and the policies of our last administration on our economic policies," he said at New Hampshire's Keene State College. (Photo: AP Photo/Jim Cole)

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"Middle Class Joe" Biden - The vice president is planting the banner of economic fairness during his swing through battleground states. He will support President Obama’s re-election team’s efforts to define rival Mitt Romney as a candidate who doesn’t “get” the dreams and challenges of ordinary Americans and who wants to take the nation backward. “We will not go back to the '50s on social policy, to the Cold War on foreign policy, and the policies of our last administration on our economic policies," he said at New Hampshire's Keene State College. (Photo: AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Romney's "Day 01" - Mitt Romney’s campaign unveiled its first general election TV ad this week in which he shares his to-do list for his first day in the White House: approve the Keystone oil pipeline, introduce tax cuts and reforms and replace the Affordable Care Act with “common sense health care reform.” Before its release, the former Massachusetts governor said it would be a contrast to ads run by the Obama campaign that seek to assassinate his character instead of offering a positive spin on the administration’s achievements. (Photo: Courtesy Huffington Post)

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Romney's "Day 01" - Mitt Romney’s campaign unveiled its first general election TV ad this week in which he shares his to-do list for his first day in the White House: approve the Keystone oil pipeline, introduce tax cuts and reforms and replace the Affordable Care Act with “common sense health care reform.” Before its release, the former Massachusetts governor said it would be a contrast to ads run by the Obama campaign that seek to assassinate his character instead of offering a positive spin on the administration’s achievements. (Photo: Courtesy Huffington Post)

Gov. Mitt Romney - The Obama campaign has been getting hits from both sides of the ideological aisle over negative ads and other attacks on Mitt Romney’s business record. But it’s not stopping there. The president and his surrogates also have their sights set on Romney’s tenure as governor of Massachusetts, which the Republican rarely mentions. “He is not going out there touting his experience in Massachusetts,” Obama said on Monday. Campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt also noted this week that “job creation in Massachusetts slipped from 36th to 47th” when Romney was head of state and “manufacturing jobs declined by twice the national average.” (Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

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Gov. Mitt Romney - The Obama campaign has been getting hits from both sides of the ideological aisle over negative ads and other attacks on Mitt Romney’s business record. But it’s not stopping there. The president and his surrogates also have their sights set on Romney’s tenure as governor of Massachusetts, which the Republican rarely mentions. “He is not going out there touting his experience in Massachusetts,” Obama said on Monday. Campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt also noted this week that “job creation in Massachusetts slipped from 36th to 47th” when Romney was head of state and “manufacturing jobs declined by twice the national average.” (Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

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Dream Team - The Obama campaign announced two new contests for supporters this summer that include a chance to spend time with former President Bill Clinton and another to dine at the home of Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker. The winner of the Clinton competition will enjoy his or her prize at an event in New York on June 4, and two weeks later, the second winner will attend a fundraiser at Parker’s home. (Photo: Courtesy barackobama.com)

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Dream Team - The Obama campaign announced two new contests for supporters this summer that include a chance to spend time with former President Bill Clinton and another to dine at the home of Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker. The winner of the Clinton competition will enjoy his or her prize at an event in New York on June 4, and two weeks later, the second winner will attend a fundraiser at Parker’s home. (Photo: Courtesy barackobama.com)

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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Rahm to the Rescue? - Team Obama is reportedly seeking advice from former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who left the administration to run for mayor of Chicago. "He’s one of our best strategists,” an operative, who once described Emanuel as the “Democratic Party’s Karl Rove," told The Hill. “He still has that gift and that strategic mind that any sitting Democratic president running for re-election would want.” (Photo: REUTERS/Chris Kleponis)

Beware of Ron Paul - Former presidential contender Newt Gingrich has some advice for Romney as he edges closer to officially winning the GOP presidential nomination: Figure out how you’re “going to handle the Ron Paul forces.” The Texas lawmaker is continuing to amass delegates at state party conventions, which Gingrich noted this week could enable Rep. Paul to wield a strong influence over the upcoming national convention’s platform and tone. Romney will need to treat them with respect and recognize their “legitimate rights.” (Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images)

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Beware of Ron Paul - Former presidential contender Newt Gingrich has some advice for Romney as he edges closer to officially winning the GOP presidential nomination: Figure out how you’re “going to handle the Ron Paul forces.” The Texas lawmaker is continuing to amass delegates at state party conventions, which Gingrich noted this week could enable Rep. Paul to wield a strong influence over the upcoming national convention’s platform and tone. Romney will need to treat them with respect and recognize their “legitimate rights.” (Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images)

Birtherism to Rest? - Following three months of debate and threats to not allow President Obama’s name to appear on Arizona ballots this fall, the state of Hawaii provided Arizona’s Secretary of State Ken Bennett verification of the president’s birth certificate. Bennett, who co-chairs Romney’s campaign in the state, said he’s satisfied with the information.(Photo: Courtesy Wikicommons)

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Birtherism to Rest? - Following three months of debate and threats to not allow President Obama’s name to appear on Arizona ballots this fall, the state of Hawaii provided Arizona’s Secretary of State Ken Bennett verification of the president’s birth certificate. Bennett, who co-chairs Romney’s campaign in the state, said he’s satisfied with the information.(Photo: Courtesy Wikicommons)