Decision 2012: Birth Certificate Debate Revived, Isaac Looms For GOP Convention
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On the campaign trail Friday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, intentionally or not, reignited a debate over President Barack Obama's birth certificate and whether he was born in this country. The two campaigns traded barbs two days before Republicans head to Tampa for their convention. NY1's Courtney Gross filed the following report.President Obama's Republican rival, Mitt Romney, was raised in Michigan. At a packed campaign stop on Friday, he made sure the crowd knew it.
"Ann was born in Henry Ford Hospital," he said. "I was born in Harper Hospital. No one has ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know this is the place we were born and raised."
The remark immediately revived the birth certificate debate and prompted a response from the Obama camp.
“It’s one thing to give the stage in Tampa to Donald Trump, Sheriff Arpaio and Kris Kobach," Obama Campaign Press Secretary Ben LaBolt said in a statement. "But Gov. Romney’s decision to directly enlist himself in the birther movement should give pause to any rational voter across America.”
A Romney spokesperson said the governor was speaking about his heritage and the governor believes the president has passed the citizenship test.
While the president may have taken a break from the campaign trail on Friday (he was scheduled to leave for Camp David Friday evening), his campaign released a new ad, touting support from Republican women two days before the GOP convention.
For now, the GOP may have to worry about what's happening further south.
Projections from the National Hurricane Center show Tropical Storm Isaac could make landfall near the GOP convention early next week.
At a press conference in Tallahassee, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said the convention was moving forward.
"Again, it's a forecast and our forecasts are prone to error," he said. "I had a conversation with the CEO of the convention this morning, Bill Harris. Right now, there is no anticipation there will be a cancelation."
If the GOP convention proceeds as scheduled, delegates will participate in a will call vote to officially nominate Romney on Monday. Romney is scheduled to accept that nomination on Thursday.