2012 Presidential Election, Ann Romney | featured news

Ann Romney says she appreciates the support Clint Eastwood gave her husband's presidential bid, even if the actor's bizarre monologue at the GOP convention isn't earning rave reviews.

Ann Romney and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie proved to be an attractive TV draw at the Republican National Convention. An estimated 22.3 million people tuned in to watch the first full night of the GOP convention last night, according to Nielsen, the ratings company. That was an increase of 800,000 viewers on the same night of coverage four years ago in St. Paul, Nielsen said.

Republicans eagerly looked to showcase Mitt Romney as a man who understands everyday Americans and a leader who can fix the economy, with GOP National Convention speeches Tuesday by the woman who knows him best and tough-talking New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

It's no coincidence that Michelle Obama and Ann Romney are showing up a lot more as the tight presidential race barrels into the final few months. The rival campaigns are rolling out their top assets in a big way. The first lady is the public face of a new grass-roots mobilizing effort for Team Obama. And Mrs. Romney's recent interviews have put her on display cutting through the campaign din - including her blunt statement Thursday that her husband has provided everything that "people need to know" and won't be releasing more tax returns.

Ann Romney says the family gives 10 percent of its income to the Mormon church and he took no salary during his four years as Massachusetts governor. She says that should be enough to put aside people's concerns about his finances.

...Goodness, madam, didn’t we agree to demilitarize the language of politics after Gabby Giffords was shot last year? I don’t think she was being intentionally incendiary so much as gleefully clueless.

Mitt Romney's wife has confirmed a tidbit about the vice presidential search process her husband largely has been keeping secret: He's considering choosing a woman. "We've been looking at that, and I love that option as well," Ann Romney told CBS News in a joint interview with her husband that was broadcast Thursday. She added: "There's a lot of people that Mitt is considering right now."

Several of Mitt Romney’s most prominent female surrogates charged Thursday that a Democratic strategist’s comments about Ann Romney’s role in the home reflected President Obama’s views on women — prompting the Obama campaign to quickly respond that Hilary Rosen has no role in the president’s reelection effort.

Ann Romney said today she doesn't consider herself wealthy in an interview that is getting circulated by Democrats, which drew a rebuke from the Romney campaign. "We can be poor in spirit, and I don't even consider myself wealthy, which is an interesting thing. It can be here today and gone tomorrow," Ann Romney said in the interview.