Political Hotsheet
By

Lindsey Boerma /

CBS News/ August 5, 2012, 4:28 PM

New Obama, Romney ads focus on women, jobs

(CBS News) In three new ads out Sunday, Mitt Romney and President Obama launched offensives against their opponent's campaigns on issues ranging from Israel to women's health. Here's a look at the ads, airing primarily in battleground states:

Obama ad: "Important"

Coming four days after the mandate requiring health insurance companies to provide free contraception coverage went into effect, this ad from the Obama campaign features women expressing their doubts that presumptive GOP nominee Romney "can even understand the mindset of someone who has to go to Planned Parenthood." Romney, as shown in the ad, has steadfastly maintained his desire to cut off government funding to the reproductive health resource center.

"I don't remember anyone as extreme as Romney," one woman says in the ad, adding that the former Massachusetts governor "would definitely drag us back." Another woman adds, "This is not the 1950s. Contraception is so important to women. It's about a woman being able to make decisions."

During a campaign stop in Oregon last week, the president called Romney's position on Planned Parenthood "a bad idea," and said he wants his daughters Malia and Sasha, 14 and 11, "to control their own health care choices."

Romney ad: "It's Just Not Getting Better"

Drawing from another topic in the news, the Romney campaign in this ad cites July's jobs report, which, out Friday, showed an uptick in unemployment to 8.3 percent - a number Republicans across the board have seized on.

"The president is running out of time," a voiceover says as images of wire headlines announce a June spike in jobless rates in most U.S. cities, and July's unemployment climb. "Under Obama's economy, it's just not getting better."

Challenging a recent study concluding Romney's tax plan would benefit the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the middle class, the voiceover continues, "Mitt Romney has a plan for a stronger middle class. Under the Romney plan: more jobs, and more take-home pay. It's a plan that works for America."

Romney ad: "Cherished Relationship"

Capitalizing on Romney's highly publicized trip to Israel last week, this ad from the Republican's campaign knocks Mr. Obama for never having visited the Jewish state during his time as president, and for refusing to acknowledge Jerusalem as its capital.

"Mitt Romney will be a different kind of president: a strong leader who stands by our allies," a voice says. "He knows America holds a deep and cherished relationship with Israel." Fresh footage of Romney wearing a yarmulke, visiting Jerusalem's Western "Wailing" Wall, and meeting with his longtime friend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rolls in the background.

Praising Israel for respecting "the rights of people of all religions," the ad ends with a clip from Romney's speech last week at the Old City's Tower of David, during which he explicitly stated Jerusalem as "the capital of Israel." Citing potential security problems, the past three presidents have chosen to waive a 1995 law which designated Jerusalem as Israel's capital city.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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biblerox says:
I don't know what Romney is doing at all? As an independent, I don't really care about none of the issues in those ads. If the economy is not getting better under Obama, THEN WHAT SPECIFICALLY WILL MR. ROMNEY DO differently from what got us here? About Israel, somehow, I doubt Ehud Barak (the Defense Minister of Israel, and DEPUTY Prime Minister to Netanyahu) would be lying when he said the Obama administration has done better, in terms of defense of Israel than any administration in recent memory since Carter (that would include Raegan and Bush)..... Sooooo, Romney, what will you do differently from the past that got us here? I am not willing to go to the polls for you just because you say Obama is no good....show me how your PLANS will be better.
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TimeToEvolve replies:
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Good post, after all this time, we are still waiting for any plans or ideas from Romney. For that matter what is the plan of any of the Republicans?
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Lucky12345678 says:
"...requiring health insurance companies to provide free contraception coverage went into effect..." This is only the beginning of Obama's campaign to require PRIVATE companies to spend more money on what he thinks is good for the country! Obama not only borrows and spends tax payers money on increasing the SIZE of government, now with these new laws and requirements for Obama-Care wait and see how many more regulations will follow, And if you don't like it, the IRS will be knocking DOWN your office door!

"The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." - Margaret Thatcher
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