MIAMI, Fla. -- Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) walked into a room full of supporters, American flags, and Romney for President placards at this afternoon's grand opening of the GOP's Miami Victory Office.

After pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States, Mack took the floor where he took some swipes at President Obama and the Democratic senator from Florida, Bill Nelson.

"You know, Sen. Nelson is a lockstep liberal with Barack Obama," said Mack, the heavy favorite to win the Aug. 14th GOP Senate primary. He'd face Nelson in a general election. "When Barack Obama needed to pass the health-care law he turned to his friend in the Senate Bill Nelson, and Bill Nelson was there to help him. When he wanted to pass their stimulus bill, he turned to his friend Bill Nelson, and Bill Nelson was there to help him. When he wanted to make sure that the Keystone XL pipeline wasn't built, he got on the phone and called his friend Bill Nelson, and Bill Nelson stood with the president instead of the American people."

He added, "So we're gonna make sure the people in the state of Florida know that with Senator Nelson you have a lockstep liberal who believes in government. With me, with Gov. Romney, you have someone that believes in you. You'll have a government that believes it's the individual that makes this country great not government and not bureaucracies."

Following his speech, Mack had an enthusiastic response for a reporter who asked for his thoughts on the other Florida senator, Marco Rubio, a Republican, possibly being Romney's choice for vice president.

"Are you kidding?" Mack said. "Sen. Rubio would be great! And for all of us in Florida, we recognize that if Sen. Rubio is on the ticket it's good for America it's good for the state of Florida. It almost ensures that Sen. Nelson will be retired after this time. So I'm hopeful."

And in case the press and his supporters hadn't heard him the first time, he added, "I keep saying I think Marco Rubio would be fantastic, and I hope that he's picked."

The last question Mack received was whether he felt Romney's trip abroad was a success.

"It's nice to see such a contrast between the failures of the Obama administration and what Mitt Romney stands for and believes in," Mack said, "the strength of his character, so I'm thankful that Romney is showing America what a true leader looks like."

Updated at 10:53 p.m. ET: Tea Party-backed Ted Cruz won the primary runoff contest for the Texas Senate seat Tuesday night with over half of the vote, beating Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who was the winner of a plurality of the vote in the initial primary election in June. Dewhurst conceded Tuesday night.

Cruz will face Rep. Paul Sadler in the general election, which will determine the successor to retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R). Sadler beat former educator Grady Yarbrough in Tuesday's primary with two-thirds of the vote.

But given the Republican dominance in Texas, the seat is seen as likely to remain in GOP control, which made Tuesday’s runoff a somewhat de facto general election.

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The Dewhurst-Cruz battle marked another chapter in the battle between the establishment and insurgent wings of the Republican Party, splitting Republicans along familiar dividing lines.

Dewhurst had been able to outraise his primary opponents in part thanks to his long time in government and his support from Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), whose highly-regarded staff had managed his campaign.

But after Dewhurst failed to win an outright majority in the June 2 primary – which would have secured for him the nomination – conservatives who had opposed the lieutenant governor rallied around Cruz as the conservative alternative in the primary runoff.

Familiar Republican figures who had propelled other upstart conservatives in primaries had rallied around Cruz. South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint endorsed the former solicitor general, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum each stumped for Cruz last weekend in Texas.

Cruz, a Cuban-American who had served as a onetime clerk to the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, had been the favorite going into the primary on Tuesday. But Dewhurst supporters held out hope that early voting might carry the day for his campaign.

Texas seems likely to have a more conservative senator in Washington come next January. The outgoing Hutchison is regarded as a generally Republican, but had drawn conservatives’ ire for supporting abortion rights and the 2008 Wall Street bailout program.

The Senate's top Democrat announced Tuesday that he and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) had reached an agreement to keep the government open and funded through early next year.

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that he and Boehner had agreed on a temporary, six-month extension of government funding in order to avert a Sept. 30 government shutdown unless Congress had acted.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announces to reporters on Capitol Hill July 31 that lawmakers have reached an agreement to keep the government running on autopilot for six months when the current budget year ends on Sept. 30.

"This agreement reached between the Senate, the House and the White House provides stability for the coming months, when we will have to resolve critical issues that directly affect middle class families," Reid said on Capitol Hill.

The six-month bill will maintain the topline funding level of $1.047 trillion, Reid said, announcing as well that a vote on the extension is likely for early September.

The agreement allows lawmakers to avoid the specter of a shutdown with just weeks to go until Election Day, a motivating factor that prodded negotiators to reach a deal. A Republican leadership aide told NBC News that the GOP did not want to risk a distraction from its central messaging on President Obama's economic record.

"Taking this issue off the table will keep the larger focus on jobs, the economy, and President Obama's failed economic policies," the aide said. "That's where Republicans win and Democrats lose."

The topline number was taken from the "Budget Control Act" passed last year by Congress to prevent a default on the nation's debt. Both Democrats and Republicans each achieved some of their goals in this deal, too. Conservative Republicans had wanted to cut the toplinenumber -- over the objections of Democrats -- but had agreed to maintain current spending levels in exchange for a six-month extension instead of the yearlong deal Democrats had preferred.

Appropriators will work up the legislation's formal language over the August recess, and its formal passage seems to be more of a formality considering the joint agreement between Reid, Boehner and President Obama. While a GOP operative told NBC News that some “discontent amongst the real conservative rank and file is possible” because the bill won’t cut current spending, it probably would not be enough to jeopardize the bill’s passage in the House.

Not to be lost, because the agreement only lasts six months, the expiration of this deal in early 2013 will add to a large, looming and contentious budget fight set for the beginning of the 113th Congress.

In addition to questioning Britain's readiness for the Olympic games and explaining the difference between Israel's and the Palestinian Authority's economies as a matter of "culture," Mitt Romney seemingly made another diplomatic misstep during his overseas trip.

He stated -- unequivocally -- that Jerusalem is Israel's capital and that the U.S. embassy should eventually be moved there from Tel Aviv.

"A nation has the capacity to choose its own capital city, and Jerusalem is Israel's capital," Romney said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I think it's long been the policy to ultimately have our embassy in the nation's capital of Jerusalem."

And the Palestinian Authority howled in objection.

But here's the rub: Barack Obama, when he was running for president in 2008, made a similar comment, from which he later backtracked.

At a speech before AIPAC in June 2008, Obama said: "[A]ny agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized, and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."

Obama, as the Washington Post wrote at the time, later reversed course. "Facing criticism from Palestinians, Sen. Barack Obama acknowledged yesterday that the status of Jerusalem will need to be negotiated in future peace talks, amending a statement earlier in the week that the city 'must remain undivided.'"

The AP earlier explained why Jerusalem is such a thorny subject, particularly for candidates running for the White House: "The Palestinians want to establish a capital in east Jerusalem, captured and annexed by Israel in 1967. Most of the world, including the U.S., does not recognize the annexation. The U.S. and others keep their embassies in Tel Aviv."

And as CNN has observed, while presidential candidates might say one thing about Jerusalem, they do another while in office. "In pledging to move the American embassy in Israel, Romney joins presidential candidates in the past that have made the same promise, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Neither made the move as commander in chief."

Mitt Romney is betting on having already survived the worst personal scrutiny the Obama campaign has had to offer, leaving him with enough leftover political clout to wage an offensive this fall that would manage to unseat the president.

With 98 days until the election, the Romney campaign believes the dog days of summer are essentially behind them. The campaign views controversies involving his tax returns and work at Bain Capital as having a short shelf life, and the presumptive Republican nominee’s work to capitalize on the president’s “you didn’t build that” gaffe have effectively changed the subject. Romney’s foreign trip had also been built up as an opportunity to pivot away from July’s struggles, though momentum from the trip was more mixed due to stumbles on each of its three legs.

“Our whole goal was to just hold our own over the summer,” said Bay Buchanan, an outside adviser to the Romney campaign. “We've done the warm-up, and we're coming into the convention with a much better position than anticipated.”

But Democrats assert that the Republican shouldn’t be so quick to assume that the attacks based on Romney’s career and personal wealth will disappear.

Recommended: First Thoughts: Judging Romney's overseas trip

The first few weeks of July saw an unrelenting and coordinated offensive against Romney, led by the Obama campaign and a variety of Democratic groups. The former Massachusetts governor weathered weeks of ads accusing his private equity firm of having moved jobs overseas during Romney’s time in charge. To make matters worse, Romney had been somewhat opaque about the exact time of his departure from Bain Capital, and had also refused to release additional years of tax returns – leaving him vulnerable to speculation about what those hidden records contained.

The Romney campaign’s steadfastness in the face of scrutiny prompted semi-public handwringing among GOP poobahs, who wondered whether the GOP candidate was essentially allowing the president to define him.

Obama’s comments at a campaign stop in Roanoke, in which he seemed to suggest that business owners don’t deserve all the credit for their successes, handed the Romney campaign a chance to reverse momentum. Republicans have been hitting it hard since then, and the president even released an ad personally responding to the attack.

“You don't always want your candidate out there responding to everything they're saying,” said Buchanan. “We want him, Barack Obama, responding to us.”

Combined with anemic jobs numbers at the beginning of the month and a somewhat lackluster GDP report last week, Republicans believe their narrative on the economy is hardening and Romney remains strong enough to subsume Obama this fall.

This all sets the stage for a pivotal month of August, in which Romney must introduce himself to voters and begin turning the tide against Obama.

It just might be the case that July’s squabbles, though, will set the parameters for the fall debate.

“It’s wishful thinking on the part of the Romney to think it's behind them. They might survive it, but it's not behind them,” said former Rep. Martin Frost of Texas, a Democrat known for his strategic acumen.

Frost said that if he were Romney, he wouldn’t release additional tax returns beyond what’s already been pledged – for fear that there were years in which the former Bain leader paid little to no taxes.

“The Romney people are whistling in the dark if they think the Bain thing will go away,” Frost added.

Related: Romney says he wasn't talking about Palestinian culture

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean was starker.

“This is going to be the issue that brings him down,” he said, arguing that the attacks on Bain and Romney’s taxes cut to the core of questions about Romney’s character and trustworthiness.

Dean argued that even Romney’s best message on the economy won’t sink in with voters unless they’re willing to put faith in the former Massachusetts governor as Obama’s alternative.

“He could have turned this into something really good. But as long as he’s got his tax returns hidden, it’s going to be fatal,” Dean said, referencing in particular the Republican assault on Obama’s “You didn’t build that” comments. “What Romney is doing is negating his advantage on the economy by not seeming trustworthy.”

But Romney’s team is almost zenlike in its singular focus on the economy. Though much of the past week was dominated by the Republican’s foreign policy tour – for both its embarrassing moments and triumphs – attention will soon turn back to the economy. This Friday’s report on job creation during July could give Romney a cudgel to use against Obama, and the impending selection of a Republican vice presidential candidate and next month’s Republican convention would allow the GOP to drive the campaign narrative into September.

“Once we turn that corner where we can get past the explanations about Bain – and I think we have – then it's a winning campaign,” said Buchanan, who said that the drumbeat for Romney to offer more specific policy alternatives to Obama were “secondary” to convincing voters that his vision on the economy is superior to Obama’s.

“We're going to hit the economy, stay on message the full extent we can. But we're not running in a vacuum. The other guy's going to be going after us personally,” she said. “You get your surrogates to respond to the personal stuff. They've hit us pretty hard, I don't know where else they're going to come.”

That might be music to the ears of the president’s team and most Democrats if their strategy on making the election into a choice – and disqualifying Romney in the process – is to be believed.

“I’ll say one thing about Obama, whatever my differences with him. He’s run the best campaign I’ve ever seen a Democrat run in my lifetime,” Dean said.

“Romney’s tried to keep this thing on the economy since March and he hasn’t succeeded. What makes you think he’s going to succeed the next three months?” he added.

A note to our readers and viewers: The Democratic and Republican polling firms that conduct the NBC/WSJ poll have announced that the survey is expanding the number of cell phone-only respondents.

In February, the percentage of cell phone-only respondents was increased to 25% of the survey (so 250 out of 1,000). Now it will be 30% (300 out of 1,000).

This expansion comes as our pollsters believe that about one third of the 2012 electorate will consist of voters who use only cell phones and don't have landline phones.

Here is a memo from our NBC/WSJ pollsters.

Ohio Rep. Steven LaTourette said Tuesday he would not seek re-election this fall, further shrinking the ranks of moderate Republicans on Capitol Hill.

The nine-term congressman, a close ally of House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), cited the hyperpartisanship in Washington as a contributing factor in making his decision to retire at the end of this term.

“The time has come for not only good politics but good policy,” he said in a press conference this morning, “I have reached the conclusion that the atmosphere today, and the reality that exists in the House of Representatives, no longer encourages the finding of common ground.”

News of LaTourette’s retirement leaked to the press on Monday, which LaTourette said prompted phone calls of both understanding, and urging reconsideration of his decision. He said the current atmosphere on Capitol Hill had taken a personal toll, suggesting that his difficulty in climbing the ranks was a result of him voting “funny” compared to the rest of the GOP conference.

GOP aides also said that the fact that LaTourette would likely not be the next chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee could have contributed to his decision. That seat will likely be given to Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), who is not only younger than LaTourette, but has also been serving for almost half the time.

"The expectation is if you want to go up in the ranks of either party you gotta give them your wallet and your voting card,” LaTrourette said, “I’m not interested in giving them my wallet or my voting card.”

LaTourette joins a growing group of moderates who are leaving long careers on Capitol Hill because of the changing culture involved in today’s politics. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), one of the Senate’s most established moderates, announced her retirement in February, citing the inability to compromise as a reason for leaving.

The outgoing Ohio congressman pointed to the House’s failure to produce a long-term transportation bill as a prime example of Congress’s inability to accomplish what he called “no brainer” legislation. LaTourette called the passage of a two year bill that originated in the Senate “an embarrassment to the House of Representatives.”

He also cited the nation’s $15 trillion debt as a reason why he thought compromise was necessary. “We are a hiccup away from being Europe, we are a hiccup away from being Greece,” he said, “Getting it right means on my side of the aisle we have to talk about revenues and on the other side of the isle we have to talk about entitlements.”

LaTourette’s retirement comes as a bold reminder of the power of Tea Party, an ascendant force that has pressured moderates into more loyalty. LaTourette had also publicly criticized the no-new-tax pledge authored by Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, and signed by many GOP lawmakers.

In March of this year, LaTourette was the main Republican backer of a budget based on the bipartisan Bowles-Simpson plan, which uses cuts as well as tax increases to decrease the deficit, a move seen by many as a break from the current Republican agenda  That budget received only 38 votes, the fewest of the seven budgets which were introduced.

LaTourette’s announcement fueled immediate speculation about the competitiveness of his seat in November. Boehner was quick to say in a statement that “Republicans are in good position to hold this seat,” but Democrats argue that it could be a possible pick-up in their drive to win back the majority. 

“This is the second Republican from Speaker Boehner’s own delegation jumping ship on his sinking Tea Party Republican Majority,” DCCC Spokesman, Jesse Ferguson said, “When Speaker Boehner’s own friends don’t want to stay in support of his out-of-touch agenda, there’s no reason independent voters will support protecting millionaires at the expense of the middle class.”

American voters might be frustrated by the negative tone of the presidential campaign. They might not like Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. And they might have little appetite for the two major political parties.
 
But those attitudes aren’t necessarily translating into support for third-party candidates in the upcoming presidential contest.
 
In early July, Gallup released a poll that included third-party candidates in addition to Obama and Romney. Just 3% of registered voters said they backed Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor; 2% volunteered Ron Paul’s name; 1% supported Green Party nominee Jill Stein; and another 1% offered names that weren’t listed in the poll.
 
In a June NBC/WSJ poll, however, 15% of registered voters said they would support an unnamed “independent” candidate over Obama and Romney.
 
Johnson originally competed for this cycle’s GOP presidential nomination, but he pulled out of the contest in Dec. 2011 after being unable to capture support (and participate in most of the Republican debates).
 
Stein is a physician and environmental-health advocate who ran against Romney in the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election as the Green Party's nominee. She won the same party's presidential nomination in June 2012, and named her vice-presidential running mate Cheri Honkala in July 2012.
 
In previous presidential contests, third-party candidates like John Anderson (1980), Ross Perot (1992 and 1996) and Ralph Nader (2000) have garnered some support and gained national attention -- but none has managed to beat the Republican or the Democratic candidate in the general election. Ross Perot was so successful in his presidential run in 1992 that he made it to the national debates with George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, even at one point scoring higher in the polls than the other two.

The July Gallup poll also makes this pretty clear: The inclusion of third-party candidates comes at Romney’s expense. Indeed, with Johnson, Stein, and Paul added in the mix, Obama’s percentage was at 47% while Romney’s was at 40%.
 
By comparison, in the most recent Gallup head-to-head matchup between the two men, Obama and Romney are tied at 46%.

In an interview with FOX's Carl Cameron before he left Poland, Mitt Romney said that he wasn't talking about culture when discussing Israel and the Palestinian Authority during an fundraiser in Israel on Monday.

"I'm not speaking about it, did not speak about the Palestinian culture or the decisions made in their economy," Romney told Cameron. "That's an interesting topic that perhaps can deserve scholarly analysis, but I actually didn't address that. Certainly don't intend to address that in my campaign. Instead, I will point out that the choices a society makes have a profound impact on the economy and the vitality of that society."

Uriel Sinai / Getty Images

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers a speech outside the Old City on July 29 in Jerusalem, Israel.

But according to even the transcript that the Romney campaign released of the fundraiser, Romney did specifically refer to culture when comparing per-capita GDP between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Here's what Romney said:

“I was thinking this morning as I prepared to come into this room of a discussion I had across the country in the United States about my perceptions about differences between countries. And as you come here and you see the GDP per capita for instance in Israel, which is about 21,000 dollars, and you compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority which is more like 10,000 dollars per capita, you notice a dramatic, stark difference in economic vitality. And that is also between other countries that are near or next to each other. Chile and Ecuador, Mexico and the United States."

Romney added:

"I noted that part of my interest when I used to be in the world of business is I would travel to different countries was to understand why there were such enormous disparities in the economic success of various countries. I read a number of books on the topic. One, that is widely acclaimed, is by someone named Jared Diamond called ‘Guns, Germs and Steel,’ which basically says the physical characteristics of the land account for the differences in the success of the people that live there. There is iron ore on the land and so forth. And you look at Israel and you say you have a hard time suggesting that all of the natural resources on the land could account for all the accomplishment of the people here. And likewise, other nations that are next door to each other have very similar, in some cases, geographic elements."

He concluded: 

"But then there was a book written by a former Harvard professor named ‘The Wealth and Poverty of Nations.’ And in this book Dr. Landes describes differences that have existed -- particularly among the great civilizations that grew and why they grew and why they became great and those that declined and why they declined. And after about 500 pages of this lifelong analysis -- this had been his study for his entire life -- and he’s in his early 70s at this point, he says this, he says, if you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it’s this: Culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference. And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things."

Also in the same FOX interview, Romney "accused reporters of trivializing the substance of his trip and trying to divert attention from President Obama’s stewardship of the economy," National Journal reports.

Said Romney: "I realize that there will be some that in the Fourth Estate, or in whatever estate, who are far more interested in finding something to write about that is unrelated to the economy, to geo-politics, to the threat of war, to the reality of conflict in Afghanistan today, to nuclearization of Iran. They'll instead try to find anything else to divert from the fact that these last four years have been tough for our country."

After offending Britons with comments about the Olympics, Mitt Romney continues to face criticism over remarks he made about Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, he wraps up his  trip abroad with a visit to Poland. NBC's Peter Alexander reports. 

Judging Romney’s overseas performance… If you compare it to a floor exercise in gymnastics, then you’d have to say it was marred by two big unforced errors… The trip ends with a spat with the press corps, as well as a speech in Warsaw… Top Romney aide declares the trip “a great success”… When the context of yesterday’s Israeli-Palestinian comparison only raises more questions… The importance of August for Romney… The new Romney-RNC TV ad… We now know all the major speakers for the Dem convention… What will LaTourette say at his news conference?... And tonight is the Dewhurst vs. Cruz run-off in Texas.

Jason Reed / Reuters

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers foreign policy remarks at the University of Warsaw, July 31, 2012.

*** Judging Romney’s overseas performance: So what’s the best way to view Romney’s overseas trip, which just concluded today in Poland? Since we’re in Olympics season, think of it as a floor exercise in gymnastics. Romney picked a routine with a low degree of difficulty -- a cartwheel here (visiting Great Britain), one somersault there (the stop in Israel), and a grand finale featuring a simple back flip (the last leg in Poland). There were some upsides for him: Americans saw him on their TV sets during the opening ceremony at the Olympics; he bonded with Israeli PM Netanyahu; he gave a solid speech in Israel; and got his photo-op with Lech Walesa in Poland. But because the routine was so simple, the mistakes stuck out even more. So as Romney performed his cartwheel in England, he stepped out of bounds when he questioned London’s readiness for the Olympics. He lost additional points for flubbing the end of the somersault in Israel when he tried to explain the economic differences between Israel and the Palestinian Authority through a cultural prism (that may end up offending Mexican Americans as much as he appeared to offend Palestinians). And after sticking his landing in Poland, his campaign got into a spat with the judges -- that is, the reporters following him.

*** Trip ends with a spat with the press corps: NBC’s Garrett Haake reports that at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, a Romney press secretary told reporters that the GOP candidate would likely not answer questions from the press. That meant on the six-day trip, he would have taken precisely three questions from the traveling press corps. When the pool and traveling reporters were told to return to their busses, Haake adds, a mass of reporters instead headed over to the motorcade area, where Romney was observing another monument. It was there the press started shouting questions. An example: “Gov. Romney, are you concerned about some of the mishaps on your trip?” Another: “Gov. Romney, do you have a statement for the Palestinians?” And: “What about your gaffes?” Another Romney press aide fired back, “Show some respect,” adding: “Kiss my ass. This is a holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect.” That press aide later apologized to some of the reporters, but the damage was done. You’ll recall, this trip got off to a bad start during a joint avail with British Labor leader Ed Miliband when Romney refused to take questions from his own press corps, even as he answered questions from the British press.

*** Romney’s Warsaw speech: Romney’s final big event of his weeklong trip was a speech he delivered a couple of hours ago in Warsaw. Here’s the AP’s take on the speech: “Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Tuesday that Poland's economy is a model of small government and free enterprise that other nations should emulate, an unspoken criticism of President Barack Obama's policies in the wake of the worst recession in decades.” More: “Romney told a Warsaw audience to stay on the path toward a robust capitalist economy and continue the march toward ‘economic liberty and smaller government’ rather than ‘heeding the false promise of a government-dominated economy.’” The speech was designed to be the most “domestic” of the trip. Using the Polish setting to talk about economic expansion and free enterprise. 

*** Top Romney aide declares trip “a great success”: After the mini-press debacle in Warsaw, NBC’s Garrett Haake reports that top Romney strategist Stuart Stevens later held a gaggle with reporters (damage control?) after Romney's speech to push back against the perception the trip hasn’t gone well. The highlights, Haake notes, include Stevens pronouncing the trip a "a great success, generally," and saying that Romney has answered "a lot of questions" on this trip when asked why he hasn't done a press conference. (But is taking three questions outside 10 Downing Street “a lot of questions?) Some of the quotes from Stevens: "[Romney] has a tendency to speak his mind and say what he believes." More: "There is no Electoral College here. You're not trying to win the Electoral College in England, Israel and Poland." And: "He spoke very clearly on big issues… He's saying what he believes."

*** When the context only raises more questions: We want to make a final few points about Romney’s overseas trip, especially regarding what happened yesterday with that Israeli-Palestinian comparison. The campaign released the entire context of Romney’s remarks to explain that his remark about culture also pertained to Chile and Ecuador, as well as Mexico and the United States. But this context only raises more questions. Is Romney also saying that the United States has a superior culture to Mexico? Doesn’t Romney believe, as John McCain tried to say yesterday, that the difference isn’t culture but rather governments and laws? We’ll go back to what we said earlier: Team Romney thought they had picked a routine with a low degree of difficulty. But when is the Middle East ever easy? As National Journal’s James Kitfield writes, “In Israel, Romney ignored the unwritten rule not to become overly embroiled in local controversies and disputes… Interjecting God and cultural superiority into an ethnic-religious conflict is never a good idea.”

*** The importance of August: All of these mistakes put more pressure on Romney to have a successful August. If you’re a challenger, August is typically the month when you want to start pulling ahead. Indeed, it was late July and early August -- after the VP pick and Dem convention -- when John Kerry started to inch in front of George W. Bush in some polls in 2004. (But Kerry found himself trailing Bush after the GOP convention.) And the upcoming month is all set up for Romney to make his move. We’ll get his vice-presidential pick and its likely carefully orchestrated rollout. We’ll also see the four-day GOP convention and its selling of Romney’s personal story. Bottom line: Yes, the race is close. And, yes, it hasn’t moved much (if at all) in the past few months. But if he’s going to win in November, Romney needs a successful August since it’s stacking up to be largely about him; he can’t afford another July.

*** New Romney-RNC ad: Well, here’s what appears to be the first general-election bio spot TV ad by the Romney campaign (in conjunction with the RNC). The ad features Romney talking about his business and Olympics experience.

*** Major speakers for the Dem convention: This morning, Democrats announced that First Lady Michelle Obama and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro (the keynote speaker) will headline the first night of the Democratic convention, on Tuesday Sept. 4. So here’s the line-up:
Tuesday, Sept. 4: Michelle Obama, Julian Castro
Wednesday, Sept. 5: Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Warren
Thursday, Sept. 6: Barack Obama, Joe Biden

*** What will LaTourette say at his press conference today? NBCNews.com’s Mike O’Brien confirmed yesterday that Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH) has decided not to seek re-election, and he’s holding a news conference in Ohio at 10:00 am ET. And things could be VERY interesting. Politico: “LaTourette was one of the last of a dying breed — a moderate, union-friendly Republican who stood up to the right flank of the House Republican Conference. In the 112th Congress, it put him at odds with a good bulk of his GOP colleagues, including, at times, his longtime friend and ally, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). But LaTourette’s political isolation within the party was at odds with his ambition within the House Republican Conference. He wanted to resume his place toward the top of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, according to several GOP aides.” Trust us folks, this press conference has the whiff of “score settling” written all over it.

*** It’s Dewhurst vs. Cruz: Finally, as we noted yesterday, today is the Texas Senate GOP run-off between Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Ted Cruz. Final polls close in Texas at 9:00 pm ET. Here’s something to chew on, especially given the news that San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is set to deliver the Dem keynote address: If Cruz wins, the three Latinos serving in the U.S. Senate would all be Cuban Americans: Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Bob Menendez (assuming Menendez wins re-election). Not a single Mexican American.

Countdown to GOP convention: 27 days
Countdown to Dem convention: 34 days
Countdown to 1^st presidential debate: 64 days
Countdown to VP debate: 72 days
Countdown to 2^nd presidential debate: 77 days
Countdown to 3^rd presidential debate: 83 days
Countdown to Election Day: 98 days

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TAMPA, Fla. -- South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) called on government contractors to put employees on layoff notice before November's election as a way to pressure Congress to address the so-called "fiscal cliff."

Graham, joined by Republican Sens. John McCain (AZ) and Kelly Ayotte (NH), were in Florida for their first stop on a  two-day, four-state tour by these three members of the Senate Armed Services Committee designed to bring attention to the $500 billion in automatic cuts scheduled to begin in January if Congress does not find other ways to cut spending.

“Politicians, you know, quite frankly respond to pressure,” Graham said about the  cuts set to begin in 2013 under the so-called sequestration budget.

“I’m urging every defense industry that could be affected by sequestration to put your employees on notice before November,” he continued. “The more it becomes real to us as to what comes the nation’s way, the more likely we are to solve the problem.”

Graham delivered the remarks inside a University of South Florida auditorium here in Tampa this morning to an audience of military veterans, academics, and defense contractors.

Some in the audience were linked to nearby MacDill Air Force base, a sprawling installation housing the U.S. Central Command, the organization that oversees America’s military activity in the Middle East, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

“There is gridlock in Washington,” McCain said as he warmed the crowd shortly after taking the podium. “I don’t need to tell you that.  It’s hard these days, trying to do the Lord’s work in the city of Satan.”

The line won laughs, but much of the humor today was strictly of the gallows variety.

Before the event began, audience members mingled and expressed satisfaction that South Florida’s defense industry was being recognized.

“I think they’re playing politics with peoples’ lives,” Donna S. Huneycutt, the executive vice president of a small government consulting firm, said of Congress in an interview. 

Huneycutt said she has a staff of 62 people, and nearly had to lay people off last year as a result of earlier budget cuts.

“I’d like to see both sides come to the table and compromise,” she said.

McCain, Graham, and Ayotte called for a bipartisan solution to the crisis.

They signaled they would break with other Republicans and would accept closing loopholes in the tax code in return for concessions from Democrats, including cuts to entitlement programs.

“We shouldn’t put our troops in this position,” Ayotte said. “We shouldn’t put our military feeling like they have the sword of Damocles hanging over their head.”

Ayotte, the wife of a retired Air National Guard pilot who flew combat missions over Iraq, is a buzzed-about prospect for the number-two slot on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s ticket and is rumored to be on his short list.

The town hall tour was scheduled to make stops later today in Fayetteville, NC and Norfolk, VA – also home to key military communities.

The tour will wrap Tuesday morning in Merrimack, NH at a facility for the defense contractor BAE Systems.

The Obama White House took a subtle swipe at Mitt Romney on Monday after the Republican Presidential candidate made some controversial comments during a fundraiser in Israel. Romney told a group of supporters, Israel’s GDP is higher than the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority because “culture makes all the difference.” (See earlier First Read post for more context.)

A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the comments “racist," according to the AP. The Romney campaign pushed back, saying Romney's comments were mischaracterized. One Romney aide also noted that overall, he "got public and strong support while he was [in Israel]."

During the White House daily briefing, Deputy Press Secretary, Josh Earnest was peppered with questions about the incident. 

“One of the challenges of being an actor on the international stage, particularly when you’re traveling to such a sensitive part of the world, is that your comments are very closely scrutinized for meaning, for nuance, for motivation," Earnest said, adding, "and it is clear that there are some people who have taken a look at those comments and are scratching their heads a little bit.”

When pressed, Earnest stopped short of elaborating on the larger implications of Romney’s comments.

“I would leave it to Gov. Romney to explain them, to the extent that there’s some measure of confusion," he said.

This latest incident comes after Romney touched off a firestorm in the U.K. last week when he questioned London’s preparedness for the Olympic Games. In an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, Romney said, “It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out,” and he called questions about the level of security staffing “disconcerting.” Romney quickly walked back those comments, later telling reporters, “I expect the games to be highly successful.”

In that instance, the White House also seemed armed with a response. Although he did not directly address Romney’s comments about the Olympics, Press Secretary Jay carney attempted to draw a sharp distinction while briefing reporters.

"In keeping with our special relationship, the president also made it clear that he has the utmost confidence in our close friend and ally, the United Kingdom, as they finalize preparations to host the London Olympics,” Carney said then.

Romney is hoping his trip abroad will help him solidify his credentials as a leader who is capable of performing on the world stage.  He wraps up his foreign tour in Poland, where he is today.

Republican outrage continues this week against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which last week encouraged their employees to support a "Meatless Monday" health and environmental initiative.

In response, GOP Sens. John Cornyn (TX) and Charles Grassley (IA) sent around a photo today of a giant Monday order BBQ from Hill Country BBQ in downtown Washington, which included barbecue beef brisket, ribs and sausage.

The USDA first announced the initiative last week, which invited backlash from a number of lawmakers -- mostly Republicans -- whose states thrive on livestock industries.

The USDA did retract its position after coming under that pressure; it said in a tweet on July 25 that the suggestion that was sent around to employees in a July 23 USDA newsletter was not official policy.

Here's their tweet from July 25th:

Grassley had been piling on with these tweets:

"In some of the toughest times they’ve seen in recent memory, Texas cattle ranchers and farmers deserve an Administration who works with them, not one who undermines them with boneheaded decisions from bureaucrats in Washington,” Cornyn said in a paper statement today.

"This is a reminder to USDA that it’s supposed to advocate for American agriculture, not against it," added Grassley.

LANCASTER, PA -- Even though a Republican presidential candidate has not won the Keystone State since 1988, one of Mitt Romney's top surrogates who just happens to be a potential vice presidential pick said he has "a feeling" Pennsylvania will turn red this November.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) today addressed more than 200 supporters at a rally here, one of 18 similar Romney events taking place throughout 12 states today while the presumptive nominee closes out his overseas trip. Portman's visit here marks the second time the Ohio senator has appeared in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania.

"I got a feeling Pennsylvania is going to be in the red column this year. You're going to paint the whole Commonwealth red starting right here in Lancaster County," Portman told an energized crowd. "I got a feeling about it. And it's going to be because, in 2008, we made a mistake."

Over the past week Romney surrogates have been out in full force in battleground states while the candidate is abroad. Speaking to reporters after the event, Portman defended the former Massachusetts governor trip to the United Kingdom, Israel, and Poland -- a journey that that has had its share of ups and downs.

"I think he's had a very strong trip to Israel," said Portman, later adding that the tour "shows people, one, that he does have a lot of foreign policy interest and background, but also that he's going to stand with our allies, which is incredibly important."

Romney first drew the ire of some in England after voicing concerns that the country was not ready to handle the Olympic games. Then, in Israel, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee was criticized for comments suggesting that the reason why Israel's economy has outpaced its neighbors (including the Palestinian Authority) is due to culture.

The Romney campaign has pushed back that the comments have been mischaracterized and that they were not meant to be a slight against Palestinians.

But the freshman Ohio senator did not focus his message on overseas policy, instead concentrating on an economic message that both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge will be the deciding factor in Rust Belt states. 

"The private sector -- we talked about his successes. The governor of Massachusetts, folks, they don't call it Taxachusetts for nothing," said Portman. "It's got an 85% Democrat legislature, yet he cuts taxes 19 times working with them. He starts out with a budget deficit of $3 billion, he turns it around into a surplus and a rainy day fund of $2 billion. That's the kind of leadership we want, somebody who can bring people together and solve problems."

Portman, who was introduced as "potentially the next vice president of the United States," remained dismissive of the notion when speaking to reporters inquiring about his political future.

"I'm here helping Mitt Romney, I'm not here talking about myself," he said when asked what sets him apart from the other names being talked about as joining the national ticket.

But in terms of most utilized surrogates, Portman is near the top of the list. In addition to the numerous events and fundraisers in which he's participated on Romney's behalf in his home state, the former Office of Management and Budget Director under George W. Bush has also visited North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.

And asked whether or not he is ready for a new job, he again sidestepped the question.
  
"I'll let the Romney folks talk about readiness. As I have said before, Romney has plenty of choices -- a lot of people out there who can do the job. And, ultimately, people are voting for the president and not the VP."

ARLINGTON, VA -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Monday afternoon that he's “very comfortable” not having a speaking role at the Republican National Committee convention next month.

“I personally am very comfortable not giving a speech because I think frankly, there is a whole new generation of candidates out there and people who represent the future,” Gingrich said following a quick event at Belmont TV on behalf of Mitt Romney. “But we haven’t talked about that yet.”

Gingrich -- who addressed reporters in the same city where he suspended his presidential campaign nearly three months ago -- promised continuously during the final weeks of his failed presidential run that he would push for a “conservative platform.”

No official announcement has been made regarding the former House speaker’s role in Tampa. but one spot is sure at the Democratic National Committee Convention in early September: Former President Bill Clinton will address the crowd and Gingrich is pleased.

“I think that will be a terrific opportunity for those of us who served with President Clinton to point out that Barack Obama is no Bill Clinton,” Gingrich said. (That said, Gingrich presided as the speaker of the GOP-controlled House that voted to impeach Clinton during the late 1990s.)

While Monday’s event just outside of Washington, DC in the battleground state of Virginia was billed by the Romney campaign as a “we did build this event,” the questions asked of Gingrich focused on a variety of other topics, including the GOP nominee’s tax returns.

Gingrich, who was a leading voice calling for Mitt Romney to release his tax returns during the primaries, today said “people are not going to take that as a major issue.”

“I’ve tried to raise the issue but frankly, I think the results of the primary also indicated that the American voters are pretty comfortable that this is a guy who has had good accountants, good lawyers, he has obeyed the law,” he said.

Asked to weigh in on the developing dialogue from Romney’s trip overseas – specifically the GOP nominee’s remarks in Jerusalem that drew a link between culture and GDP in Israel and Palestinian territories.

“I think that the whole issue of how do you encourage an economy based on trust and faith, how do you encourage the rule of law when you have Hamas and Hezbollah and Fatah and I think there is a legitimate question to say maybe these are antithetical to being prosperous. I find it fascinating that nobody wants to ask the question, why is Hong Kong prosperous? Why is Singapore prosperous? Why is Israel prosperous? Why can't we apply this same prosperity to Gaza? Why can't we apply this same prosperity to the West Bank?” Gingrich said.

The Democratic Party is set to include a pro-gay-marriage plank in their party convention platform, according to a Democratic source. 

The language was included as the first step in the platform process. The platform drafting committee met in Minneapolis this past weekend. Next, the full platform committee will be consider it in Detroit in two weeks and then, it will go to the convention delegates in Charlotte for final approval.

No specific language of the platform plank was made available.

The Washington Blade, which broke the news, also reported -- and the source confirms -- that it was approved unanimously and "the platform approved on Sunday not only backs marriage equality, but also rejects DOMA and has positive language with regard to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act."

The move does not come as a complete surprise, considering President Obama's public endorsement of same-sex marriage back in May.

*** UPDATE *** NBC's Domenico Montanaro notes: The National Republican Senatorial Committee points to a Wall Street Journal report in May which notes Democratic Senate candidates who have not backed the president's position on gay marriage.

"The below Wall Street Journal article from this past May includes the names of a number of Democratic Senators and candidates that you might consider asking for their reaction to this news today…," the NRSC notes in an email.

"Sen. Jon Tester in Montana, Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri and former Gov. Tim Kaine in Virginia have declined to support same-sex marriage, even as Mr. Obama's backing has galvanized the party's liberal wing and activist ranks.  Even senators facing less-competitive races—Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Bill Nelson of Florida—have sought distance from Mr. Obama on same-sex marriage."

Democrats maintain a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, including two Independents who caucus with the Democrats. Control is up for grabs this fall with Democrats on defense in many races.

GDANSK, POLAND -- Mitt Romney received a warm welcome here on Monday during the final stop of his foreign tour, winning strong praise from one of Poland's most influential political figures that seemed to border on an endorsement.

Former Polish president and Nobel Peace prize recipient Lech Walesa, on whose invitation Romney has chosen to visit Eastern European ally of the United States told Romney, today he wished him "to be successful," but stopped short of saying he was endorsing Romney.

Jason Reed / Reuters

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney meets with former Polish President Lech Walesa in Gdansk, Poland, July 30.

"I wish you to be successful because this success is needed to the United States, of course, but to Europe and the rest of the world, too. Gov Romney, get your success -- be successful!" Walesa said to Romney during a photo spray at the conclusion of a meeting between the two men.

Walesa's conservative politics align on many respects with the U.S. Republican Party, and he remains a highly respected figure here after helping lead Poland out from behind the Iron Curtain.

The supportive words for Romney, who also met with current prime minister Donald Tusk, were welcome good news for Romney after his campaign was plagued by charges of insensitivity after making remarks at a fundraiser suggesting that wide economic discrepancies between the Palestinian and Israeli people are the result of cutural differences between the two peoples.

"And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things," Romney said at a fundraiser during a monologue extolling Israeli prosperity.

That quote in particular, which was circulated in an Associated Press story, prompted strong pushback from the Romney campaign.

Romney's chief campaign strategist, Stu Stevens, called the story "completely manufactured" and said the Romney campaign was never given a chance to respond to allegations of racism. Stevens said the AP turned an economic observation into a perceived slight, and argued that Romney has previously made similar observations in his books and speeches.

Romney spent his additional time in Poland afternoon visiting two sites of special significance in the U.S.-Polish alliance: the Westerplatte memorial, marking the first shots fired in the second World War, and the Solidarity monument, to Poland's anti-communist efforts.

Poland's long-standing military ties to the United States played a part in the Romney campaign's decision to visit here. This morning, a senior adviser told reporters Poland's contribution of the third-most troops of any nation to the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan was a sacrifice Romney could be expected to note in a planned speech tomorrow in Warsaw.

TAMPA, Fla. -- It’s government, “not cultures” that define the difference between Israelis and Palestinians. That’s according to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who appeared to differ with presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney as he tried to defend him.

“I am sure that Gov. Romney was not talking about difference in cultures, or difference in anybody superior or inferior,” said McCain, a chief Romney foreign policy surrogate, today during a news conference after an event here with Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “What I’m sure Gov. Romney was talking was that the Israeli economy has grown and prospered in a dramatic fashion. And unfortunately, the Palestinians have not had that same economic development.

“And that goes to the leadership of the Palestinians. Everybody knows that Yasser Arafat was corrupt. And we also know that the Palestinian people have not been blessed with the kind of government that has lower regulations, less taxes, entrepreneurship, which have caused the Israeli economy to be one of the world’s most successful. It has nothing to do with cultures. It has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority. But facts of the booming Israeli economy has to do with the kind of government that the Israeli people have freely and democratically elected which has given them a very prosperous country.”

McCain noted he had not seen or heard Romney’s remarks, but that didn’t stop him from defending what Romney meant.

“I’m sure I know what he was saying, though,” McCain continued. “And what he was saying, though, is that the Israelis have had a government with less regulation, lower taxes, which has allowed them to have a strong and prosperous economy. Unfortunately, when you go over to many of the Palestinian areas, you do not see that same kind of economic development. Governments matter.”

Yesterday at a fundraiser in Israel, Romney said:

“[A]as you come here and you see the GDP per capita for instance in Israel which is about 21,000 dollars and you compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority which is more like 10,000 dollars per capita you notice a dramatic, stark difference in economic vitality.”

Then paraphrasing a book by a Harvard professor called, “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations,” he added:

“[I]f you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it’s this: culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference. And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things.”

The Associated Press picked up on the comments and noted: “Romney said some economic histories have theorized that ‘culture makes all the difference’.” And that “Palestinian reaction to Romney was swift and pointed.”

It quoted Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who said: "It is a racist statement and this man doesn't realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation.”

And AP added:

“While speaking to U.S. audiences, Romney often highlights culture as a key to economic success and emphasizes the power of the American entrepreneurial spirit compared to the values of other countries. But his decision to highlight cultural differences in a region where such differences have helped fuel violence for generations raises new questions about the former businessman's diplomacy skills.”

The Romney campaign called for a correction from the AP, because of "his remarks being grossly mischaracterized," it claimed.

The campaign also passed around the broader context of his speech – and highlighted that he had made similar remarks in Chicago in March while talking about other countries.

But that context does not appear to change the meaning of what Romney was saying. And he certainly did not make the case that government was a reason for the differences. (That context, sent by the campaign, is copied at the end of this post in full.)

*** UPDATE: NBC's Garrett Haake, traveling with the campaign, reports from Gdansk, Poland, that senior Romney campaign strategist Stuart Stevens told reporters he takes issue with the story, calling it "completely manufactured," "sloppy," and even "invented."

He said the quote from Romney "revolves around an observation the governor has made in his book" and "mentioned in big speeches." The story, he claims, "never should have been written, was not handled responsibly and the Romney campaign was never called for comment. The economic situations for prosperity are interesting to study and important. "

He added that the comments were "not in any way an attempt to slight the Palestinians, and everyone knows that." And he even goes so far as to say: "It is regrettable whenever a story is handled improperly and I think we all agree on that." ***

--

McCain also said he agreed with Romney that the American embassy in Israel should be moved to Jerusalem.

“Absolutely. I agree that the embassy should be moved to Jerusalem, and I think that those who are strong supporters of Israel should take note that the President of the United States has failed to take a position on the embassy location,” McCain said. “And it should be in Jerusalem and that has been the subject of numerous resolutions by the United States Congress over the years.”

The American embassy – and every other country's in the world – is currently located in Tel Aviv. At the heart of the long-running peace process dispute between Israelis and Palestinians is where a Palestinian capital would be. Palestinians would like it to be centered in East Jerusalem.

Here are the remarks, passed along by the Romney campaign:

Gov. Romney: “I was thinking this morning as I prepared to come into this room of a discussion I had across the country in the United States about my perceptions about differences between countries. And as you come here and you see the GDP per capita for instance in Israel which is about 21,000 dollars and you compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority which is more like 10,000 dollars per capita you notice a dramatic, stark difference in economic vitality. And that is also between other countries that are near or next to each other. Chile and Ecuador, Mexico and the United States. I noted that part of my interest when I used to be in the world of business is I would travel to different countries was to understand why there were such enormous disparities in the economic success of various countries. I read a number of books on the topic. One, that is widely acclaimed, is by someone named Jared Diamond called ‘Guns, Germs and Steel,’ which basically says the physical characteristics of the land account for the differences in the success of the people that live there. There is iron ore on the land and so forth. And you look at Israel and you say you have a hard time suggesting that all of the natural resources on the land could account for all the accomplishment of the people here. And likewise other nations that are next door to each other have very similar, in some cases, geographic elements. But then there was a book written by a former Harvard professor named ‘The Wealth and Poverty of Nations.’ And in this book Dr. Landes describes differences that have existed—particularly among the great civilizations that grew and why they grew and why they became great and those that declined and why they declined. And after about 500 pages of this lifelong analysis—this had been his study for his entire life—and he’s in his early 70s at this point, he says this, he says, if you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it’s this: culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference. And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things. One, I recognize the hand of providence in selecting this place. I’m told in a Sunday school class I attended— I think my son Tagg was teaching the class. He’s not here. I look around to see. Of course he’s not here. He was in London. He taught a class in which he was describing the concern on the part of some of the Jews that left Egypt to come to the promised land, that in the promised land was down the River Nile, that would provide the essential water they had enjoyed in Egypt. They came here recognizing that they must be relied upon, themselves and the arm of God to provide rain from the sky. And this therefore represented a sign of faith and a show of faith to come here. That this is a people that has long recognized the purpose in this place and in their lives that is greater than themselves and their own particular interests, but a purpose of accomplishment and caring and building and serving. There’s also something very unusual about the people of this place. And Dan Senor-- And Dan, I saw him this morning, I don’t know where he is, he’s probably out twisting someone’s arm—There’s Dan Senor, co-author of ‘Start-up Nation,’ described-- If you haven’t read the book, you really should-- Described why it is Israel is the leading nation for start-ups in the world. And why businesses one after the other tend to start up in this place. And he goes through some of the cultural elements that have led Israel to become a nation that has begun so many businesses and so many enterprises and that is becomes so successful.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks at Fundraiser, Israel, 7/30/12)

                ***       

Gov. Romney: “Now as you know, this November we face a -- an important decision. Our choice will be not just one of party and personality. This election is going to be about principle. Our economic freedom will be on the ballot. And I intend to offer the American people a choice. I spent 25 years in business, by the way as you probably know. My business used to take me to different parts of the world and -- and I was often struck by enormous differences between different nations that in many cases were living right next door to each other. I -- I was interested in the differences in their prosperity and how it was that nations so close to each other in terms of geography, could be so different in terms of prosperity.  I mean look at Mexico and the United States, Israel and Egypt, Chile and Ecuador. And -- and I read a number of books that purported to explain the differences. One of them by Jared Diamond called "Guns, Germs and Steel", argued that the difference was due largely to the minerals in the ground and the -- the physical characteristics, natural resources associated with different countries. But that didn't explain it all, just a part. And then I happened to read a book by Professor David Landes called, "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations." And in that he -- he traces the history of all the great civilizations on the earth. Those that have come and gone.  And after about 500 pages of scholarly analysis he concludes with -- with this observation. He says, "If we learn anything from the economic -- the history of economic development it is this, culture makes all the difference." Culture makes all the difference. Culture. What is it about America's culture that's made us the greatest economic power in the history of the earth? And of course there are a lot of things that come to mind. Our work ethic. Our appreciation for -- for education. The -- the willingness of Americans to take risk. Our commitment to honor contract oath, our family devotion. Our -- our commitment to purpose greater than ourselves. Our patriotism.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks, Chicago, IL, 3/19/12)

Restore Our Future is going up with an ad featuring Olympic athletes touting how Mitt Romney turned around the 2002 Olympic games.

“Mitt Romney brought a huge sense of hope,” says famed figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi in the ad. Yamaguchi won a gold medal in the 1992 and was an ambassador for the 2002 games. She also donated the maximum to Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.

“Mitt gets things done,” says Jimmy Shea, who won the 2002 gold medal in Skeleton. “He changed my life.”

“It meant a lot to athletes like myself to be able to realize our dreams,” says speed-skating gold medalist Derek Parra.

The only other pro-Romney ad run this general election has also been by Restore Our Future. Americans continue to have a more negative than positive impression of the former Massachusetts governor, according to the NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll. Just 35 percent viewed him favorably in the latest poll out this month, while 40 percent viewed him negatively.

Here's the script:

Kristi Yamaguchi: As an athlete, you're training your whole life for that one moment at the Olympics.

Narrator: But America's Winter Olympics were mired in scandal and deficits. They turned to Mitt Romney.

Fraser Bullock: He faced a 400 million dollar budget deficit and turned that around to a hundred million dollar surplus.

Narrator: And after September 11th, Romney delivered the Olympics safe and secure.

Jimmy Shea: Mitt gets things done. He changed my life.

Kristi Yamaguchi: Mitt Romney brought a huge sense of hope.

Derek Parra: Mitt allowed athletes like myself to be able to realize our dreams.

Narrator: Restore our Future is responsible for the content of this message.