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Romney's data mining operation. Inside Bain Capital's confidential documents. 74 days to the election.
Happy Friday. The latest forecast indicates Tampa and the Republican National Convention may see minimal impacts from tropical storm Isaac, which appears to be veering left as it picks up hurricane strength. Alabama and Mississippi could get the worst of it. [TampaBay] [NBCNews] [APviaNewsday]
Topping the news: Mitt Romney unveils his energy vision that includes more state control of drilling, a move Utah Republicans would love. [Trib] [FoxNews] [NYTimes]
-> Gawker uploads hundreds of pages of confidential files about Bain Capital that give an insiders perspective on some of Romney's investments and the ways the company has tried to avoid taxes. [Gawker] [NYTimes]
-> Romney's success with mega donors may have something to do with a secretive data mining project that compares the spending habits and church attendance of people before asking them to make a contribution. [AP]
Tweet of the day: From @JonahNRO: "Fun game: every news report you hear about Mormons, replace "Mormon" with "Jew," "black," or "Catholic" and think how it sounds."
In other news: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Cooke says Gov. Gary Herbert's attempt at reforming the state's health care system as made "very little difference." [Trib]
-> The ACLU is helping immigrants in Utah determine if they are eligible for a work permit under President Barack Obama's deferment program. [Trib]
-> Our own Thomas Burr talks about Romney's hesitance to releasing more financial info because it will show how much he tithes to the LDS Church. And for those early risers Mr. Burr is spending an hour on CSPAN this morning 7:45 a.m. Eastern/5:45 a.m. Mountain. [KCPW]
-> Rolly reports on congressional candidate Chris Stewart and the three things he thinks need to happen to save the nation. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on Romney's welfare ads. [Trib]
-> The fight over redistricting records brings up the ghosts of HB477. [UtahPolicy]
-> Utah is one of the rare states to see government employment rise, mostly due to an increase in public teachers. [Trib]
-> A look back at the life of Jim Judd, who was laid to rest on Thursday. [KSL]
-> Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is on the presidential ballot in 13 states, but he just missed out on making the California ballot to comedian Roseanne Barr. [Trib]
-> Schott and Bernick talk about Mia Love at the GOP convention and the state Democrats fight to get redistricting records in their latest podcast. [UtahPolicy]
Convention-al news: West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder came up short in his campaign to be a GOP delegate so now he's going as a reporter, writing for Salt Lake City Weekly and Utah Policy. He's started his online diary a few days early. [UtahPolicy]
-> Romney's job at the convention is to reintroduce himself to the public, woo the women vote and nail his big speech. [USAToday]
-> Ann Romney's speech may be moved from Monday to Tuesday so views could see it on a broadcast channel and not just cable. [Politico]
-> Tampa's strippers are eagerly anticipating the Republican crowds next week. [CNN]
-> Ron Paul expects to have a big influence in Tampa. [NBCNews]
-> Romney gives an interview to Time Magazine focusing on his business views and touches on his Mormon beliefs. [Time]
2012 watch: In the latest in a string of polls, a Fox News survey of likely voters shows Romney with a 1 point advantage, 45 percent to 44 percent. [FoxNews] While an AP poll has Obama up 1. [WaPost]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says Mitt Romney compared the tea party to a ferret in a dishwasher. [Slate]
-> Get to know the "Mad Men" behind Romney's advertising strategy. [WaPost]
-> Paul Ryan's wife Janna comes from Democratic royalty in Oklahoma. [NYTimes]
-> The Obama campaign has far more field offices and campaign employees than Romney, a telling strategic difference. [WaPost]
-> Obama and Romney will address live Univision audiences, but on separate nights. [Politico]
-> Romney says his health plan is better than Obama's. [TheHill]
-> A look at Romney's time as a LDS stake president. [DNews]
-> Romney would seek to replace Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke if elected. [FoxBusiness]
-> The weak recovery is a boon to Republican hopes. [NBCNews]
-> Romney writes an op-ed on his experience at Bain Capital. [WSJ]
-> A commenter on an Obama campaign site suggests a whisper campaign against Romney centered around his LDS faith. [BuzzFeed]
Where are they?
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-- Matt Canham
