Obama ad depicts Romney as vampire

WASHINGTON

US President Barack Obama makes his way to board Air Force One on May 14, 2012 before departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN

U.S. President Barack Obama’s camp unleashed a fierce assault on his Republican foe Mitt Romney on May 14, slamming the former venture capitalist as a “vampire” who got rich by bleeding dry ailing firms.

A new campaign ad airing in battleground states related how Romney’s firm Bain Capital took over and ultimately closed a steel plant in Kansas City, Missouri and featured emotive testimony from workers who lost their jobs.

The assault marked a key moment in the campaign ahead of November’s election, as Obama seeks to shred Romney’s main argument that his business background qualifies him to revive the U.S. economy.

Newsweek dubs Obama ‘first gay president’

Meanwhile, Obama attended two fundraisers in New York, including one with supporters from the gay community, co-hosted by openly gay singer Ricky Martin. The fundraiser was held less than a week after Obama announced that he supported same-sex marriages, a move that thrilled the gay and lesbian community but may not play as well with independent voters whose support will be crucial for Obama in the Nov. 6 election.

“We have never gone wrong when we expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody. That doesn’t weaken families, that strengthens families,” Obama said to applause. Republican leaders have vowed to use Obama’s support for gay marriage - which led Newsweek magazine to dub him “the first gay president” - against him as they try to attract support from independents and churchgoers who oppose gay marriage. Also, Ron Paul, the U.S. congressman who led a doggedly persistent presidential bid against Romney, said he is suspending active campaigning.

Compiled from AFP and Reuters stories by the Daily News staff.