Newt Gingrich may not have got the memo but the battle for the Republican nomination is over. Some in the Romney campaign were hoping for a February end but others were fearing it would go on until June and a small number of Republicans even predicted a convention fight in August.

President Barack Obama reaches out to shake hands with a student at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, on Wednesday. ELYRIA, Ohio -- President Barack Obama said Wednesday that his Republican rivals are sincere, patriotic and absolutely wrong about how to reinvigorate the economy.

In another man-bites-dog development, President Barack Obama is now saying Republicans are patriots.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Challenger Mitt Romney savaged President Barack Obama#39;s handling of the economy on Wednesday while the president commiserated up close with victims of the recession and warned that Republicans would only make matters worse.

Their battle joined, challenger Mitt Romney savaged President Barack Obama#39;s handling of the economy on Wednesday while the commander in chief commiserated up close with victims of the recession and warned that Republicans would only make matters worse.