"Republicans in Washington had an opportunity to do the right thing and keep student loan interest rates down. Instead, they voted to double them, making it harder for Americans to get a fair shot at an affordable education and a good job. They chose to stand with big business over the young adults of America, protecting tax loopholes and giveaways for Big Oil and rewarding companies that ship jobs overseas at the expense of students and our economy as a whole. Republicans, including Mitt Romney, have made it clear that education is not their priority. In Massachusetts, Romney's record higher education cuts resulted in college tuition in Massachusetts climbing 59 percent higher than the national average. Plus, he recently told a student worried about affording college that he should just 'shop around.' The clock is ticking -- Republicans have another shot to help students, but they have to act fast. Mitt Romney should stand up and call on Republicans to do the right thing, and the Republicans ought to do it."

"Mitt Romney wrote 'let Detroit go bankrupt,' and now he is trying to fool the American people by taking credit for the auto industry's revival. Mitt Romney made his opposition to saving the auto industry clear while the President was working with leaders in the auto industry to provide a lifeline. It was a hard decision, but the President took swift action to help the industry restructure, a move that has spurred the auto industry's revival and helped to create jobs across the country. President Obama knows that the auto industry and the millions of jobs associated with it are far too important to this country and for us here in Pennsylvania to be taken for granted. Mitt Romney repeatedly opposed the auto rescue, and now wants to claim that he deserves credit for the President's tough decision. This is a new low even for Mitt Romney."

Tom Smith is one of Pennsylvania's leading Tea Partiers. He founded a Tea Party covering two counties in Western Pennsylvania and he is a self-proclaimed "Tea Party guy," who is far to the right of mainstream Republicans. Smith's first and only public event following his primary win was a Tea Party rally where he became only the sixth Senate candidate in the country to receive the endorsement of the Tea Party Express - a national Tea Party group. The Tea Party is embracing Tom Smith because he has embraced their policies for years. Smith has backed their push to end Medicare as we know it, which will raise costs for seniors. Smith also would privatize Social Security and eliminate the Department of Education - two policies backed by the Tea Party.

After a bruising primary, most candidates move toward the center, but Tom Smith has doubled-down on his Tea Party past by embracing their endorsement and applauding their efforts. Meanwhile, the Tea Party is ecstatic over Tom Smith's victory, calling it a victory for the Tea Party and a show of their strength.