Sweet blog special: Romney calls Obama "Osama." Obama camp deplores his "fear-mongering." Jesse Jackson Jr. tapes S.C. spot. UPDATE WITH OBAMA COMMENT ON MITT.

MERRIMACK, N.H.–While Obama is speaking in a living room here, these other developments are brewing Tuesday:

*Obama campaign responds to GOP contender Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, calling him “Osama.” In a few hours Obama stumps in Boston with Massachusett Gov. Deval Patrick. We’ll see if he has comments for the former governor.

UPDATE

Asked about this by reporters Obama said, “I don’t pay too much attention to Mitt Romney.”

*Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who has been traveling as an Obama surrogate, cut his first ad for Obama. The spot is playing in South Carolina, where the African-American vote can make the difference.

LINK

text of Obama react to Romney..

“Apparently, Mitt Romney can switch names just as casually as he switches positions, but what’s wrongheaded is continuing a misguided war in Iraq that has left America less safe. It’s time to end the divisiveness and fear-mongering that is at the heart of Governor Romney’s campaign,” said campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

In case you missed it, check out what Romney had to say in South Carolina today:

NYT (The Caucus): Romney Makes Obama-Osama Gaffe

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/romney-makes-obama-osama-g…

By Michael Luo

Updated GREENWOOD, S.C. Mitt Romney might have still been a bit bleary-eyed this morning when he twice confused Senator Barack Obama with Osama bin Laden when referring to the latters new recorded message.

Mr. Romney was talking about global trade this morning, rolling out a spiffy new PowerPoint presentation before the Chamber of Commerce here in which he called for the United States to initiate global free trade zone agreements with other countries that he called the Reagan Zone of Economic Freedom.

But he paused to talk about the threat of radical Islam, taking John Edwards, one of his Democratic opponents, to task for comments he made several months ago that criticized the global war on terror as a bumper sticker for President Bush.

I think that is a position which is not consistent with the fact, Mr. Romney said. Actually, just look at what Osam uh Barack Obama, said just yesterday. Barack Obama calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. That is the central place, he said. Come join us under one banner.

The comment set off some confusion among the press corps. Glen Johnson of the Associated Press was momentarily frantically searching for comments made by Mr. Obama, another Democratic presidential contender, about jihadism and Iraq.

It turns out, of course, Mr. Romney was talking about the new audiotape from bin Laden calling on insurgents in Iraq to unite.

Oops.

Bill Burton for the Obama campaign sent this response, when asked for comment:

Apparently, Mitt Romney can switch names just as casually as he switches positions, but whats wrong-headed is continuing a misguided war in Iraq that has left America less safe. Its time to end the

divisiveness and fear-mongering that is at the heart of Governor Romneys campaign.