Romney's eyes on Ames

Mitt Romney launched a fresh attack on illegal immigration and leading Democrats today as he looks ahead to the Aug. 11 Republican straw poll in Ames, Iowa. Most observers expect him to win the poll, which is a key barometer of voter support prior to the caucuses.

Romney's crafty campaign, having some fun with Photoshop, devised a five-headed Democratic monster (see above) to try to paint the opposing party as uniformly unsupportive of American troops. "We don't just need a surge on the ground in Iraq – we need a surge of support for our troops as well," Romney said in a statement. "Democrats say they support the troops, but many don't support the work they are doing to make the surge successful."

Chalk this broadside up to Romney's ongoing audition for GOP front-runner.

Romney also went up on air with a new ad in Iowa reiterating his call for secure borders. Critics note that Romney has hardened his rhetoric on immigration since he was governor, but his hard line on the issue now is resonating with some conservative voters. The new ad is a new cut of a 60-second immigration spot that Romney's campaign unveiled earlier this year. Watch the new version below.