DENVER--President Barack Obama mocked Mitt Romney at a Thursday rally here--the day after his weak debate performance--for going after Big Bird. "Thank goodness somebody is finally getting tough on Big Bird. It's about time," Obama said.

"Now, last night Governor Romney ruled out raising a dime of taxes on anybody, ever, no matter how much money they make. He ruled out closing the loophole that gives oil companies $4 billion in corporate welfare. He refused to even acknowledge the loophole that gives tax breaks to corporations that shift jobs overseas," Obama said.

"And when he was asked what he'd actually do to cut the deficit and reduce spending, he said he'd eliminate funding for public television. That was his answer.

"I mean, thank goodness somebody is finally getting tough on Big Bird. It's about time.

"We didn't know that Big Bird was driving the federal deficit. But that's what we heard last night. How about that?"