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If this bus had been purchased after the GOP convention and then used by their candidate, it probably wouldn't have warranted a shred of coverage. But it was purchased beforehand and used to transport President Obama to three states. In GOP-land, that's apparently a very big deal.

TPM: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...se.php?ref=fpa

Karl Rove's American Crossroads group is planning to "make a star out of" the $1.1 million armored bus President Barack Obama is using to travel across the country by featuring it in attack ads ahead of the 2012 election.

Such an ad would undoubtedly be a bit awkward for the eventual Republican presidential nominee, who'd be using an identical $1.1 million Secret Service-owned bus on the campaign trail by the time American Crossroads said they'd run the ads next fall.

It also puts the conservative organization in the position of attacking Obama for the Secret Service's decision to purchase two protective vehicles they say provide better security than campaign buses retro-fitted with protective armor, which they've "never been fully comfortable with."