Defense spending became an issue in the presidential race in North Carolina on Thursday, with Republicans blaming President Barack Obama for pending deep cuts, and Democrats firing back.

With Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan campaigning near Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, the Romney/Ryan campaign opened up.

“President Obama’s devastating defense cuts are set to have a massive impact on Fayetteville and the rest of North Carolina,” said Andrea Saul, a Romney campaign spokesperson. “Because of the president’s lack of leadership, North Carolina could be hit hard with thousands of job losses and millions of dollars in lost economic activity. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will restore our military’s strength and ensure our armed forces have the resources they need.”

But Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House budget committee, said if there are deep defense cuts in January it’s because of Republican intransigence.

In an interview, Van Hollen said the deep cuts were caused by a budget deal forced by House Republicans, led by Ryan, who were threatening last year to drive the U.S. into default.

He said the GOP has refused to accept the president’s “balanced approach” of budget cuts combined with some tax increases and ending some loopholes.

He added that Romney and Ryan have failed to embrace the compromise offered earlier this month by Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, which was to close tax loopholes in order to reduce defense cuts.

Anti-Obama film hits Triangle

A documentary casting President Barack Obama in a negative light that has drawn a lot of attention since opening in a relatively small number of theaters this summer expands to more than 1,000 venues on Friday, including four in the Triangle.

“2016: Obama’s America” is outselling all other movies in advance ticket sales, The Hollywood Reporter said Wednesday. The independent film is co-directed by conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, and is based on his book, “The Roots of Obama’s Rage.”

D’Souza posits the theory that Obama is driven by the anti-colonialist beliefs of his Kenyan father. The New York Times reports the film also throws in familiar characters such as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. and former radical Bill Ayers, and scholar Daniel Pipes, who is a vocal critic of radical Islamism and of Obama’s relationship with Israel.

The film is reportedly financed by about two dozen investors, according to The Times, including Joe Ricketts, a billionaire who had previously considered financing a massive ad campaign linking Obama with Wright, whose public remarks have been called racist and anti-American.

A number of prominent conservatives have denounced D’Souza’s book as irresponsible. But it has drawn large gross receipts even before Friday’s nationwide rollout.

In the Triangle, “2016” will play in Regal theaters in Raleigh, Cary, Garner and Apex, according to Fandango.

The Dude and the DNC

Actor and musician Jeff Bridges will play guitar and sing at the main stage during CarolinaFest 2012 on Labor Day in Charlotte, kicking off the Democratic National Convention.

Bridges and the Abiders will perform in the area known as “uptown” during the festival, which includes performances and speakers in family friendly event.

Among his many movie roles, Bridges played the lead role of the Dude in “The Big Lebowski,” which includes what has become one of many iconic lines in the film: “The Dude abides.”

See Obama’s speech

Tickets for President Barack Obama’s acceptance speech in Charlotte are available to the public starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Obama for America campaign offices. They’ll be available on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to one ticket per person. Obama campaign volunteers won’t have to wait in line – their credentials are available Friday. North Carolina is the first state to distribute tickets to the public for the Sept. 6 speech at Bank of America stadium during the Democratic National Convention.

In the Triangle, get tickets at: 130 E. Morgan St., Raleigh; 401 E. Lakewood Ave., Durham; 505B W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill.

Staff writers Rob Christensen, Craig Jarvis and John Frank

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