Vice-presidential jokester Joe Biden couldn't resist making an Etch A Sketch reference at Mitt Romney's expense yesterday, during a speech made in Coconut Creek, Florida. Biden leaped on Paul Ryan's proposed budget, which seeks to cut Medicaid, Social Security, food stamps and other government aid programs, saying there existed "no daylight" between Romney and Ryan when it comes to dismantling entitlements. And that's when the toy, which has recently superseded "Seamus" on the Romney campaign's Most Wanted Meme list, made its first appearance in an official White House statement: "And not even Romney’s Etch A Sketch can change that," Biden said, then paused for laughter. The laughter came.

In other Etch A Sketch news, Ron Paul has devoted an entire attack ad to the nostalgic drawing tablet. Under a tense soundtrack, we see footage of senior Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom uttering the words that would ignite a Romper Room revolution. Then comes a quick-cut barrage of cable news anchors, pundits, and even Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum shouting things like, "An Etch A Sketch! You shake the Etch A Sketch!"  Watching those four go after delegates is like an ugly match of Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Seth Abramovitch