President Obama is expanding his attacks on Mitt Romney over funding for public broadcasting, releasing an ad today that further mocks Romney for saying that he would cut the budget for PBS as part of efforts to reduce federal spending.

"One man has the guts to speak his name," says the narrator on a new Obama advertisement, a quick shots follow of Romney saying "Big Bird" in various places on the campaign trail.

Here is the new ad from the Obama campaign:

Republicans immediately countered by criticizing the Obama Administration for focusing on Big Bird instead of other issues.

"8 mentions of Big Bird, 5 mentions of Elmo, 0 mentions of Libya, 0 plans to fix the economy," reads a new graphic produced by the Republican National Committee.

**UPDATE **

Sesame Street has now asked the Obama campaign to take down this ad.

"Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down," read a statement posted on the Sesame Workshop web site.