With Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney now in a dead heat with President Barack Obama, Big Bird continues to ruffle feathers on the campaign trail.

Romney has gained ground in the race for the White House since the first presidential debate when the Republican hopeful said he would cut funding for Public Television, including the Sesame Street character Big Bird.

With the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll now showing the two men tied ... the Obama campaign is making the most of those remarks in an ad campaign.

Romney says he has had enough.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE MITT ROMNEY SAYING:

"These are tough times with real serious issues so you have to scratch your head when the President spends the last week talking about saving Big Bird. I actually think we need to have a President that talks about saving the American people and saving good jobs and saving our future."

The candidates face off for the second of three debates next Tuesday in a town hall forum.