Alex Roarty

Alex Roarty

Staff Writer, Politics

Alex is a politics writer for National Journal. He also contributes to 2012 Decoded. Prior to joining National Journal, he covered Pennsylvania politics and government for three and a half years, most recently as editor of the Harrisburg-based PoliticsPA.com. There, he covered the Keystone State's gubernatorial, Senate and congressional elections from Philadelphia to Erie. Roarty graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., in 2007 with a degree in journalism and English. 

Alex Roarty's Latest Posts

Will North Carolina Shape the Future of the Senate?

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The race there could go a long way to determining whether Republicans or Democrats control the upper chamber in 2015.  Read More »

Republicans Begging for Money to Put Massachusetts Senate Seat In Play

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Despite polls showing the race competitive, GOP outside groups aren't buying. Read More »

Gabriel Gomez Getting Help From Super PAC

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Newly-formed group spending over a half-million for Republican's Senate campaign in Massachusetts. Read More »

Why the Republicans Aren’t Giving Up on White Folks

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Learning the lessons of 2012 meant diversifying the GOP’s base. But whites still hold the key to retaking the Senate in 2014.  Read More »

Why Republicans Can't Catch a Break

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Presented with numerous opportunities, Senate Republicans haven't caught any breaks. Read More »

Chris Christie, at a Crossroads

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In appointing Frank Lautenberg's successor, the New Jersey governor needs to decide whether he wants to help Senate Republicans, or his own reelection. Read More »

Reality Check: Bachmann Retirement All About Politics

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The controversial lawmaker faced a tough reelection in a solidly Republican district. Read More »

The NRCC Still Loves George W. Bush

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Can You Still Win an Election If You’re Against Gay People?

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A candidate for lieutenant governor in Virginia who might have done well a decade ago now faces an increasingly tolerant electorate.  Read More »

Republican Blueprint for 2014? Scandal, Most of the Time

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Republicans are downplaying the need to retool the party, anticipating Obama's second-term struggles. Read More »

Obama's Troubles Could Put Massachusetts Senate Seat In Play -- Again

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In 2010, Republicans won a special election during a low point of Obama's presidency. Will it happen again? Read More »

Watch the First Campaign Ad to Invoke the Newtown Shootings

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Locked in a close Massachusetts Senate race, Ed Markey goes negative against Gabriel Gomez. Read More »

Congressional Republicans Are Milking the Scandals for Everything

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GOP members in both chambers finally feel like they have something to hang around the president’s neck.  Read More »

Obama's Struggles Hampering Democratic Recruitment

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It's tough to persuade Democrats to run in a challenging political environment. Read More »

Democrats Lose Top Recruit in South Dakota

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Herseth Sandlin passes on Senate run, leaving Republicans with early edge to win seat. Read More »

In Massachusetts, Gomez Internal Poll Shows Close Race

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Democratic Rep. Ed Markey holds only a narrow advantage against Republican Gabriel Gomez in the special election for Senate in Massachusetts, according to an internal poll from the GOP candidate’s campaign, the latest sign the blu...

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If Democrats Can’t Beat a Confessed Adulterer, What Chance Do They Have?

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Mark Sanford’s win in South Carolina shows how difficult it will be for liberals to reclaim control of the House.  Read More »

With a Special Election Win, Mark Sanford Completes His Comeback

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Overcoming the disgrace of a bizarre extramarital affair while he was governor of South Carolina, former Rep. Mark Sanford reclaimed a seat in Congress on Tuesday by winning a special election over Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch. Read More »

Why South Carolina’s Election Could Matter More to Democrats

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Ed Markey Will Face Gabriel Gomez in Massachusetts Senate Race

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Markey, who has served in Congress since 1976, is the favorite to serve as the state's junior senator. Read More »

In the Aftermath of Gun-Bill Loss in Senate, Liberals Put Incumbent Democrats on Notice

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After last week’s failed gun-control vote in the Senate, in which a handful of moderate Democrats defected from their party, a coalition of progressive groups is warning those at-risk incumbents to start avoiding votes that make t...

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Pat Toomey’s Tilt Toward Middle Angers Conservative Base

By Alex Roarty
The junior senator from Pennsylvania’s doomed effort to broker a gun-control compromise on background checks provoked anger among fellow Republicans, who called him an enemy of the Second Amendment and a traitor to the conservativ...

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Max Baucus's Sudden Retirement Puts Pressure on Former Montana Governor

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It's Schweitzer or bust for Democrats as they hope to hold a pivotal Senate seat. Read More »
PEOPLE

Five Staffers to Watch in the DCCC and NRCC

By Alex Roarty
The battle for the House majority will rage across the country next year. And few groups will wield more influence on those races than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committ...

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CONGRESS

How Pat Toomey Became the Face of the Blue State GOP

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The senator from Pennsylvania could have followed Rick Santorum. Instead, he's moving to the center on guns and gay rights.  Read More »

Report: Democratic Activists Admitted Recording McConnell Meeting

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Is the GOP Preparing to Attack Dems on Social Security?

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Did Anyone Bug Mitch McConnell's Office?

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The Kentucky Senate race has taken a turn for the whodunit. Read More »
CONGRESS

Why This Democratic Senator Won't Support Same-Sex Marriage

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There are now only four Democratic senators who have not expressed support for gay marriage. Sen. Mark Pryor is likely to stay that way. Read More »

South Carolina Special Election Will Be High-Profile but Have Little National Significance

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There's little reason to believe this off-year fight between Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch and Republican Mark Sanford will carry with it important political lessons. Read More »

House Democrats See Potential Gains in 2014 Without Obama on the Ticket

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DCCC officials say they have found a silver lining amid much pessimism about the 2014 midterm elections. Read More »
SENATE

Can Rand Paul Bring Libertarians Into the GOP?

By Alex Roarty
Mainstream Republicans may not welcome them, but the party could use the lift. Read More »

Obamacare Is a Prescription for a Democratic Headache in 2014

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With key provisions of "Obamacare" set to take effect in 2014, both parties are assessing the potential political fallout from the seismic changes coming to our health care system. Read More »

DSCC Outraises NRSC 2-to-1

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DCCC Expands Its Voter-Outreach Efforts

By Alex Roarty
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee rounded out its leadership team Wednesday, announcing a plethora of lawmakers to head outreach efforts to different voter groups. Read More »

Meet the RNC's Curious Poster Boy for Hispanic Outreach

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House GOP Confident on Paul Ryan’s Medicare Plan

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The House Budget Committee chairman’s plan to balance the federal budget in 10 years would have been, until recently, cause for House Republicans to fret. But emboldened by last year’s elections, the House GOP believes it c...

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Vulnerable Senate Dems on Their Own on Budget Vote

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SENATE

How Republicans Can Win the Senate

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Right-wing candidates can take the red states, but in 2014 that won't be enough. Read More »

Carl Levin Not Running for Reelection

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Sen. Carl Levin , D-Mich., announced late on Thursday that he will not seek a seventh term in 2014, leaving Democrats with another open seat to defend next year. Levin called the decision "extremely difficult" and said he wanted...

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Dems Focus on Freshmen in Frontline Program

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SENATE

How the House Holds the Senate GOP Hostage

By Alex Roarty
Upper-chamber Republicans prefer a more circumspect approach, but they are increasingly defined by their hard-line House counterparts. Read More »

Branstad-Backed Push for Reynolds Falls Flat With Iowa GOP Grassroots

By Alex Brown and
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Tea Party Victory: Latham Won't Run for Senate in Iowa

By Alex Brown and
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Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Kicks Off ‘Women Lead’

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Reps. Chellie Pingree and Lois Frankel will lead a group to recruit and support female candidates for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in an effort to bolster the party’s already-prodigious edge among women, the pol...

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NRSC Cites Staff Changes for Jan. Fundraising Loss

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2012 VOTE RATINGS

Can This Congress Be Saved?

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National Journal’s annual vote ratings show a Congress as paralyzed and polarized as ever. But better days may lie ahead. Read More »

DCCC Outraises NRCC in January

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Nebraska Governor Early Frontrunner to Succeed Retiring Senator Mike Johanns

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Nebraska GOP Sen. Mike Johanns announced Monday that he won’t seek re-election, declaring that he was retiring from politics after a decades-long career in public office. Read More »

Why Democrats Think They Can Retake the House in 2014

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New NRCC Chairman, House Republicans Hope to Lead Party Rehab

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House Republicans have a conflict of interest. What worked for them in 2012, when the GOP conference comfortably retained its majority, saw the party's presidential nominee and a slew of Senate candidates crash to a disappointing...

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NRCC Picks Regional Political Directors

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Paul Broun First to File for Ga. Senate Race

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Brown Won't Run in Mass. Senate Special

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NRCC and DCCC Start 2014 Election Cycle on Level Financial Field

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The National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee begin the 2014 election cycle on nearly equal financial footing, according to fundraising reports each will file Thursday with the F...

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GOP Insiders Daring Dems Over Climate Change

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Don't hold your breath for bipartisan consensus on climate change just yet -- at least not if National Journal 's Political Insiders have something to say about it. Asked whether it had become a winning issue for Democrats, near...

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Insiders Diverge on Obama's Second-Term Style

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No surprises here: National Journal 's Democratic and Republican Political Insiders had sharply diverging views of President Obama 's newly unveiled my-way-or-the-highway style. While 9 out of ten Democratic Insiders said the c...

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Team Boehner Announces Political Staff Assignments

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John Boehner names longtime aide Kevin McGrann as executive director of his political operation, one of several personnel changes announced this week by the House speaker. Read More »

Insiders See Dems With Edge in Gun-Law Debate

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By a slim margin, National Journal's political insiders gave the edge to Democrats on the highly-charged issue of gun control. Slightly fewer than two-thirds of the Democratic Insiders believed their party had the most to gain fr...

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Insiders: Dems Have Upper Hand in Debt Ceiling Negotiation

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National Journal ’s political insiders came to a rare point of consensus on which party had the upper hand in the upcoming talks over the debt ceiling: Democrats. A full 83 percent of Democratic Insiders gave the edge to their...

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SENATE

Democrats May Be Their Own Worst Enemy on Guns

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A bloc of Democratic senators could be President Obama’s biggest threat in passing stronger gun-control laws. Read More »

Exclusive: GOP Targets Seven House Democrats It Calls Vulnerable

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Vowing to expand their majority, House Republicans have identified seven Democrats they consider top targets for the midterm elections, according to a National Republican Congressional Committee memo obtained by National Journal. Read More »

Insiders Split on Hagel Nomination

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A majority of Democrats think President Obama's selection of Chuck Hagel to run the Department of Defense was -- politically speaking -- the right choice, according to the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll, but confi...

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GOP Insiders: Avoid Same-Sex Marriage Issue

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National Journal 's Political Insiders moved closer to embracing gay marriage, in the wake of historic ballot initiatives that legalized same-sex marriage in some states November and the first endorsement from a sitting president.&...

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POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Political Insiders: Republicans Divided on How to Address Gay Marriage

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Plus, Democrats aren't sold that Chuck Hagel is President Obama's best choice for Defense secretary. Read More »
ANALYSIS: HOUSE

Are Voters Really Bothered by GOP Turmoil?

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Democrats say they can win back the House by depicting the GOP as too fractious to get anything done. We’ll see. Read More »

Senate GOP App Worth a Look

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The Senate Republican Conference is unveiling an app that it bills as a “one-stop shop” for all GOP news in the upper chamber.  Read More »
PEOPLE

Lots of Holdovers on DCCC Staff

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s retention of so many staffers from the last election cycle indicates that, by and large, House Democrats were happy with a performance that saw them gain eight seats last year. Her...

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INFLUENCE

Matt Walker Heads to the National Restaurant Association

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The National Restaurant Association picks former Senate aide as its new vice president of government affairs. Matt Walker will lead the group’s advocacy efforts in the Senate. Read More »
ANALYSIS

Gun-Control Converts Could Pave Way to New Laws

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Members of Congress are reexamining their opinions on gun laws and some traditionally anti-gun-control lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans alike — will be central to any effort to ban assault weapons and limit high-capacity am...

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POLITICS

Axelrod: Hillary Clinton 'First Among Equals' for 2016 Nomination

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David Axelrod thinks Hillary Rodham Clinton would be the Democratic Party’s presidential front-runner in 2016, and that isn’t news. What does grab attention is the extent to which President Obama’s political guru on Thursday m...

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POLITICS

GOP Risks Political Backlash in Michigan Labor Fight

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Republicans have been soul-searching on any number of issues since their startling setback on Election Day. Should they adjust their position on immigration reform? Soften their rhetoric on women’s issues? Abandon their staunch...

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POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Democratic Insiders Happy With Their Party's Fiscal-Cliff Performance

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Their GOP counterparts are less positive about their own party. Plus: Taxes will likely top both parties' legislative agendas in 2013. Read More »

Insiders: Dems Outperforming GOP in Fiscal Cliff Negotiations

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POLITICS

Will Tax Debate Prompt GOP to Drop Role as Protector of Rich?

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If Capitol Hill Republicans relent in their staunch opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy — as Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and others have suggested they should — some in the GOP will surely breathe a quiet sigh of relief. Read More »
INFLUENCE

Goldman CEO - Time for Both Sides to Yield on Fiscal Cliff

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Republicans and Democrats each need to compromise on some of their core convictions to strike a deal and avert the looming fiscal cliff, according to Lloyd Blankfein, CEO and chairman of financial giant Goldman Sachs. Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

Business Groups Seek Reconciliation with Obama

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Making amends with the president isn’t just good publicity, it might be a necessity for their bottom lines.  Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Weigh In on No-Tax Pledge, Fiscal Cliff

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Democrats see more harm in pledge than Republicans do; Insiders of both stripes support a compromise to avoid the cliff. Read More »

Insiders in Both Parties Want Fiscal Cliff Deal

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Poll: Pa. Voters Mixed on Corbett Ahead of Reelection Campaign

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Insiders: Look to Florida for Strongest 2016 GOP Candidate

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
The strongest GOP presidential nominee in 2016 will come from Florida, according to the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll. But Republicans and Democrats don't agree if that person is Sen. Marco Rubio or former Gov...

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POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

GOP Insiders: Rubio for President in 2016?

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Republican Political Insiders tout the senator from Florida as the strongest potential nominee in 2016. Democrats say Republicans would be smart to nominate Jeb Bush.  Read More »

Super PAC Spending Proves to Be a Bad Investment at Presidential Level

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The outside groups that were supposed to reshape the presidential campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars in TV ads failed to leave more than a dent in President Obama’s vote total. So what, exactly, happened? Read More »
ELECTION 2012: COMING ATTRACTIONS

Forget About Election Fatigue—Campaign 2016 Starts Now

By and
Republicans are without an heir apparent for 2016. That is a disoriented position for a party that has traditionally anointed a previous primary challenger, the next-in-line candidate, to become its standard-bearer four years later.  Read More »
ELECTION 2012

Obama Gives Lofty Victory Speech, Calls for Compromise

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President Obama on Tuesday urged Americans to unite after a fiercely fought campaign, turning his victory speech into a declaration of hope that the country can still solve its biggest problems despite partisan differences. Read More »
ELECTION 2012

Romney Concedes; Appeals for End of Partisan Bickering

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Mitt Romney said during his concession speech Tuesday night that he would “pray” for President Obama’s success during his second term in office, urging all the politicians of both major parties to push aside partisan politics ...

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ELECTION 2012

Live Exit Poll Data

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The preliminary exit poll of the presidential race hasn’t revealed any surprises, according to the Associated Press , with six in 10 voters reporting the economy is the country’s top issue. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Post-Sandy Gallup Poll Shows Tight Presidential Race

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An outlier no longer, Gallup on Monday released a poll that showed Mitt Romney and President Obama locked in a dead heat among likely voters nationwide. The GOP presidential nominee held a statistically insignificant 49 percent to...

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ANALYSIS: POLITICS

The Ohio Vote Count Could Be a Mess

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A recount of the presidential race results in Ohio could see a repeat of the delays, confusion, and chaos that racked Florida in 2000. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

In Final Negative Ad Blast, Reward Could Trump Risk

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Even for a campaign marked by bare-knuckled politics, the presidential race’s final week has taken an unusually nasty turn. Read More »

Mormon Solidarity Bolsters Romney in Nevada

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LAS VEGAS—For most Republicans, this presidential election is less about putting Mitt Romney in the White House than kicking President Obama out of it. Their support for the GOP presidential nominee is often driven by contempt ...

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Pennsylvania, 12th House District

GOP winner Keith Rothfus previously ran for Congress in 2010, when he narrowly lost to 4th District Democrat Jason Altmire. This time around, he was able to take advantage of redistricting that awarded Pittsburgh’s northern suburb...

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GOP Insiders More Confident Than Ever of Romney Win

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Republicans have never been more confident that President Obama will lose re-election, according to the latest National Journal Insiders Poll, but Democratic conviction their party's leader will earn a second term still hasn't ...

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POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Who Will Win on Tuesday?

By , and
NJ ’s Political Insiders predict whether Obama or Romney will win on Election Day. And they assess the political impact of Sandy on the presidential contest. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

In Iowa and New Hampshire, an 18-Month Presidential Campaign

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New Hampshire and Iowa voters are used to White House hopefuls and money deluging their states in high summer, six months before their leadoff primary-season contests and 18 months before the actual election. This time, the courtshi...

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Insiders: What Groups Most Important to WH Prospects?

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Want to know if Mitt Romney is on track to win the presidency? Check out how he's performing among blue-collar whites, college-educated white women, and seniors. For President Obama , watch one group in particular: Hispanics. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Why We Might Not Have a Presidential Winner on Election Night

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Two presidential campaigns are underway: One to win on Election Day, the other to win after it. Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Demography as Destiny

By , and
Which demographic groups do Insiders see as key to the presidential race? And how do the Insiders assess their party’s ground game? Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama-Romney Debate Likely to be Last Major Moment of Campaign

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The Monday night showdown between President Obama and Mitt Romney was not just the final debate between the two men—it was in all likelihood the last major moment of this presidential campaign. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Third Presidential Debate: Last Best Chance to Show Vision, Likability, Command

By and
Mitt Romney won the first 2012 presidential debate decisively, while President Obama rebounded two weeks later with a narrow victory. That leaves Monday’s third and final faceoff — one ostensibly set to focus on foreign policy ...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

New Poll Shows Presidential Race Still Deadlocked

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The race between President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney is deadlocked among likely voters in the Nov. 6 general election, according to a new NBC News / Wall Street Journal poll released on Sunday. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Gallup Editor Defends Polls

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Under fire that his organization’s poll leans disproportionately Republican, Gallup Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport told Fox News Sunday that his group’s polling methodology is “extremely solid.” Read More »
ANALYSIS

In a Campaign About the Economy, Foreign Policy May Get the Last Word

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It’s no secret that the economy has been the primary topic in the presidential race, but in the home-stretch of a dead-heat match, both campaigns are spending an increasing amount of time debating foreign policy. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Rubio Questions Administration's Honesty on Libya

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Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said on Sunday that it’s fair to question whether the White House suppressed reports detailing the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya because the information was politically inconvenient. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Portman: Ohio 'Trend is in Our Direction'

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Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman was optimistic that his home state is will back Mitt Romney for the presidency. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Portman Accuses Administration of 'Another National Security Leak'

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Sen. Rob Portman, a top surrogate for Mitt Romney, dismissed a report that the United States and Iran are poised to enter one-on-one negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Rubio: There 'Isn't Much to Talk About' on Iran-U.S. Talks

By
A top Republican on Sunday deflected reports that Iran has agreed to negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

New Poll Shows Obama, Romney Tied

By Steven Shepard and
The race between President Obama and Mitt Romney is deadlocked among likely voters in the Nov. 6 general election, according to a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll slated to be released on Sunday. Read More »

Insiders Poll: Administration's Benghazi Response Harmful?

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Just over 50 percent of all National Journal Political Insiders think the Obama administration's response to the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya has been politically harmful to the president. Fifteen percent wen...

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POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Partisans Split Over Favorite Debate Moderators

By , and
Which of the three—Jim Lehrer, Martha Raddatz, or Candy Crowley—has done the best job? Republican and Democratic Insiders give very different answers. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Debate Triggers War Over Women on TV, Twitter, Trail, and Phone

By
A pitched battle over women’s issues in the second debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney escalated into a full-scale war Wednesday, with both sides taking to TV, Twitter, conference calls and the campaign trail to launch ...

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ELECTION ANALYSIS

Romney-Obama Debate No. 2: Inflicting Pain, But Not Feeling It

By
The second presidential debate served up a battery of chances for Mitt Romney to prove he understands the problems facing average Americans. But the Republican presidential nominee may remember it more for missed opportunities than ...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll Shows Romney Gaining Ground in Pennsylvania

By
President Obama now holds only a narrow lead over Mitt Romney in Pennsylvania, a state thought only a month ago to be safely in the incumbent’s corner, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University released on Tuesday. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

What the Candidates Need to Do in Debate No. 2

By and
One night in Denver two weeks ago proved that the presidential debates can matter. With President Obama now on the defensive and Republican Mitt Romney seeking to cement his gains, here are the stakes for Tuesday night’s matchup a...

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Insiders: Weight by Party ID

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
A bi-partisan consensus of political Insiders say pollsters should weight their surveys by Party ID instead of adjusting their sample only by demographics like race and gender, according to the latest National Journal Political I...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Joe Biden Offers Most Vigorous Defense of Obama Stimulus So Far

By
Vice President Joe Biden offered an unprecedented defense of the Obama administration’s $800 billion-plus stimulus bill to an audience of millions during Thursday night’s debate, and even found a way to use what’s been a polit...

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POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Ohio on the Minds of Political Insiders

By , and
Who will win Ohio—Mitt Romney or President Obama? Plus: Should pollsters weight the results of their surveys by party affiliation? Insiders weigh in. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Biden-Ryan Undercard Debate Carries Extra Punch This Year

By and
Vice presidential debates rarely matter as much as their presidential counterparts, but Thursday’s showdown between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan could prove an exception.  Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Medicare: The Hard Issue Just Around the Corner

By
LAS VEGAS — People like 31-year Army veteran Herb Randall could decide the 2012 presidential election. Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Assess Akin, Romney Gaffes

By , and
Political Insiders weigh in on damage done by Romney’s “47 percent” comment and on whether national GOP organizations should still help pay for Akin's campaign. Read More »

Political Insiders: Don't Bet on Dems Winning House

By Alex Roarty, Naureen Khan and Brian McGill
Will Democrats retake the House? Don't bet on it, according to the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll. Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Democrats Bullish on Senate Majority

By , and
Neither party's Insiders expect Democrats to win the House, but Democrats are increasingly bullish about keeping their majority in the Senate.  Read More »
ANALYSIS: POLITICS

Romney's Best Debate Strategy: Just Make Contact

By
Mitt Romney will need to resist the temptation to swing for the fences in the first presidential debate. He needs to start a rally, not hit a solo home run.  Read More »

GOP Insiders: Senate A No-Go

By Alex Roarty, Naureen Khan and Brian McGill
Republicans no longer think they're going to retake the Senate, according to the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll, a stunning drop in optimism for a party that began 2012 confident it would regain control of the chamber. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Colorado Remaining Red Among Blue-Leaning Battlegrounds

By
The Republican ticket's barnstorm of Colorado this week brings Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to the rare swing state that has kept a red hue on an electoral map where many battlegrounds are turning blue. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney's Fundraising Comes Down to Earth

By
After a summer in which he routinely posted larger fundraising hauls than President Obama, Mitt Romney was supposed to march into the home-stretch of the campaign accompanied by a war chest so massive it would induce insomnia at Oba...

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POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

GOP Insiders Dump on Romney Campaign

By , and
Both Republicans and Democratic Political Insiders agree that the Obama campaign is superior. Plus, GOP Insiders now say Obama has better than even odds of winning reelection. Read More »
ANALYSIS: POLITICS

Priorities USA: The Little PAC That Could

By
In the era of Citizens United , not all super PACs are created equal. The only outside super PAC backing President Obama is having an outsized influence on the presidential race.  Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney And Allies Have Money, But Will It Matter?

By
Mitt Romney may be beset by controversy and behind in most polls, but he and his armada of allies still have plenty of one thing that could help them prevail over President Obama and win the White House: money. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Will Gaffes and Disarray Sink Mitt Romney?

By
Mitt Romney isn’t losing because of gaffes and internal friction. But he eventually could be. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Romney Video: Another Gust of Wind for a Campaign Already Teetering

By
In politics, timing is everything. And so it might be with gaffes. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Obama Campaign's Ad Strategy Goes Against Political Grain

By
For President Obama’s campaign, the best offense is a good defense. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

As Economy Sags, Romney Talks Libya, Egypt, Medicare, and God

By
Here’s what voters heard a lot of Wednesday: Mitt Romney assailing President Obama -- critics would say prematurely and ineptly -- over his handling of protests in Egypt and a deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Note to GOP: When Your Pollster Says Don't Worry, You Should

By
Here’s a rule of thumb for campaigns: When they have to start telling supporters not to worry, it’s probably time to start worrying. Read More »

Grim News Undercuts Economic Case for Obama

By
The story that party and business leaders inside the Democratic National Convention are telling is one that has President Obama restoring stability and confidence to a deeply wounded economy. But outside the convention, a stream of ...

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Voters Trust Real People, Not Pols

By
Cynical about the veracity of political attacks, voters are increasingly resistant to messages they find exaggerated, political strategists for both parties say. Now, the campaigns are being urged to turn to an unlikely tactic to pu...

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For Charlotte Mayor, Convention Is a Stepping Stone

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It’s hardly breaking news to say that Anthony Foxx, the telegenic 41-year-old mayor of North Carolina’s largest city, will likely shift his gaze to higher office sometime. But this week’s convention brings renewed attention to...

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Conventioneers Snag Political Swag

By National Journal Staff
Before the convention even started, the Charlotte host committee was trying to cast the Democrats as the “big tent” party, just a few days after the Republican National Convention pulled out all the stops to try to appeal to ...

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CONVENTION ANALYSIS

Romney Convention Offers Chance for Reboot

By and
Three days can’t repair an image, nearly six years in formation, that’s made Mitt Romney the least popular presidential nominee in modern political history. But as a quick makeover, the Republican National Convention was a good start. Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

How Obama's Tax Plan Could Drive Away the College-Educated

By
Voters with college degrees have weathered the economic storm better than their working-class counterparts. But many of them make more than $250,000—and the president’s plan to raise their taxes might push them into Mitt Romney...

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At the Convention, Music Can Also Be the Medium

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It sealed what will surely go down as one of this Republican National Convention’s most memorable moments. Ann Romney, after delivering an emotional testimonial on behalf of her husband, turned to walk off the stage hand-in-hand w...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

Ron Paul Honored as Small-Government Crusader, Minus Pesky Specifics

By
The notably brief tribute to the libertarian icon focused almost entirely on his push for smaller government. Not mentioned: Paul’s controversial positions and many clashes with the Republican Party over the last two decade, ri...

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Seen at the RNC: Outfits, Parties, and Baldwins

By National Journal Staff
In the hours leading up to her speech on Tuesday, Ann Romney still didn’t know what to wear. Not that it’s an easy choice for a potential first lady, whose outfits receive the scrutiny of both the fashion press and the nation...

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Inside the GOP Communications War Room

By
One hundred and twenty-five—that’s roughly the number of men and women staffing the GOP communications war room during the convention. A squadron that large should be excessive, but consider another number: 15,000. That’s the ...

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Romney’s Bold Stage Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright

By
Here’s the challenge Republican convention organizers found themselves stuck with: How could they capture the attention of a viewing public increasingly distracted by their Facebook accounts and smartphones? Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

GOP Says Convention Will Remain at Three Days

By
Republican officials reiterated on Monday evening that their three-day convention schedule remains unchanged despite Tropical Storm Isaac’s approach. Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

Is Donald Trump Really Out of the GOP Picture?

By
A senior adviser for the Romney campaign hinted on Monday that despite the cancellation of the day's events at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, controversial celebrity Donald Trump may yet play a role. Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

GOP: 'Wait and See' on Convention Schedule

By
Republican officials are holding to their “wait-and-see” approach to their convention schedule as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches the Gulf Coast region, Mitt Romney adviser Russ Schriefer said on Monday. Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

Shifting Storm Path Poses New Challenges for GOP

By , and Jim Tankersley
Tropical Storm Isaac is veering away from a direct hit on Tampa Bay and toward a potentially large political problem for Mitt Romney and the Republican National Convention delegates poised to nominate him for president. Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

Big Names of GOP Left Offstage, And Not By Accident

By
Some of the biggest names in politics will be missing from the stage during the Republican National Convention this week in Tampa, and that’s no accident. The Mitt Romney campaign is aiming to focus squarely on President Obama’s...

Read More »

New GOP Plan Subject To Weather

By
GOP, Eyeing Isaac, Issues New Convention Schedule The revised schedule is for a convention running from Tuesday to Thursday. Romney campaign adviser Russ Schriefer said officials are monitoring the weather closely and le...

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GOP Convention Could Go To Friday

By and
GOP Planners Could Extend Convention to Friday.  Republicans are leaving open the possibility of extending their Tampa convention by a day, a senior Republican official told National Journal .  With Isaac exp...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

GOP Convention Lineup Will Stay Mostly the Same, Tuesday-Thursday

By and Jim O'Sullivan
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Republican officials unveiled their revised schedule on Sunday evening, revealing an unchanged prime-time lineup for Tuesday through Thursday night and the seemingly seamles...

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CONVENTION ANALYSIS

Convention Delay One More Hurdle for Romney

By and
The one-day delay of the Republican National Convention shrouds in uncertainty the most carefully scripted political event in the country, putting officials from Mitt Romney’s campaign in the awkward position of making last-minu...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

Republicans Delay Convention Start to Tuesday Due to Weather Concerns

By
Republican officials are delaying the start of their convention until at least Tuesday as Tropical Storm Isaac bears down on the Tampa Bay region, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Saturday in a memo. Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

GOP Delays Convention Start

By
Severe weather pushes GOP convention to Tuesday. GOP officials are delaying the start of the Republican National Convention in Tampa to at least Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Isaac, according to a memo released by Republica...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

Candidates Don't Always Get Winning Narratives Out of Conventions

By
Every four years at their conventions, presidential candidates get a few days to present their lives and aspirations exactly the way they want their stories to be told. Friends, relatives and allies deliver testimonials to their cha...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

GOP Convention to Feature Ron Paul Tribute

By
The Republican National Convention on Tuesday will feature a video testimonial to former presidential candidate Ron Paul , a nod to the libertarian icon’s influence on the GOP. Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

Tampa Mayor: Storm Threat Greatly Diminished

By and Steve Shepard
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said on Thursday that state, local and Republican National Convention officials are “significantly” less concerned that Tropical Storm Isaac will be a severe disruption to next week’s gathering after t...

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Q&A

GOP Convention CEO Bill Harris on Running the Show in Tampa

By
This year’s Republican confab will be the 11th GOP gathering Harris has worked on—and the third he’s run. A National Journal Q&A. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Could Akin Damage the Top of the GOP Ticket?

By
Isolated comments from a political candidate, even those remarks as incendiary as Todd Akin ’s suggestion that “legitimate rape” doesn’t cause pregnancy, usually deliver only a glancing, temporary blow to other members of t...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama Has Significantly Less Money on Hand Than Romney

By
President Obama has significantly less money on hand than Mitt Romney as he heads into the presidential race’s home stretch, according to documents filed on Monday with the Federal Election Commission. Read More »

For Romney, China Attack Worth Backlash

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Ryan's New GOP Role Could Reopen Social Security Debate

By
Rep. Paul Ryan’s presence on the Republican presidential ticket has sparked a political battle over the future of Medicare and the federal budget. His new role could also push another sensitive issue into the foreground: Social Se...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Negative Talk About Romney Still Eclipses Positive Chat

By
Paul Ryan needs to provide a positive jolt to Mitt Romney’s campaign: Voters continue to bad-mouth the presumptive Republican nominee, according to National Journal’s latest Conversation Nation poll. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama's Iowa Idyll: Not Just a Trip Down Memory Lane

By
President Obama’s three-day, nine-city bus tour of Iowa this week seems less a part of his 2012 reelection campaign — which usually involves jetting across the country on Air Force One — than a throwback to the retail politics...

Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

O'Connor Not Surprised at Roberts Decision

By
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on Sunday said she wasn't surprised at Chief Justice John Roberts’s decision to uphold the federal health care law and added that she didn't know if he – as reported – switche...

Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Axelrod Won't Support Reid's Claim on Romney's Taxes

By
David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the Obama campaign, on Sunday reiterated calls for Mitt Romney to release more tax returns but declined to support Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s assertion – made without any evidence to p...

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SUNDAY SHOWS

Rollins: Romney Should Release More Tax Returns

By
Ed Rollins, a GOP strategist and the manager of President Ronald Reagan’s 1984 campaign, said on Sunday that Mitt Romney should release the last five years of his tax returns to quell questions about his personal finances. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Cruz: Tea Party Wave Will Grow in 2012

By
Ted Cruz, the Texas tea party favorite who last week became the latest conservative candidate to win an upset in a U.S. Senate primary, argued on Sunday that the wave that propelled tea party hopefuls in 2010 will grow only bigger u...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Negative Talk About Romney Spikes After Gaffes

By
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s gaffe-filled foreign trip did some political damage stateside, according to a poll from  Conversation Nation,  a joint project of National Journal and the survey research...

Read More »

It's Not Just the Economy, Stupid

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
POLITICS

Democrats to Officially Back Gay Marriage

By Alex Roarty
The Democratic Party has for the first time decided to endorse same-sex marriage in its platform, according to reports. The move comes after President Obama announced his support for gay marriage earlier this year. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Democrats to Officially Back Gay Marriage

By
The Democratic Party has for the first time decided to endorse same-sex marriage in its platform, according to reports. The move comes after President Obama announced his support for gay marriage earlier this year. Read More »
Q&A

Welcome, Republicans

By
Bob Buckhorn, the Democratic mayor of Tampa, Fla., won’t have to wait long for the ultimate test of his short tenure in office. Elected only last year, Buckhorn is now deep in preparations for the Republican National Convention th...

Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Grading Romney

By , and
Political Insiders grade Mitt Romney’s campaign and weigh in on the effectiveness of the attacks on Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital.  Read More »

Insiders Give Romney's Campaign So-So Marks

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Mitt Romney 's campaign isn't winning many plaudits from the country's political class, according to the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll. Read More »

Insiders: Bain Attacks Effective

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Two months is a long time in presidential politics. A bipartisan swath of election experts now believe President Obama 's criticism of Mitt Romney 's Bain Capital tenure has been effective, according to the latest National Journa...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama Campaign Tactics Aren't Splitting Democrats Anymore

By
In a party often wracked by internal division, Democrats have reached consensus on a topic that once split them: The president should continue to aggressively challenge Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital. Read More »

Conservatives Hail the New Tougher Romney

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Obama's Best Hand: He's Already President

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Romney's Money Lifts Him Out Of Doldrums

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ANALYSIS

Why It Really Doesn't Matter if Romney Outspends Obama

By
Barring either side stockpiling an overwhelming cash edge, even seemingly prodigious differences -- like, say, $300 million -- are unlikely to push campaigns to victory. Read More »

On Health Care, Glimmers of Hope for Obama

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
POLLS

Political Insiders Poll: Immigration Reaction

By , and
The National Journal magazine's popular feature on a close examination of issues via polls includes two questions, exploring people's opinions about immigration. Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

The Hispanic Vote; Fast and Furious

By , and
Political Insiders weigh in on the outlook for Latino turnout in November and whether Operation Fast and Furious has hurt Obama.  Read More »

Obama Puts 'Romneycare' in Crosshairs

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama and Convention No-Shows: Divorce or Amicable Separation?

By
If historical precedent is a guide, President Obama should be worried about the recent spate of Democrats who have declared that they won’t attend their own party’s national convention. But the lawmakers’ decision to stay home...

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CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Supreme Court Campaign Finance Ruling Shows Reformers' Weak Position

By
A long-shot legal challenge to let states bar corporate and union political contributions in their own elections underscores the legal quandary in which many left-of-center campaign finance reformers find themselves. Read More »

Obama Outraised Romney, But That Doesn't Matter Anymore

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Obama, Romney Moves Reshape the Electoral Map

By
President Obama’s new immigration policy and Mitt Romney’s Midwest bus tour may seem unrelated, but taken together they may have clarified how the two presidential campaigns will treat the electoral map this fall. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Will Text-Raising Become the Next Big Thing?

By
About a decade ago, the Internet revolutionized political fundraising. Could text messages be poised to repeat the feat? Read More »

Insiders: Voters Will Make Up Minds About Economy In Sept.

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
A plurality of Democratic and Republican Insiders alike named September as the month when voters' perception of the economy will solidify, with 39 percent of Democrats saying so compared to 42 percent of Republicans. That's an impor...

Read More »

Obama's Toughest Critic? A Democrat

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Obama’s Gaffe; Perceptions of the Economy

By , and
Insiders assess the damage from Obama’s remark that the "private sector is doing fine," and they predict when voters' views on the economy will solidify before Election Day. Read More »

Poll Shows Obama's Electoral Lifeline

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

When Gaffes Matter: Why Both Obama and Romney Should Worry

By
President Obama and Mitt Romney each have already stumbled in ways that can derail even the most sophisticated, well-funded campaigns. But which candidate has hurt himself more? Read More »

Team Obama Not Shy About Switching Messages

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Federalism Be Damned

By
Democrats expect another legal defeat in the campaign finance arena when the Supreme Court rules on a Montana case that pits states' rights against free speech.  Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Walker's Wisconsin Recall Win Built on GOP Unity, Energy

By Sean Sullivan and Alex Roarty
Mitt Romney and the Republican Party now have their model for the 2012 election. In a race that pitted each party’s political base against the other, Gov. Scott Walker won the Wisconsin recall Tuesday because he did the bette...

Read More »

How Obama Views the Electoral Map

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Should Romney Remind Voters He Was Once a Governor?

By
How does Mitt Romney convince voters that, contra President Obama’s campaign, he’s not a rapacious capitalist or right-wing extremist bent on destroying the middle class? His best bet might simply be reminding them he was once g...

Read More »

Vice Presidential Pick? Don't Look At Jeb Bush

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Romney and Hispanics; Obama and Iran

By Alex Roarty, and
How will Mitt Romney fare among Hispanics in the fall? And how big a threat is Iran to President Obama’s reelection? Read More »

Insiders Split Along Party Lines on 2012 Latino Vote

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Republicans are cautiously optimistic Mitt Romney , propelled by disappointment in President Obama 's handling of the economy, won't hemorrhage support among Hispanics, according to the National Journal Political Insiders poll. ...

Read More »

Romney Down on Keystone State Prospects

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Popularity Slips While Romney's Rises

By
Among registered voters, the presumptive Republican nominee's favorability rating is virtually even with the president's.  Read More »

Trump a Symptom of Romney's Problem

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

After Years of Texas Wins, Perry Relegated to Also-Ran in Primary

By
The Republican presidential primary has saved one last indignity for Rick Perry. Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Was the Bain Card the Right One to Play?

By , and
How potent an issue is Romney's record at Bain Capital? And how will the politics of entitlement programs play out in November?  Read More »

Insiders: Entitlement Politics Favor Democrats

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
National Journal Political Insiders think the politics surrounding the country's entitlement programs still favor Democrats, although a sizable chunk of Republicans think the country's prodigious deficit has at long last titled th...

Read More »

Public Sour on Biden

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Obama's Tightrope Walk On Private Equity

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

How Outside Groups Can Torpedo Campaigns They Support

By
In the post- Citizens United  era of loosened campaign finance regulations, candidates are at the mercy of well-heeled outside groups. Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Will Obama's Support of Gay Marriage Help Democrats?

By , and
Plus, which traditionally blue states does Mitt Romney have the best chances of winning? Political Insiders weigh in. Read More »

NJ Insiders: Wisconsin Romney's Best Blue State Bet

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
If Mitt Romney wants to win a traditionally blue state this fall, he should focus on Wisconsin. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Can Obama Recapture the Youth Vote?

By
Obama enjoyed the overwhelming enthusiasm of young voters in 2008, winning them by a two-to-one margin over Republican John McCain . But replicating that success could prove difficult when so many of those same voters are now beset...

Read More »

In Commencement Speech Face-Off, Obama The Winner

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

On Gay Marriage Politics, Obama Can Find Silver Lining

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
THE NEXT AMERICA

N.C. Vote to Ban Gay Marriage a Warning for Obama and Democrats

By
The overwhelming  North Carolina vote  to define marriage as legal only between a man and woman is an unequivocal reminder that gay marriage remains unappealing in many parts of the country, even as its support grows ov...

Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

N.C. Vote to Ban Gay Marriage a Warning for Obama and Democrats

By
The overwhelming North Carolina vote to define marriage as legal only between a man and woman is an unequivocal reminder that gay marriage remains unappealing in many parts of the country, even as its support grows overall nationally. Read More »

Obama Touts Record Voters Don't Care About

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Romney Fighting for His Home State, But at What Cost?

By
Mitt Romney hasn’t given up hope on his home state. Instead of campaigning in a range of obvious swing states like Ohio, Virginia, Florida, or Pennsylvania, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee is spending valuable time in Mic...

Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Bin Laden's Death as Campaign Device?

By , and
How effectively has Obama’s reelection campaign capitalized on the killing of Osama bin Laden? And which party will benefit most from outside-money groups? Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

While Obama Dominates Foreign Policy, Romney Sticks to Economy

By and Alex Roarty
The Republican presidential contender  was stumping in the Virginia 'burbs  on Wednesday, just hours after President Obama basked in the glory of a prime-time, nationally televised victory speech from an Afghanistan war zo...

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ANALYSIS

Obama Attacking Romney on Bin Laden Decision

By
Even in an election that hinges on the economy, the charge that Mitt Romney wouldn't have ordered the raid that killed Osama bin Laden is a land mine for the presumptive GOP nominee should it stick with the public. But it also risks...

Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Obama’s Chances; Immigration as an Issue

By , and
Will Obama win reelection? And how is the immigration issue affecting the prospects of Republicans and Democrats? Political Insiders weigh in.  Read More »

Romney's Course Correction: Red Meat on Back Burner

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
POLITICS

Edwards Trial Could Be New Blow to Campaign Finance System

By
Some campaign finance experts say that if former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards -- charged with illegally giving donor cash to then-mistress Rielle Hunter -- is found innocent, the decision would set a dangerous prec...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama Raises $35 Million in March, Dwarfing Romney's Take

By
President Obama’s reelection campaign raised $35 million in March, according to  documents filed on Friday with the Federal Election Commission.  The prodigious haul, nearly three times the total raised by presumptive Re...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Was Obama's 'Silver Spoon' Remark Aimed At Romney?

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

George W. Bush Still a Factor in 2012?

By
Former President George W. Bush might be out of sight this campaign season, but he is certainly not out of mind for either Mitt Romney or President Obama. Read More »
ELECTION 2012

Poll: Voters Doubt Romney Can Beat Obama

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Mitt Romney, Survivor

By , and
How much, if at all, has the primary process hurt Romney? And which state will be the most pivotal in the presidential election? Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Say Ohio, Florida Most Important States in November

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Even as the country's changing demographics redraw the presidential race map, political insiders from both parties think two traditional swing states -- Ohio and Florida -- will be the most important of the 2012 general election. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Finally Gets His Title: Presumptive Republican Nominee

By
Mitt Romney, bruised black and blue during a grueling three-month primary gauntlet, finally has a clear path to the Republican presidential nomination and a free pass to focus entirely on President Obama. Read More »

Santorum Official: I'm Not Sure What's Going to Happen

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Republican Voters To Santorum: Time To Leave

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Moves in for Pennsylvania Knockout

By
The GOP presidential front-runner’s two-week, multimillion-dollar TV ad buy in Pennsylvania – what one state GOP strategist compared to a “nuclear bomb” of air-time purchases – delivers a powerful message to Republican vot...

Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Cardinal Dolan: Mormon Faith No Reason to Vote Against Romney

By
Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Sunday that Republican front-runner Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith should not be an issue in the presidential campaign. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Richard Land Asks Santorum to End His Campaign

By
Evangelical leader Richard Land on Sunday urged presidential candidate Rick Santorum to exit the race and save face for a future White House run, although he cautioned that he thought the decision was Santorum’s alone. Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Pastor Rick Warren Decries Obama Contraception Compromise

By
Influential Evangelical pastor Rick Warren said Sunday he was not satisfied with the Obama administration’s compromise over mandating religious-affiliated organizations provide contraception coverage and argued the issue wasn’t ...

Read More »
SUNDAY SHOWS

Gingrich: Romney 'Far and Away' Most Likely Republican Nominee

By
Ex-speaker reflects on his own campaign as he concedes he's unlikely to win GOP nomination Read More »

Insiders Poll: Obama Foreign Policy a Reelection Boost

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Wide swaths of political insiders, including even some Republicans, view President Obama's foreign policy resume' as an aid to his reelection efforts, even as most indicated the issue would take a back seat to the economy in the fall. Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Romney’s Veep; Obama's Foreign Policy

By , and
Who would be the best running mate for Romney? And how will Obama's foreign-policy record affect his reelection chances? Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Poll: Enthusiasm Wanes for Rubio as VP Pick; Portman Rising

By Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
Political Insiders in both parties have noticeably cooled on the vice presidential prospects of Marco Rubio . Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Conservatives Say Santorum Must Stay in Race

By and
Don’t count on Rick Santorum leaving the presidential race anytime soon. Read More »

Romney Tries to Turn the Tables on Obama

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney: No Time for Obama's 'Hide-and-Seek Campaign'

By Alex Roarty
Fresh from his latest primary triumphs, likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney on Wednesday previewed his general-election message: "With all the challenges the nation faces, this is not the time for President Obama's hide-and-seek campaign...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

The Hard Road Ahead for Rick Santorum

By
Rick Santorum is about to face the longest three weeks of his political career. The Republican primary’s underdog may have finally watched his presidential hopes evaporate Tuesday night, swept away in a trio of contests that ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Gaining on Santorum in Pennsylvania

By
A second survey showing a close contest between the two GOP candidates in Santorum's home state is hard to ignore, particularly because it shows the ex-senator struggling to attract the same groups of voters who have been cool to hi...

Read More »

Obama Ads Shoot the Messenger

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Easy Delegate Pickings for Romney in Maryland and D.C.

By and
Mitt Romney may have to fight for Wisconsin on Tuesday, but contests the same day in Maryland and Washington D.C. promise to be blissfully uneventful for the perpetually embattled Republican frontrunner. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

George W. Bush is the GOP's Missing Man

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

The Politics of Health Care

By and
What will be the political implications if the Supreme Court strikes down all or part of the health care law? And can Romney use health care as an issue against Obama? Insiders weigh in. Read More »

Gingrich Falls to Back of Presidential Pack

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Insiders Agree: If Court Strikes Down Health Care Law, GOP Scores Political Win

By Naureen Khan, Alex Roarty and Peter Bell
National Journal 's Political Insiders - Republicans and Democrats alike - almost universally agree that if the Supreme Court strikes down President Obama 's health care law, the decision constitutes a political win for the GOP. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Victory Out of Reach, Will Gingrich Damage His Party and Legacy?

By
As his campaign winds down, the big questions hanging over Newt Gingrich’s run for president are why he’s so determined to keep at it, and whether he will tarnish his legacy or hurt the Republican Party in the process.  Read More »

Pennsylvania's Conservative Shift Could Save Santorum

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Could Pennsylvania End Santorum's Political Career Twice?

By
CAMP HILL, Pa. – In 2006, Pennsylvania voters ended Rick Santorum’s Senate career. Six years later, could the Keystone State shut down his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination? Read More »

Welch's Past Support for Obama Haunts Him at GOP Debate

By Alex Roarty
Updated at 6:49 p.m. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich: Santorum Has to Win Pennsylvania

By
CAMP HILL, Pa. – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich asserted Saturday that Republican rival Rick Santorum needs to win his home state of Pennsylvania to keep his campaign alive. Read More »

Toomey: Republicans Can Trust Romney to Govern as a Conservative

By
Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who has said he won't endorse anyone in the Republican presidential race, on Friday praised front-runner Mitt Romney as a true conservative whom Republicans can trust as their nominee. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Officials, Outside Groups Go After Obama

By
As the GOP presidential candidates continue to go after each other in a race that has lasted far longer than anyone expected, taking the fight to President Obama has fallen to a group of Republican officials and conservative allies....

Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Jeb Bush's Signal to Republicans: It's Time to End This Thing

By
It’s the ninth inning of the Republican presidential primary, and Mitt Romney just brought his ace closer into the game. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s support of the GOP front-runner, one of the race’s most coveted endorsemen...

Read More »

How Santorum Helps Obama

By Alex Roarty
Is Rick Santorum doing David Axelrod's dirty work for him? Of course not - Santorum's goal is to unseat President Obama, and he remains convinced he's the best Republican candidate to do the job. But the GOP presidential conten...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Illinois Looking Like Fertile Ground for Mitt Romney

By
Think of the Illinois Republican presidential primary as a re-run of an old television episode. If you’re a Mitt Romney supporter, it’s a story you know but are eager to watch again. If you back Rick Santorum, you might wan...

Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Santorum's Progress in GOP Race is Historic

By
Dual victories in Alabama and Mississippi this week don’t change the fact Rick Santorum remains an underdog in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. But his candidacy is already historically significant. As Ralph Re...

Read More »

In Republican Primary, Evangelicals Reign

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Enthusiasm Has Fallen Steeply Since 2008

By Alex Roarty
Republicans are less enthusiastic about having Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum as their potential presidential nominee than they were four years ago about John McCain, according to a Gallup survey released on Thursday. For conservative...

Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

After Alabama and Mississippi: Will the GOP Convention Be a Battleground?

By
Is it time to take the Republican convention seriously as a potential battleground? Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

Santorum's Twin Southern Wins Make It a Two-Man GOP Race

By and
Alabama and Mississippi threw former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum a lifeline Tuesday, knocking Newt Gingrich on his heels and the Republican presidential nomination at least temporarily out of Mitt Romney's reach. Read More »

Romney's Evangelical Problem Not Going Away

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Obama to Romney: I'm Tough On China, Too

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Dole Tells Specter: I Probably Would Have Switched Parties, Too

By
Former GOP Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole told his ex-colleague Arlen Specter that switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party was not only the right move, but that Dole would have done the same thing, according to ...

Read More »

Santorum and the GOP Shift Their Sights To 'Obamacare'

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Understanding Romney’s Base

By
White-collar voters more interested in the economy than social issues are at the heart of Romney's coalition in the primaries. His campaign hopes the same types of voters will help him win in November. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Why Did Romney Almost Lose Ohio?

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Wins Ohio

By
AP projected Mitt Romney narrowly won Ohio, giving him a victory in the most symbolically important Super Tuesday state and significantly boosting his odds of finally securing the GOP presidential nomination. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Wins Massachusetts

By
Networks projected Mitt Romney the winner of the Massachusetts Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, an easy victory in the state where he was governor for four years. The Bay State race was never in doubt, and none of the ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Wins Vermont

By
Fox projected Mitt Romney won the Vermont primary on Tuesday night, a not surprising victory in his neighbor state. The former Massachusetts governor earlier was projected to win in Virginia among the 10 states voting on Super Tues...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Wins Virginia

By
NBC projected that Mitt Romney won the Virginia primary on Tuesday night, a victory that came easily because former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania failed to qualify for the ballot there. ...

Read More »

Two Areas That Could Boost Santorum in Ohio

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Ohio GOP Likes Santorum But Loves Romney's Electability

By Alex Roarty
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the surface, Ohio looks like a toss-up between Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney. But the ostensible parity belies an unmistakable conviction among Buckeye State voters and state GOP strategists alike that Romney h...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

For Some Catholics, Santorum Is A Custom-Ordered Presidential Candidate

By
To some Catholic Republicans, Santorum’s barbed rhetoric seems over the top and out of sync with an electorate that overwhelmingly considers birth control a settled issue and the economy its top issue. Read More »

Santorum on Economy: It's About Values

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Looks to Ohio for a Knockout Punch

By
A win in Ohio -- the most important of the 10 Super Tuesday states to vote next week -- would come close to giving Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney the knockout punch he needs to claim inevitability as the party's nominee. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

After Edging Past Santorum, Romney Focuses on Obama

By
Fresh off dual victories in Michigan and Arizona, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday returned his focus to President Obama by arguing the current White House occupant offers the wrong vision for the future. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Super PAC Lifelines Keep Weakened Candidates in the Game

By and
Newt Gingrich has all the marks of a dead candidate walking: He hasn’t won a contest since South Carolina nearly six weeks ago and he never seriously competed in either Michigan or Arizona, where he finished at the back of the pac...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Wins Arizona Primary

By
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney easily won Arizona’s Republican primary on Tuesday, ensuring him at least one victory as he awaited less predictable results in his childhood home state of Michigan. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cliffhanger Michigan Primary Holds Key to GOP Nomination Race

By
Don’t count on the unceasingly volatile Republican presidential primary contest to finally calm down after Tuesday night. The likely best case for Mitt Romney is that he wins the Arizona primary handily, edges past Rick Santorum i...

Read More »

Why Rick Santorum Keeps Fighting the Culture Wars

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Governors to GOP White House Hopefuls: Talk Economics, Please

By
The Republican governors who swarmed here for the National Governors Association meeting offered little consensus on whether the GOP presidential primary had already wounded whichever man becomes the party’s nominee. Some dismisse...

Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Obama Taking Arizona Just a Desert Mirage

By
The president's reelection campaign believes it can win the state. The state’s demographics, though changing, still say otherwise. Read More »

Republican Race's Volatility is Historic

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Earmarks Prove Tricky Subject for Santorum

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Raises $6.5 million in January, Besting GOP Rivals But Not Obama

By National Journal Staff
Mitt Romney raised $6.5 million in January and his campaign said his take proves he's the only GOP candidate who can go the distance. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney's Anti-China Rhetoric Raises Concerns

By
Mitt Romney’s investment-banking background and free-market message would seem to make him the candidate of choice for America’s business community. Except when he talks about China. Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Romney, Michigan, and Conventional Wisdom

By and
Heartburn is too mild a word for what would happen inside Republican circles if Mitt Romney sustains major political damage in his onetime home state on Feb. 28. Why? No alternatives make sense. Read More »
POLITICS

Polls Suggest Contraception Divides Voters

By
Two new polls released on Tuesday indicate the contraception-coverage controversy currently roiling the White House might not be as politically damaging as critics have claimed. Read More »

At CPAC, Palin Still a Rock Star

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Palin, in CPAC Speech, Pushes for Extended GOP Primary

By
Former Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Saturday gave her full-throated support to an extended GOP presidential primary, arguing that a long race will help, not hurt, the eventual nominee. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Candidates Fail to Close the Deal at CPAC

By
With the Republican primary at a crossroads, three presidential candidates came to the nation’s largest gathering of conservative activists Friday to try to beat the rap keeping them from the nomination. Read More »

Santorum: Return of the Culture Warrior

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich to CPAC: Beware the GOP Establishment

By
Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Friday said the Republican establishment he said is trying to thwart his campaign includes the same forces who have failed to win previous presidential elections. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Santorum to CPAC: We Can't Spend Our Way to Victory

By
Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum told an appreciative conservative audience on Friday that it must draw sharp distinctions with President Obama if the GOP is to prevail this fall. Read More »

Santorum Surging, But Challenges Await

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

In Reversal, Obama Urging Super-PAC Donations

By
The Obama campaign's announcement late Monday that it plans to publicly support fundraising for an allied outside political group is the final, stark admission that the president can no longer afford to keep the lightly regulated...

Read More »

Bachmann the Invisible Woman in Minnesota

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

As Santorum Gains Momentum, Romney Attacks

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Santorum's 'Show Me' Opportunity

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Romney Playing With Fire on Afghanistan

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Santorum Finally Finds the Right Message?

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Candidates Pursue Risky Hands-Off Housing Policy in Florida, Nevada

By
As the GOP presidential candidates campaign in Florida before heading to Nevada, two of the states hit hardest by the mortgage meltdown, it’s hard not to notice that their proposals to fix the housing market range from piecemeal t...

Read More »

Romney, Gingrich Look Backwards on Housing

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Florida's Missing Governor

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

McCain Voices Concerns About Primary's Nastiness, Expense

By
Sen. John McCain said on Wednesday that the 2012 presidential campaign has him worried -- both about the increasingly negative tone in his party’s primary and about the proliferation of outside influence groups pouring money int...

Read More »

Personal Question Trips Romney

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Gingrich Resigned From the House Under a Cloud

By
Mitt Romney contended Monday night that Newt Gingrich "resigned in disgrace" from his job as House speaker. Gingrich said he left voluntarily -- but there was a good chance he would not have been re-elected speaker if he had stayed. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Scrappy Florida Gets Its Day in the Sun

By
Florida lawmakers last year fought hard to make the Sunshine State the fourth contest on the GOP primary calendar, pushing it to the front of the schedule despite the scorn of the traditional early states and sanctions from the Repu...

Read More »

South Carolina's Unprecedented Decision

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Romney's Support Dropping Nationally, Too

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Releases Tax Returns As Debate Begins

By
Did Newt Gingrich release his tax returns right at the start of the CNN debate on Thursday to embarrass Mitt Romney, who hasn’t released his, or to divert attention away from the $3 million-plus he earned in 2010? Either way, he w...

Read More »

Santorum Needed Iowa Victory Weeks Ago

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry's Voters Up for Grabs in S.C.

By
Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s departure from the Republican presidential race on Thursday does not release a large pool of South Carolina voters suddenly looking for another candidate – nearly every poll shows the GOP candidate langui...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses 'Not Perfect' Gingrich

By and
Rick Perry dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination on Thursday and endorsed rival Newt Gingrich. "Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?" Perry said. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Santorum Tops Romney in Iowa Caucus 'Split Decision'

By
Rick Santorum led Mitt Romney by 34 votes in the race for the GOP presidential nomination in Iowa, according to a recount of the Jan. 3 state caucus results, with data from 8 precincts missing and never to be certified, GOP off...

Read More »

Timing Is Everything For South Carolina Politics

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Final Iowa Results Due Thursday: Will Romney Still Be the Winner?

By
The Iowa Republican Party will announce the official results of its caucuses Thursday morning, delivering the final word on whether Mitt Romney actually won the first contest of the GOP presidential primary season. Final vote talli...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Cruising Past Rivals in Ohio

By
The former Massachusetts governor is also narrowly ahead of President Obama in the historically critical Buckeye State. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Opposition Dossier on Romney Hits Internet

By
Think Mitt Romney has been hit hard this Republican primary? Try reading through what John McCain had in store for the ex-Massachusetts governor in 2008.     Read More »

On Campaign Finance, Romney Thinking Ahead

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Romney Shaken By Voting-Rights Question

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Candidates Seek S. Carolina's Blue-Collar Vote

By
The opening days of the South Carolina primary race have percolated with economic-themed populist pitches from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and ex-Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, as the three compet...

Read More »

Mistrust Between Mormons, Evangelicals Isn't Hurting Romney

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Santorum's Complicated Quest to Unite Conservatives

By
Rick Santorum is pitching himself in South Carolina as the principled, limited-government conservative that other conservatives should rally around in order to stop Mitt Romney and offer a sharp contrast to President Obama in Novemb...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Can Give Obama a Run for His Money

By
Mitt Romney’s commanding victory Tuesday in the New Hampshire Republican primary was an unmistakable testament to the former governor’s political strength. But it’s what he did a day later that that likely turned heads at Pres...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Huntsman Surged -- But Not Enough

By
In the end, Jon Huntsman’s long-awaited surge came too late. After a double-digit gain in the polls, the former Utah governor finished a disappointing third and staggered to less-familiar turf in South Carolina in hopes of saving ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Biden: Romney 'Probably Taken Out of Context'

By
Vice President Joe Biden surprisingly defended Mitt Romney Tuesday, telling a group of New Hampshire Democrats that he doubted the likely Republican nominee meant he likes to fire people. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Does Santorum's 2006 Loss Prove He's Unelectable?

By
Santorum lost so big in 2006 in Pennsylvania that many view him as unelectable in swing states. He did have some bad luck that year, but created several of his own problems. Read More »

Gingrich Hearts the Times, Post

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Romney Playing Defense This Debate

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

N.H. Crowd Shows Santorum It's More Interested in Fiscal Than Social Issues

By
Rick Santorum refused to wait for the inevitable question. The new top-tier GOP contender on Wednesday started his first stump speech since Iowa arguing that the primary’s next stop wouldn't end his campaign’s surge. Read More »

Conservatives Rallying Against Romney?

By Alex Roarty
If the conservative movement's anti-Mitt Romney forces want to knock the front-runner off his seemingly inevitable path toward the nomination, they're running out of time. And, if the fallout from Romney's victory in Iowa is any ind...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Huntsman May Not Meet Third-Place Goal in New Hampshire

By
Huntsman is in a low-polling rut despite his slew of credentials. He says that the process deserves some blame but that however it all turns out, he'll have no regrets. Read More »

Rick Santorum, Stealth New Hampshire Contender?

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

'Ungracious' Gingrich Slams Rivals

By
Newt Gingrich might have delivered one of the least gracious--but most memorable--concession speeches in memory on Tuesday night. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Iowa's Other Winners and Losers

By Shane Goldmacher and
With his strong showing in the Iowa caucuses Tuesday, Rick Santorum was thrust into serious contention for the Republican nomination after spending much of the last year as an afterthought in the 2012 presidential sweepstakes. In a ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney's Invincibility Isn't the Only Story in N.H.

By
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- When Wednesday dawns, the political world that reigned for weeks on Iowa will suddenly lurch to New Hampshire. And regardless of what happened the night before, everyone will ask the same question: Can anyone bea...

Read More »

Huntsman in N.H.: Just Days to Sell His Moderate Message

By Alex Roarty
It took about 30 minutes Sunday night for Jon Huntsman to demonstrate yet again why, in a Republican race marked by ideological sermons, his campaign's message stands apart as a paean to moderation. The ex-Utah governor held a meeti...

Read More »

Santorum's Specter Problem

By Alex Roarty
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum's newfound popularity brings with it not only rising poll numbers but increasing scrutiny of his decades-long tenure in the public eye. And few blemishes jeopardize his standing with c...

Read More »

Four Days Before Caucuses, Romney Sets Sights on ... Obama

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Dispute With Former Supporter Knocks Bachmann Off Message

By
Less than a week before her political fate is decided in Iowa, Rep. Michele Bachmann is locked in a nasty fight with her former Iowa cochairman over the circumstances of his surprise departure from her campaign this week -- a disp...

Read More »

Why Is No One Attacking Romney?

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Newt Gingrich, Meet Rudy Giuliani

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Can Paul Repeat His Iowa Feats in New Hampshire?

By
If Rep. Ron Paul wins Iowa, as he’s currently favored to do, his campaign’s viability as a threat to win the nomination could hinge in large part on how he does in New Hampshire. And despite polling poorly there so far, there...

Read More »

Three Reasons Johnson Could Affect General Election

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

As White House, Boehner Feud, Obama Gains

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Iowa Evangelicals Issue Mixed Verdict Before Caucus Vote

By
Score one split-decision victory for Rick Santorum. The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, long admired in the evangelical community, failed to receive the endorsement of the Iowa-based social conservative group The Family Leade...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama on Offense in Tax-Cut Battle

By
Will voters blame House Republicans if their taxes go up, or will they blame 'Washington'? Obama and his party are betting on the former. Read More »

Christiana Won't Run in PA-12

By Alex Roarty
2:53 p.m. CORRECTION: The previous version of this post incorrectly indicated the marital status of Christiana. He is engaged. Read More »

Gingrich Falling? It's An Old Story This Race

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Can Nikki Haley Help Romney Win South Carolina?

By
Romney needs more than a Haley endorsement to win South Carolina. But her timely backing gives him tea party credibility and a renewed front-runner aura. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Iowa Debate: Plenty of Confrontations--Just Not Between Romney, Gingrich

By and Sean Sullivan
Front-runners Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney--who on the campaign trail and in the media have been bashing one another regularly during the past week--barely grazed each other during Thursday night’s debate. But that doesn't mean t...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Iowa Debate: Candidates All Hawkish, Except for Paul

By
Thursday night’s debate reinforced the view that the Republican presidential field, split over foreign policy earlier in the campaign, has shifted decisively toward a hawkish consensus–-with the notable exception of Rep. Ron Paul . Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Iowa Debate: Bachmann Rebukes Gingrich on Freddie Mac Work

By
Rep. Michele Bachmann , dragging near the bottom of most polls, has become largely irrelevant on the campaign trail after a first-place finish in August's Iowa straw poll. But on Thursday, she distinguished herself by leveling one ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Iowa Debate: Gingrich Invokes Reagan

By
The 13th and final Republican debate before the Iowa caucuses began on Thursday with Republican front-runner Newt Gingrich shooting back at critics who doubt he can defeat President Obama next year. Ronald Reagan, he said, trailed J...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Is It Time for Gingrich to Ditch His Historian Identity?

By
Newt Gingrich's determination to maintain his academic identity and style are fueling attacks by rivals. If he wants to win the nomination, some Republican strategists say, he should give it up. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Long Romney-Gingrich Slog Could Be Nasty—But Also Good for GOP

By
The intra-party war going on among Republican presidential candidates is a blatant violation of Ronald Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment, that “thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” But the benefits of a long, drawn-...

Read More »

S.C. Chair Questions Romney's Commitment to State

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ANALYSIS

Will 'Elitist' Argument No Longer Work Against Obama?

By
Mitt Romney’s and Newt Gingrich’s displays of wealth aren’t necessarily representative of the rest of the Republican field, but the two are the heavy favorites to win the party’s nomination. And their victory would neuter at...

Read More »

Comeback for Romney? He'll Need Help

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Numerous Punches Thrown in Spirited Iowa Debate

By and
The 12th GOP debate opened with subtle sparring between frontrunners Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney over job creation, but quickly segued into more aggressive attacks on each other's credentials. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Field Set to Take Aim at Gingrich

By
The GOP presidential field will gather Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa, for its 12th debate, but its first since Newt Gingrich became the undisputed leader in most polls. His rise has come at the expense of Mitt Romney, once the clear ...

Read More »
CONGRESS

Where Have You Gone 'Texas Miracle'?

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ANALYSIS

Romney Turns Up Heat Against Gingrich, With a Little Help From His Friends

By and
Mitt Romney's strategy is now clear: Use surrogates to rip apart Newt Gingrich while outside supporters spend prodigiously in Iowa to make a play for the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Read More »

Romney Surrogates Blast Gingrich as 'Untrustworthy Conservative'

By
Two top surrogates for Mitt Romney’s campaign blasted Newt Gingrich on Thursday as an “untrustworthy” conservative leader who would be a weak general-election opponent against President Obama -- the opening salvo in a new...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Democrats: Gingrich Negatives Could Mute Economy Negatives in 2012

By
The suddenly plausible chance that Newt Gingrich could run against President Obama in next year’s election has Democratic strategists scrambling to determine which lines of attack would work best against the former speaker of the House. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich: 'I Am as Good a Businessman as Mitt Romney'

By
Far from running from the charge that he profited in Washington after leaving Congress more than a decade ago, Newt Gingrich on Wednesday took pride in the fact his varied business enterprises have netted as much as $100 million. Read More »

Pa. GOP Chair Predicts Race Could Head to Convention

By Alex Roarty
Read More »

Cain's Endorsement Might Go to Fellow Georgian

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
ANALYSIS

Why Herman Cain's Influence May Outlast his Campaign

By and
Herman Cain's presidential campaign is over but his influence will persist. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain Suspends Campaign

By Lindsey Boerma
Herman Cain suspended his campaign for the presidency on Saturday, citing the "painful price" his family has paid for the allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Iowa Evangelicals Considering Political Redemption for Gingrich

By Alex Roarty and Sarah Huisenga
Newt Gingrich’s tumultuous personal history has for years made him a controversial figure among evangelical voters. But that important segment of the Republican coalition, courted aggressively by Gingrich for more than a year, mig...

Read More »

Former Pa. Congressman with Dire Warning for Obama

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain Not Ruling Out Quitting

By and Lindsey Boerma
Herman Cain said he'll make up his mind soon about whether to stay in the presidential race. Read More »
ANALYSIS

Cain's Exit Could Lead to Gingrich's Moment

By
A decision by Herman Cain to quit the Republican presidential race could spell trouble for Mitt Romney. Read More »

Romney in Iowa? Bad Idea, Former Allies Say

By Alex Roarty
Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

After Ignoring Iowa, Romney Ramps Up in the Hawkeye State

By
Four months ago, Mitt Romney was treating Iowa like an unnecessary detour on his way to winning the party’s nomination. Now, Romney appears poised to go all-in there, risking raising expectations in a state where his campaign once...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama’s Job Approval Still Underwater

By
A new Quinnipiac Poll released on Wednesday underscores the deep challenges facing President Obama next year, particularly when it comes to the groups he needs to win over for his reelection. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Did Gingrich Walk Into an Immigration Minefield at Debate?

By Jim O'Sullivan and Alex Roarty
Brace yourself, Newt Gingrich. The former House speaker entered volatile territory on Tuesday at the GOP presidential debate when he voiced support for allowing long-term illegal immigrants to stay in the country -- a proposal hi...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Debate Preview: Foreign Policy Plus Super-Committee Follies

By
A day after the congressional super committee threw in the towel, the Republican presidential candidates will gather in Washington on Tuesday night ostensibly to debate foreign policy, but also to weigh in on whether $1.2 trillion i...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Santorum Overlooked, But For How Much Longer?

By
Rick Santorum may be proof that a high-performing candidate and well-run campaign can’t trump a flawed resume and a message out of sync with the times – at least not yet. Even as he scrapes the bottom of most polls, his campaign...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Democratic Groups Stalled on Launch Pad

By Alex Roarty
After Republicans dominated outside-group political spending in 2010, Democrats began constructing an armada of outside groups that could thrive in the bold new world of campaign finance. They formed four groups — one tailored ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Comeback Kid? Five Potential Stumbling Blocks for Newt Gingrich

By
The unpredictable Republican presidential primary of 2012 took another unexpected turn this week when Newt Gingrich suddenly found himself in a dead heat with Mitt Romney in some polls. Here's a look at five factors that might compl...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

NJ/CBS Debate: GOP Candidates Target Obama on National Security

By and Sean Sullivan
Republican candidates excoriated President Obama in a  National Journal- CBS News debate on foreign policy and national security issues in Spartanburg, S.C. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry's Senior Moment Lowlight of GOP Debate

By and Jim O'Sullivan
Meeting for the first time in three weeks, the GOP presidential field kicks off a busy season of debates before voting begins in Iowa on Jan. 3. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Labor's Ohio Win Could Pave Way for Obama

By
Labor hopes its big victory in Ohio on Tuesday is a harbinger for 2012. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain Won't Withdraw From Presidential Race

By
Herman Cain insisted on Tuesday that the women who have accused him of sexual harassment are not telling the truth, and said he will continue his run for the Republican presidential nomination. "I have never acted inappropriately wi...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Fourth Woman Accuses Cain of Sexual Harassment

By
A fourth woman on Monday accused GOP presidential contender Herman Cain of sexual harassment during his tenure as head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. At a news conference in New York City, attorney Gloria ...

Read More »
ANALYSIS

Romney Reaching Out to Fiscal Conservatives

By
Mitt Romney's proposals were well received when he and Herman Cain both spoke to the same group of fiscal conservatives on Friday -- but the reception for his rival was much warmer. Read More »

Rohrer Hints He'll Enter Pa. Senate Race

By Alex Roarty
Former Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer on Friday strongly indicated he would run for the Senate, a move that would add a conservative favorite to an already large field of Republican candidates seeking party's ...

Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Last Man Standing?

By and
So it’s come to this in the GOP: anticipating the rise of Newt Gingrich.  Read More »
POLITICS

As Cain Stumbles, GOP Strategists Question His Viability

By
Herman Cain’s bumbling response to accusations that he sexually harassed two former female employees has wounded his candidacy, GOP strategists are beginning to say.  Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Strategists Disagree on Which Swing States Will Be Most Important in 2012

By
Which swing state will have the biggest impact on next year’s presidential election: Colorado, Virginia, or Ohio? Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Santorum Aide Calls on Cain to Clear the Air About Harassment Allegations

By
A senior adviser to one of Herman Cain's Republican presidential rivals on Tuesday urged the GOP front-runner's campaign to be more forthcoming about answering charges of sexual harassment, arguing that it's the responsibility of a ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain Campaign Launches Internal Investigation on Possible Illegal Donations

By Alex Roarty
Herman Cain's campaign has retained outside counsel to investigate a report of potentially illegal contributions, campaign manager Mark Block says. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain's Silver Lining: Scandal Brought in $250,000

By
Mark Block, chief of staff to GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain, said Tuesday that the media frenzy over sexual harassment allegations against his boss helped the campaign post one of its best fundraising days ever, with $250...

Read More »
SENATE

GOP Senate Supermajority? Fuggedaboutit, Says Charlie Cook

By
Republicans eyeing a 60-seat supermajority in the Senate need to set their sights lower, political analyst Charlie Cook said on Tuesday. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Got Hope? Strategists Differ on Obama's Approach

By
Top Democratic and Republican strategists spar over President Obama's chances at National Journal's Election Preview. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain Shifts Gears on Harassment Settlements

By , Lindsey Boerma and Jim O'Sullivan
GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain fought back against accusations that he engaged in inappropriate behavior with two female employees in the 1990s, but his story appeared to shift through the day. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Some Democrats Wary of Welcoming OWS to the Fold

By
Pinched by a still-sour economy and a deeply pessimistic public, President Obama and his Democratic allies are evincing a sharper, far more populist message as a defense against next year’s Republican charge. Highlighted by a $450...

Read More »
SENATE RACES

About Face: Mack Running for Senate

By and Beth Reinhard
After saying he wouldn't run for Senate next year, Rep. Connie Mack has changed his mind. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Texas Governor Argues for Replacing Current Tax Code with Flat 20 Percent Rate

By and
Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry unveiled a sweeping economic agenda Monday highlighted by a plan to level a voluntary 20 percent “flat tax” on all taxpayers who will accept it in place of what they’re paying now. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry Launches Ads in Iowa, Hires GOP Top Guns

By and
GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry is making some moves to pull out of his campaign slump. Read More »
POLITICS

Perry Launches Iowa TV Campaign

By
The first ads of Rick Perry's presidential campaign will air on both broadcast and cable TV across Iowa, an ad purchase worth $174,000, according to a Republican source who tracks ad buys.  Read More »

No Southern Comfort For Perry

By Alex Roarty
Updated at 6:27 a.m. on Oct. 21 Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Conservative Populists Looking for the Next Barry Goldwater

By
One group of Republican voters is driving the volatility in the presidential race. For a precedent, look to 1964.  Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Attending RNC Gala This Week

By
Mitt Romney and several other Republican presidential candidates will be attending next week's Republican National Committee annual gala. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Tracking the Nevada Debate: GOP Field Erupts in Las Vegas Prize Fight

By Jim O'Sullivan and
Tuesday's Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas produced the most fiery exchanges of the campaign.   Read More »
POLITICS

Another Bachmann Aide Departs

By
Michelle Bachmann loses another top aide. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Huntsman's Campaign in the Red

By
Huntsman raised a total of $4.51 million, half of which came from a personal $2.25 million contribution from the candidate himself. During the same fundraising period, the first for which he has had to report his finances, the forme...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry Touts ‘Made-in-America’ Energy Policy

By Alex Roarty
In a major address meant to re-energize his flagging presidential campaign, Rick Perry said on Friday that removing onerous environmental regulations girding domestic energy production is the most effective and fastest way to jump s...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Raises $14 Million in Third Quarter

By
Mitt Romney raised $14 million in the third fundraising quarter, his campaign reported on Friday, giving the former Massachusetts governor a combined $32 million haul from his first two fundraising periods. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama's Third-Quarter Haul Reassuring for Democrats

By
The new numbers demonstrate for Democrats that, in at least one critical metric, the president remains far ahead of his Republican rivals. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

New Hampshire Lays Down New Challenge to Nevada Over Primary

By
New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner on Wednesday threatened to hold his state’s primary in early December unless Nevada changes the date of its caucus, a demand that could send shockwaves through the Republican Party...

Read More »

Another Republican Jumps In Against Bob Casey

By Alex Roarty
Former congressional candidate and businessman Tim Burns on Wednesday formally entered the Republican race for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, further scrambling an already competitive race for the state's GOP nomination. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Republicans Debate in New Hampshire: What a Difference 19 Days Make

By Jim O'Sullivan and
Eight presidential candidates met at Dartmouth College on Tuesday night to debate the economy. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Christie's 'Super Endorsement' Helps Romney Try to Close the Deal

By Sarah B. Boxer, and
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday endorsed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the race for the GOP nomination, a coup for Romney that could help him solidify his front-runner status and build an aura of i...

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ANALYSIS

For Republican Candidates, A Weekend of Tightrope Walking

By Jim O'Sullivan and
President Ronald Reagan’s education secretary had a literature lesson Saturday for conservatives at the Values Voter Summit, explaining how American boys today pine for their absent fathers the way Telemachus of Homer’s Odyssey...

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Gingrich: Federal Courts Undermining Nation's Religious Roots

By
Newt Gingrich targeted the federal courts in a speech designed to show off his policy prowess before an audience of social conservatives who are hearing from all the presidential candidates this weekend. Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Romney and Iowa: Same Numbers, New Math

By
Mitt Romney gave up on Iowa after being trounced there in 2008, but he could do well this time without doing much better. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry’s Strong Fundraising Shows He’s Still a Contender

By
On Wednesday, Rick Perry reminded the political world why he still remains Mitt Romney’s biggest threat for the Republican presidential nomination. All it took was $17 million. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain Campaign: Selling a Candidate or Selling Books?

By and
With a schedule packed with book signings, some Republicans wonder whether their newest top-tier candidate is running for president or for the bestseller's list. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Moneyman Says He'll Back Romney, But Prefers Some Democrats Not Running

By
Republican moneyman Kenneth Langone, the leading force behind a failed effort to recruit New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie into the presidential campaign, said Tuesday he is now supporting Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential primary ra...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

New Jersey Gov. Christie: 'Now Is Not My Time'

By and
After being wooed by prominent Republicans around the country, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announces he'll stay out of the contest for the GOP presidential nomination. The decision is good news for front-runner Mitt Romney. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Source: Christie to Cite Limited Time Frame as Reason for Staying Out

By and
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will announce on Tuesday afternoon that he will not run for president, ending weeks of intense speculation about his future, a Republican source confirmed to  National Journal.  His decision ...

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Romney to Make Foreign Policy Speech on Friday

By Alex Roarty
Mitt Romney said on Monday that he will make a major foreign policy speech on Friday in South Carolina, outlining what has thus far been a fuzzy issue for the ex-Massachusetts governor. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Chris Christie Has Plenty of Reasons to Say No

By
Even if New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie decides to get into the race, he's unlikely to be the messiah restive Republicans are seeking. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Debate Watch: Romney v. Perry

By Jim O'Sullivan and
Debating in Florida, where one in five residents is a Social Security recipient, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney clashed over their visions of the retirement program, continuing a lively debate betwee...

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POLITICS

Perry Struggles to Define Foreign Policy Vision

By
The Texas governor's difficulty defining his foreign policy position is indicative of the issue's changing politics within the Republican Party.   Read More »
POLITICS

Third-Place Paul Says Perry Following Him on the Issues

By Alex Roarty and Rodney Hawkins
Ron Paul may be running a distant third in the race for the Republican nomination, but he seems satisfied with his role as thorn in the side of front-runner Rick Perry. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry and Rove: Texas Feud Takes Center Stage

By
The bad blood between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and political operative Karl Rove isn’t just a soap-opera distraction. The way the Republican presidential candidate and his team handle it could have real implications for his candidacy...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama Allies: Time to Wake Up

By
Democrats are beginning to sound a loud alarm about President Obama's 2012 chances. Read More »

Sandoval Endorses Perry

By Alex Roarty
A day after receiving Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal 's support, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday announced the endorsement of another rising gubernatorial star: Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval . Read More »
ANALYSIS

Is Rick Perry Making Mitt Romney a Better Candidate?

By and
The scramble for the GOP's tea party wing is leaving Mitt Romney free to appeal to the party's center. Read More »

Arizona to Hold Feb. 28 Primary, Brewer Announces

By Alex Roarty
Updated at 9:24 p.m. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Huntsman's Approval Rating May Be Low But Not His Bank Account

By
Jon Huntsman's financial disclosure forms underscore he's got major resources to bring to the campaign -- if he decides to spend them. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry the Piñata: Six Ways Critics Could Attack

By
Rick Perry’s first month as a presidential candidate has almost been an unqualified success: He's surged past Mitt Romney to become the GOP’s new front-runner and dominated Wednesday night’s debate. But the Texas governor’s ...

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ANALYSIS

For Huntsman, a Night to Shine

By
Jon Huntsman might have saved his candidacy -- at least pro tem -- with the strong performance he turned in Wednesday night. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Charting Bachmann's Rapid Collapse

By Alex Roarty
The Republican activists who fueled Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann 's meteoric rise in the Republican presidential primary field are now abandoning her en masse, according to a new NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll . Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Rick Perry the Debater: He's Dull But Gets the Job Done

By and
Expectations are high for Texas Gov. Rick Perry as he heads into his first debate with his Republican rivals on Wednesday. Political insiders in Texas predict he will be effective but not particularly memorable. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry Announces Inner Circle

By Alex Roarty
Texas Gov. Rick Perry 's campaign announced the senior members of his presidential campaign team Friday, bringing on board a close-knit group of Texans - most of whom have worked for him as governor. Read More »

Wall Street Journal Hearts Huntsman

By Alex Roarty
With Jon Huntsman's conservative credentials and campaign viability questioned of late, the former Utah governor found help Thursday from the conservative editorial page of The Wall Street Journal . Read More »

Jon Huntsman's Rough Week

By Alex Roarty
Jon Huntsman can't catch a break. Read More »
POLITICS

Perry's Phone-A-Friend: AT&T

By Alex Roarty
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his book have one prominent fan in corporate America: AT&T. Read More »
POLITICS

Democrats Distancing Themselves From Obama

By and
It’s been a tough summer for swing-district Democrats seeking reelection in 2012 with a president at the top of the ticket whose approval ratings are in the weeds. As these members begin to focus on their reelection bids, they are...

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Perry: Obama's Advisers Smart, Not Wise

By Alex Roarty
During a one-on-one interview Tuesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said President Obama 's reliance on economic advisers with an academic background, instead of ones with business experience, fatally wounded his fiscal policies. Read More »
POLITICS

New Hampshire’s Tempest From a Tea Party Chairman

By
New Hampshire’s libertarian political culture has been receptive to the tea party, but its tea party-backed chairman is being accused of wasteful spending and incompetent management. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Tea Party's Bark Proving Worse Than Its Bite in 2012

By and Sean Sullivan
The decision by conservative Rep. Jason Chaffetz , R-Utah, not to challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch , R-Utah, for his Senate seat was a major blow to tea party activists, the latest political obstacle the movement has faced as it tries ...

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POLITICS

Paul Ryan Not Running For President

By Alex Roarty
The speculation can end: Rep. Paul Ryan , R-Wis., issued a statement Monday saying he is not running for president. Read More »

Romney Playing Hands-Off When It Comes to Rick Perry

By Alex Roarty and Beth Reinhard
Since Texas Gov. Rick Perry entered the Republican presidential race, he’s given plenty of ammunition to his political opponents – from suggesting that Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke's monetary policies were borderl...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Playing Hands-Off When It Comes to Rick Perry

By and
So far, Mitt Romney isn't doing much to undermine Rick Perry; he's hoping other Republicans will save him to the trouble of tangling with a rival who is popular with the party's conservative base. Read More »
POLITICS

Will Perry's Blunt Texas Tongue Cost Him General-Election Votes?

By
Rick Perry’s campaign trail bluster led to fierce blowback on Tuesday from several key Republican figures. And that’s raising concern among some in the Republican establishment that the Texas governor, for all his conservative b...

Read More »
POLITICS

Perry's Vulnerabilities With the Right

By
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has taken the Republican presidential field by storm since declaring his candidacy on Saturday, winning widespread praise for his outspoken conservative positions. But Perry carries a record – a long record ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Bachmann Takes Post-Straw Poll Victory Lap on Sunday Shows

By Deron Lee
As Tim Pawlenty dropped out of the GOP race, Rep. Michele Bachmann , who won the Iowa straw poll on Saturday, made the rounds on all of the major Sunday morning talk shows. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Pawlenty Drops Out After Ames, Resetting GOP Race

By Beth Reinhard and
Tim Pawlenty announced on Sunday morning that he is bowing out of the presidential race after a disappointing third-place finish in the Iowa Straw Poll, a move that reconfigures the GOP primary and once again highlights the influenc...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry Announces Presidential Bid; Accuses Obama of Running 'Nanny State'

By
Texas Gov. Rick Perry officially entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday, after  repeatedly insisting  he had no intention of doing so. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

As He Jumps into the Saddle, Perry Must Tackle Texas Legacy

By
As Texas Gov. Rick Perry prepares to officially that announce he’s running for president, the inevitable question arises: Is the rest of the country ready for another Lone Star State candidate?  Read More »
POLITICS

Casey Challenger Emerging In Pennsylvania?

By Alex Roarty
Tim Burns , a wealthy former executive of a bio-tech company and former congressional candidate from western Pennsylvania, met with the National Republican Senatorial Committee last week about a possible campaign against Sen. Bob ...

Read More »
ANALYSIS

Bachmann Holds Her Own and Then Some

By
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., came under some heavy fire at the Iowa presidential debate -- but never flinched.  Read More »
POLITICS

AP: Perry To Make Presidential Campaign Official Saturday

By
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has decided to make his presidential race official, instead of just dropping hints.  Read More »

Romney Faces Down Hecklers at Iowa Fair

By
Presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney confronts hecklers at the Iowa State Fair before confronting his opponents at an Iowa debate Thursday. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Candidates Take Aim at Each Other in Iowa Debate

By and
Eight Republican presidential contenders face off in Iowa tonight. National Journal is live blogging the debate here. Read More »
POLITICS

Perry Signals He's In, To Rivals' Chagrin

By and
His decision to run dramatically reshapes a Republican field that has struggled to generate excitement among the Republican base and produce a credible alternative to the front-runner, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Perry re...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry to Declare His White House Ambitions

By and
Texas Gov. Rick Perry will signal that he's running for president this Saturday in South Carolina, a source close to the campaign confirmed to National Journal . Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Mixing Politics and Religion: Winning Formula or Political Poison for Rick Perry?

By
It was Pastor Perry who appeared instead of Candidate Perry at a big prayer rally in Houston on Saturday. Read More »
POLITICS

Perry: Pray for Obama

By
Gov. Rick Perry asked God to help President Obama as he considers whether to run against him.  Read More »

While Dubbed Apolitical, All Eyes on Perry at 'The Response'

By Alex Roarty
HOUSTON—Organizers of a high-profile, controversial day of prayer set here for Saturday say their all-day event, dubbed “The Response,” will be an apolitical plea for God to help the United States and the world overcome a barr...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

While Dubbed Apolitical, All Eyes on Perry at 'The Response'

By
In the eyes of many political observers, Saturday’s "The Response" event is more akin to a campaign rally than prayer service. That’s because of the presence of one man: Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who initiated the call for politi...

Read More »
POLITICS

The Truth on Rick Perry's Texas Record

By
Texas Gov. Rick Perry can boast not only of unparalleled job creation but of a distinctly conservative record. He can’t boast about the state’s income inequality and poor scores on education, poverty, and health measures. Read More »
ANALYSIS

Family Feud: GOP Rifts on Display in Debt Ceiling Debate

By
The debt ceiling debate has reopened the rift in the GOP between the party establishment and tea party conservatives. Read More »
BUDGET

Some Groups Still Unimpressed With Revamped Boehner Plan

By Alex Roarty
Even as Republicans appear set later Friday to support House Speaker John Boehner 's revamped debt-ceiling bill, one prominent conservative group remains opposed. Read More »
CAMPAIGN LAW -- FEC

Watchdogs Want IRS Crackdown

By Alex Roarty
Campaign finance watchdogs Wednesday renewed their call for the Internal Revenue Service to crack down on non-profit groups participating in politics. Read More »
POLITICS

The Incredible Shrinking Center

By and Jessica Taylor
Amid Washington’s inability to find compromise on the debt-ceiling, one of the lawmakers most likely to find common ground said he’s leaving Washington because he’s fed up with partisanship. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Huntsman's Campaign Manager Resigns

By and
Just one month after overseeing Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign launch, Susan Wiles is leaving the struggling operation. Read More »
POLITICS

Four House Republicans Targeted in SEIU Debt-Ceiling Spots

By
The SEIU and progressive group Americans United for Change hit the airwaves with ads that depict Republican congressmen driving the economy off a cliff – literally. Read More »
POLITICS

Pawlenty Camp Dialing Down Iowa Straw Poll Expectations

By Alex Roarty
Tim Pawlenty 's campaign is dialing back expectations. Way back. Read More »
POLITICS

Polls Show Perry Already Resonating With GOP Voters

By
The results are good for Perry, and bad for two of his top potential opponents.  Read More »
POLITICS

Perry Adviser Says Governor Still on Fence About Run

By
“He’s not made a decision,” Dave Carney, Perry’s political strategist, told National Journal . “He’s not leaning one way or another.” Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Pawlenty Won't Sign Marriage Pledge

By Alex Roarty
Tim Pawlenty said Wednesday that he won't sign a controversial marriage pledge from an influential social conservative group, saying that he although he opposes same-sex marriage he would "prefer to choose my own words" rather t...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Won't Sign Social Conservative Group's Pledge Without Changes

By Alex Roarty
Newt Gingrich is refusing to sign a controversial marriage pledge until the Iowa-based social conservative group behind it changes its language, a spokesman for the presidential candidate told Hotline On Call . Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Are GOP Presidential Hopefuls Ready to Sign This?

By Alex Roarty
Signing a pledge adamantly opposing same-sex marriage, as Republican presidential candidates were asked to do Thursday by an influential Iowa-based social conservative group, was sure to court controversy. But even a socially conser...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Foreign Policy Opens Fissures in GOP

By
What’s driving the sudden fissures between Republican presidential candidates on foreign policy? Read More »

Pawlenty Lays Out Hawkish Vision in Foreign Policy Speech

By Alex Roarty
In a speech that attempts to stake out his position as the GOP presidential field's leading hawk, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday accused President Obama of turning his back on democracy movements across the Middle Eas...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Pawlenty Lays Out Hawkish Vision In Foreign Policy Speech

By Alex Roarty
In a speech that attempts to stake out his position as the GOP presidential field's leading hawk, former Minnesota Gov. Tm Pawlenty on Tuesday accused President Obama of turning his back on democracy movements across the Middle ...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN LAW-STATES

Supreme Court Strikes Another Blow at Campaign Finance Regulation

By
A closely divided Supreme Court on Monday struck down an Arizona law that allows the state to level the financial playing field for candidates running against wealthy opponents, a decision that advocates of tighter campaign finance ...

Read More »
POLITICS

Outside Groups Continue Their Push

By
The future of campaign finance might have arrived this week—one whose center of political power is located not in traditional political parties but in independent groups. Read More »
POLITICS

Afghanistan Divides GOP Candidates

By
The hawkish foreign-policy consensus that held the Republican Party together during the 2008 election has shattered, with the field of candidates vying for the GOP presidential nomination expressing diametrically opposed views on Af...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Senior Fundraisers Quit

By Alex Roarty
An official with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich 's campaign confirmed Tuesday that two members of the fundraising team, including the fundraising director, have left the campaign, another blow to the former House speaker's alre...

Read More »
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