2012 Elections

Budget Battles

  • The Great Debate

    Five Debate Moments that Changed Elections

    By Robert Speel, The Conversation

    Every presidential election year in my American Political Campaigns and Elections course, I get an opportunity to spend a full lecture discussing with students some of the famous moments from...

  • House panel says IRS official waived rights, contempt possible

    Lois Lerner Is Cleared, Sparking Conservative Fury

    By Rob Garver

    Concluding that “poor management is not a crime,” the Justice Department on Friday informed members of Congress that it would not be filing criminal charges against anyone in what has become known as...

  • GOP Leaders Take on Far Right Pressure Groups

    By Eric Pianin

    There have been plenty of theories about why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) strode onstage at a conservative gathering late last week carrying a rifle. Ostensibly, McConnell, the 72-...

  • Romney: If Hillary Runs, She Won’t Need Bill

    By Thomas Ferraro, Reuters

    Failed 2012 U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said on Sunday he expects Hillary Clinton to win or lose the White House on her record, not that of her husband, former Democratic...

  • Joint Session of Congress

    Voters Give a Thumbs-Down to Their Own Lawmakers

    By Eric Pianin

    In another sign of public outrage over a dysfunctional and politically divided Congress, a record low percentage of registered voters now say their own House member deserves another chance while even...

  • Congress Adds Payroll Tax Cut to Gov’t Credit Card

    By Eric Pianin

    In a stunning turnabout, House Speaker John Boehner and Republican troops are prepared to finance an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut by adding $100 billion to the deficit.

  • Santorum Catches Romney in Polls

    By LILY KUO, Reuters

    Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum has surged into a virtual tie in opinion polls with Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, setting up a tough fight in the party's primary in Michigan on...

  • Obama Seeks Middle Ground with 7-Step Budget Plan

    By Merrill Goozner, The Fiscal Times

    President Obama’s budget will offer a blueprint for his reelection bid, and set the parameters for the Democratic Party on key tax and spending issues as it seeks to retain the White House and regain...

  • Romney Roars Back with Surprise Win in Maine

    By Eric Pianin

    Reeling from a triple loss last week to Rick Santorum, former governor Mitt Romney bounced back over the weekend with a first place finish in a Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll in...

  • Romney Wins Conservative Straw Poll

    By Reuters

    Mitt Romney won a presidential straw poll of Republican conservative activists on Saturday in a boost to his suddenly hard-fought battle against Rick Santorum.