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...

  • Gingrich Think Tank Collected $37M from Health-Care Industry

    By Dan Eggen, The Washington Post

    A think tank founded by GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich collected at least $37 million over the past eight years from major health-care companies and industry groups, offering special access...

  • Freddie Mac Paid Gingrich at least $1.5 Million

    By PETE YOST and THOMAS BEAUMONT, Associated Press

    Rising in polls and receiving greater scrutiny, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich found himself on the defensive Wednesday over huge payments he received over the past decade from the...

  • Cain, Perry Scramble to Save Bids

    By Philip Rucker and NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, The Washington Post

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry tried to salvage his presidential campaign on Tuesday with an unconventional plan to “uproot, tear down and rebuild Washington,” while businessman Herman Cain...

  • Cain, Perry, Bachmann...Is Romney in by Default?

    By Ciro Scotti

    Eight little, seven little, six little, five little Republicans…. As the days before the Iowa Caucuses (Jan. 3) and the New Hampshire primary (Jan. 10) dwindle, the main field of Republican...

  • Herman Cain’s Brain Freeze on Libya

    By The Associated Press

    Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain struggled to answer a question during an interview in Milwaukee Monday when asked whether he supported President Barack Obama's foreign policy in Libya.