Seth McLaughlin

Pawlenty warns against ‘isolationist’ GOP

In a thinly veiled swipe at his rivals in the 2012 Republican presidential field, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty criticized the growing isolationist sentiments being expressed by some in the GOP ranks.

June 28, 2011

Bachmann joins GOP race for president

Casting herself as a constitutional conservative, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, kicked off her presidential campaign Monday, vowing to be a voice for "reasonable, fair-minded" Americans and to leave a better future for generations by reducing the size of the federal government.

June 27, 2011

Bachmann strives to make a mighty leap

The hot new question in the Republican primary is whether Rep. Michele Bachmann, a three-term congresswoman who has rapidly leapfrogged from legislative back-bencher to tea party superstar, now can make the jump from the U.S. House to the White House — a gap that hasn't been cleared since 1880.

June 26, 2011

It’s a tough race before primary starting line

Since announcing his presidential campaign early this month, Mitt Romney has spent his time slipping the jabs of his GOP rivals while barnstorming the country for cash — casting his eye beyond the daily news cycle and toward winning the early contests next year.

June 23, 2011

Santorum welcomes Huntsman to GOP race with parody ad

Count former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum among those welcoming Jon Huntsman to the GOP presidential race by mocking the recent dirt-bike videos the former Utah governor's camp has posted online.

June 21, 2011

Huntsman revs up for GOP race

Though he has one of the most impressive resumes in the GOP presidential field, Jon Huntsman Jr. is relatively unknown outside his home state — a fact that presents both challenge and opportunity as the former Utah governor officially launches his campaign Tuesday.

June 20, 2011

Candidates take cue from voters on social issues

Gail McClure isn't just any Republican - she's a Granite State Republican.

June 19, 2011

GOP candidates for president don’t embrace Bush years

The Republican field of White House hopefuls have been gun-shy about mentioning President George W. Bush by name, but they've been more than happy about taking aim at his policies - a strategy that suggests the smartest way to become the 45th president is to run away from the 43rd.

June 16, 2011

Bolton not ruling out a run for the White House

Former U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton hasn't ruled out a presidential bid and expects to make a final decision by Labor Day.

June 16, 2011

Republican debaters target Obama

Together onstage for the first New Hampshire debate of the 2012 presidential campaign, the Republican field of candidates Monday took aim at President Obama, saying that despite trillions of dollars of spending and tax breaks, he has left the country in what one called "the Obama depression."

June 13, 2011

N.H. politics requires personal touch

With no clear front-runner in the Republican field, New Hampshire's first debate of the primary campaign season on Monday will provide a platform for all of the candidates to introduce — in some cases reintroduce — themselves to voters and to begin to lay out the reasons why they are a cut above the rest of the pack.

June 12, 2011

Pawlenty proposes deep cuts in federal spending, tax rates

Republican presidential contender Tim Pawlenty rolled out his plan to boost economic growth Tuesday, calling on Congress to dramatically alter the nation's tax system and to enact sweeping cuts in federal spending - all part of his broader push to woo conservatives in the party primaries.

June 7, 2011

Santorum joins 2012 GOP fray

Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania officially began his 2012 presidential race Monday, carrying with him a strong record as a social conservative and a message of fiscal restraint that he hopes to ride into the White House.

June 6, 2011

Santorum latest to join GOP race for president

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum officially jumped into the 2012 presidential race Monday morning.

June 6, 2011

Trump, Cain fire up Faith-Freedom crowd

Donald Trump threatened a third-party presidential run, Herman Cain and Israeli lawmaker Danny Danon stirred up the crowd, and Jon Huntsman Jr. and Tim Pawlenty got polite receptions at the second annual Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.

June 5, 2011

Romney’s in; Mormon faith still a hurdle

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced Thursday that he will once again seek the Republican presidential nomination, but four years after his first bid, analysts say he will once again face the same unique hurdle: his Mormon religion.

June 2, 2011

In N.H., Romney looks ahead with benefit of hindsight

When former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney kicks off his presidential campaign Thursday, his choice of New Hampshire says everything about the importance of the state that shattered his White House dreams in 2008 and could very well make or break his second campaign.

June 1, 2011

GOP presidential field needs excitement

In a Republican presidential field where no top-tier candidate offers a flawless resume, the question facing GOP primary voters is whether they can find a diamond in the rough — a standard-bearer who embodies the party's conservative backbone and can give President Obama a run for his money.

May 31, 2011

Palin bus tour seen by some as a signal

With many conservatives dissatisfied with the GOP field of White House hopefuls, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is taking steps - including a bus tour - that appear to be setting her up for a presidential bid.

May 26, 2011

Dem chief: House is ‘in play’ for 2012

The head of the Democratic campaign arm in the House said Thursday that the party's upset win in Tuesday's special congressional election for a New York House seat shows that the lower chamber is up for grabs in the next election.