Sick Puppies Walk To Hospital, Wait In Lobby
WATCH: JFK Intern Discusses Sordid Details Of Affair
Gingrich hopes high road, new funds can save him
CLEVELAND (AP) — Newt Gingrich, suddenly in danger of losing his perch as Mitt Romney's strongest GOP challenger, is fine-tuning his presidential campaign to place more emphasis on raising money, guarding his home turf and trying to avoid nasty quarrels with the front-runner. Rick Santorum's stunning success in this week's elections in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri has fueled his claim that he, not Gingrich, is best qualified to rally conservatives who feel Romney is too moderate and unreliable.
For Santorum, new challenges follow his big wins
ALLEN, Texas (AP) — One day after Rick Santorum's startling breakthrough in the presidential race, his few aides decamped to distant states to start building campaign organizations from scratch. It was evidence of his challenge in converting sudden momentum into victories in the rush of contests ahead. "We definitely are the campaign right now with the momentum, the enthusiasm on the ground," the former Pennsylvania senator said Wednesday, hours after capturing Republican caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and a non-binding primary in Missouri.
Romney's Tuesday losses show conservative doubts
ATLANTA (AP) — Mitt Romney still can't seem to win over the bulk of the conservatives who make up the bedrock of the Republican Party. Despite primary victories that have established him as the GOP presidential front-runner, his stunning trio of defeats this week laid bare the difficulties that still could undercut his path to the party's nomination — and hamper him in the general election to follow.
Analysis: Obama contraceptive mandate has a price
The Obama administration's new mandate that religious organizations pay for their workers' birth control has become a bludgeon for Republican culture warriors, as social issues have surged to the forefront in the presidential campaign. Conservatives who believe religious freedom always trumps gender equity in the public arena are outraged. But so too are Roman Catholic and evangelical moderates who have stuck with President Barack Obama, an abortion rights supporter, because of his 2008 pledge to reduce the abortion rate and find common ground among religious and secular Americans. These backers say the administration could have easily avoided the controversy by including broader religious exemptions already in place at some federal agencies.
Georgia primary may not be a Gingrich slam dunk
ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia presidential primary may not be a slam dunk for Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich, a congressman from the state for two decades. Rival Mitt Romney is signaling that the biggest prize on Super Tuesday next month could be up for grabs. Romney's swing into Georgia on Wednesday had Gingrich on the defensive. After Romney announced his visit, the Gingrich campaign rushed out a news release with word that Gingrich would be in the state next week.
Maine is next state to weigh in on GOP race
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are the undisputed favorites in Maine, the next state weighing in on the Republican presidential race. They're the only candidates who have made much of an effort here. The state's Republican Party is set to announce the victor Saturday night of the GOP contest. Local Republican Party committees have spent the last week holding caucuses in schools, town halls and fire stations up and down the state.
White House attacks Romney on birth control
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is taking on GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney over his criticism of President Barack Obama's birth control coverage mandate. Press secretary Jay Carney says Romney is an "odd messenger" to be attacking Obama over the issue. The mandate requires that church-affiliated employers such as hospitals or charities provide birth control coverage even if it runs counter to their religious beliefs.
Dems recruiting former Giant Carson for House bid
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats are envisioning another Giants victory — not by the professional football team, but by Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson in a congressional run. Officials with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are recruiting the 58-year-old retired New York Giant f for a race against five-term Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in a northern New Jersey district.
Group projects 12.2 million Latino voters in 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) — A national group of Latino public officeholders is projecting that 12.2 million Hispanics will vote in the general election this November. The turnout projection was announced Wednesday by the bipartisan National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund. The group based its projection on average increases in turnout in previous elections as reported by the Census Bureau.
GOP vows to reverse Obama birth control policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans vowed Wednesday to reverse President Barack Obama's new policy on birth control, lambasting the rule that religious schools and hospitals must provide contraceptive coverage for their employees as an "unambiguous attack on religious freedom in our country." The White House pushed back in the face of a political firestorm, arguing that Obama was sensitive to the objections and looking for a way to allay the concerns. Democratic women lawmakers put up a united front in defending the administration.
