House & Senate Races

'Joe The Plumber' Race A 'Microcosm' Of 2012 Politics()  

Republican congressional candidate Joe Wurzelbacher, better known as "Joe the Plumber," talks with supporters in Rocky River, Ohio, in February.

The conservative known for his role in the 2008 presidential election is taking on a veteran Democrat in a new Ohio district. An analyst calls the race a microcosm of "the culture wars that are going on in the country right now." Most of the candidates' funding is coming from outside the state.

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Coming To A Political Campaign Near You: Outside Money, And Lots Of It ()  

Yard signs supporting U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock in Columbus, Ind., on April 23. Mourdock went on to beat incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar in a primary race that received national attention, and a flood of money from outside Indiana.

Congressional candidates are increasingly raising money from supporters and groups who are ideological and outside their district — leaving some to say local voters and local issues are playing second fiddle to these donors' ideologies.

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Court Action May Lift Anonymity For Some Campaign Donors()  

May 15, 2012 As of now, nonprofit groups that want to run campaign ads within two months of the general election will have to reveal the names of their donors. That's because a federal appeals court refused to stay a lower court's ruling on the matter. A full appeal could be heard this fall.

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Ron Paul Spokesman: Candidate Unlikely To Ever Endorse Romney()  

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas (right), talks with chief strategist Jesse Benton in Ames, Iowa, on Aug. 13.

May 15, 2012 Presidential candidate Ron Paul is not expected to ultimately endorse presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, Paul's chief strategist said Tuesday. "Never say never, but I don't believe that's likely," said Jesse Benton.

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It's All Politics

Americans Elect Could Field Third-Party Candidate But, In End, Lacked One()  

May 15, 2012 Americans Elect, the nationwide effort to launch a credible third-party presidential campaign, has money, media attention and — most importantly — access to the ballot in dozens of states. What it doesn't have is a candidate for president. And its internal deadline for finding one has just passed.

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The Two-Way

Ron Paul Isn't Dropping Out, Spokesman Says()  

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul at a campaign event in Las Vegas on Feb. 3.

May 15, 2012 Paul is "in this race all the way to the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August," spokesman Jesse Benton says. But, he adds, the campaign will be "maximizing our resources" by not investing in remaining primary states.

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JPMorgan's Loss A Gain For Campaign Positioning()  

The U.S. and JPMorgan Chase flags wave outside its headquarters in New York on Friday.

May 15, 2012 JPMorgan Chase's $2 billion loss in a risky investment brings attention to the presidential candidates' stances on financial regulation. President Obama supported the Dodd-Frank act, while Mitt Romney has said he would replace it with other regulations.

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Obama's Gay Marriage Stand May Not Sway Latinos()  

President Obama speaks during a campaign fundraiser Monday at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City. The event, co-hosted by gay- and lesbian-rights leaders and a Latino nonprofit, featured singer Ricky Martin.

May 14, 2012 There's a commonly held assumption that goes like this: Latinos have socially conservative views on religion and family; therefore, President Obama's support for gay marriage won't play well with Latino voters. But analysts say it's unlikely that the president's decision will make much difference.

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Romney And Obama: A Tale Of Two Commencement Speeches()  

President Obama delivers the commencement address Monday at Barnard College in New York.

May 14, 2012 President Obama was in exceedingly friendly territory Monday at New York's Barnard College. Mitt Romney, meanwhile, wasn't quite Daniel in the lion's den in his Saturday speech at evangelical Liberty University. But some seniors questioned why a Mormon was giving their commencement address.

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The Two-Way

Ron Paul Will Stop Campaigning, But Will Continue Delegate Hunt()  

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, in February.

May 14, 2012 Ron Paul, Mitt Romney's only remaining opponent, said he would reveal his delegate strategy soon.

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