Seth McLaughlin

Santorum is a ‘David’ of his own making

Rick Santorum is casting his fight with Mitt Romney as a "David-versus-Goliath" battle — but from failing to get his name on ballots to coming up short on raising cash, the Republican presidential contender deserves at least part of the blame, political observers say. Published March 13, 2012

Who says Romney can’t win in the South?

The showdown between Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich was supposed to be the big story in Tuesday's GOP contests in Alabama and Mississippi — but polls show Mitt Romney is poised to rewrite the narrative that he can't win in the Deep South. Published March 12, 2012

Santorum assails Romney’s health care stances

While Mitt Romney squeaked out a narrow victory in Ohio's Republican primary, chief opponent Rick Santorum peeled away the scab and drew new blood over the former Massachusetts governor's history on health care, resurrecting the chief obstacle between Mr. Romney and the nomination. Published March 7, 2012

Santorum hammers Romney on health care stance

Rick Santorum accused Mitt Romney on Monday of trying to cover up his prior support for a federal health care mandate, holding it up as proof that the former Massachusetts governor can't be trusted when it comes to standing up for basic conservative tenets — and that he can. Published March 5, 2012

Romney pushes jobs; Santorum lobs attacks

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum wrapped up their final full day of campaigning in Ohio before Tuesday's pivotal Republican presidential primary, delivering their respective closing arguments as Mr. Santorum's stock dipped in the polls and Mr. Romney brushed off new questions about his support for a federal health care mandate. Published March 5, 2012

Ohio primary win seen as springboard for November

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are blanketing Ohio with "robocalls," mailings, and TV and radio spots in the countdown to Super Tuesday, the 10-state mega-contest that is the first major test of the candidates' national organizations. Published March 4, 2012

Santorum claims win despite loss in Michigan

Mitt Romney won more votes than Rick Santorum in Tuesday's Michigan primary, but the two Republican front-runners split the delegate haul down the middle — 15 each — prompting the Santorum campaign to declare victory as the focus shifts to next week's Super Tuesday. Published February 29, 2012

Romney cites economic concerns in primary wins

Fresh off his two-state sweep of the Arizona and Michigan primaries, Mitt Romney carried his new momentum to a steel distributor in Ohio, where voters will head to the polls next week as part of the all-important Super Tuesday contests. Published February 29, 2012

Romney sweeps Arizona, Michigan primaries

Overcoming his own stumbles and what he called one opponent's "dirty trick" campaign, Mitt Romney swept both the Arizona and Michigan primaries on Tuesday, once again taking control of the Republican presidential race and earning valuable momentum as the field prepares for Super Tuesday next week. Published February 28, 2012

Santorum, Romney trade charges of campaign dirty tricks

With voters heading to the polls for the state's pivotal primary, Rick Santorum on Tuesday dismissed rival Mitt Romney's claim that he's resorted to "dirty tricks" by calling on Michigan Democrats to support his candidacy. Published February 28, 2012

Romney works for votes using economic pitch

Mitt Romney, looking to stave off a potentially devastating loss in the state where he was born and bred, centered his message on the economy Monday, telling crowds across the state that he's best equipped to get people back to work and the nation's fiscal house back in order. Published February 27, 2012

Critics hit Romney job-creation record

Mitt Romney is fighting for votes in economically struggling Michigan by pointing to his job-creation record in Massachusetts for proof he can jump-start bad economies — but the drop in unemployment during his time as governor may be a result more of willing workers fleeing the state than from his own ability to spawn jobs. Published February 26, 2012

Romney pitches Mich. voters with economic plan

Mitt Romney returned home Friday to give Michigan voters a glimpse of his plans to get the nation's fiscal house in order and to strengthen the economy, as he worked to court voters in one of the states' that was hit hardest by the economic recession. Published February 24, 2012

GOP hopefuls try to separate from bailouts by Bush

Scrambling for support ahead of Tuesday's Michigan primary, Republican presidential contenders are again trying to distance themselves from former President George W. Bush's bailouts of Wall Street and the auto industry — moves, they say, that have stained the party's reputation. Published February 22, 2012

Santorum voted to preserve NEA funding

When social conservatives were fighting to stop funding the National Endowment for the Arts in the 1990s, Rick Santorum was in Congress voting to preserve taxpayer funding - pitting him against many of the high-profile culture warriors with whom he is now most identified. Published February 16, 2012

Victory doesn’t always mean gain in delegates

Pay no attention to those projected delegate counts you've seen. Published February 15, 2012

Republicans see need to give Paul a voice

Rep. Ron Paul and his loyal band of supporters were uncharacteristically missing from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last week — and high-profile Republican leaders say the party can't afford for that to happen in November if the GOP is to win the White House. Published February 12, 2012

Gingrich: Debates without audience input? No thanks

GOP presidential contender Newt Gingrich said that, given the current debate rules, he would refuse to take part in official commission-sponsored debates with President Obama, and instead proposed to face-off in a combat-style debate in front of thousands. Published February 11, 2012

Romney to CPAC: ‘I know conservatism’

Mitt Romney tried to erase any doubts about his conservative credentials, arguing that he's fought on the front lines against government overreach and reminding a gathering of thousands of grassroots activists that he's the only candidate in the Republican presidential race who is not a "creature" of Washington. Published February 10, 2012

Surging Santorum woos CPAC conservatives

Carrying momentum from his three recent electoral wins, Rick Santorum cast himself Friday as the reliable conservative in the GOP presidential race, arguing that he offers a bolder contrast than rival Mitt Romney on the issues that matter most to conservative and tea party voters. Published February 10, 2012