Seth McLaughlin

Reagan back on campaign trail

The Republican candidates in the 2012 presidential sweepstakes haven't been shy about invoking Ronald Reagan's sunny disposition and rhetoric about American exceptionalism, or painting their prescriptions for the nation's woes as a natural extension of his political orthodoxy. Published July 7, 2011

Early lead in polls no indication of GOP nominee

Coming out of the July 4th weekend, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the clear front-runner in the crowded Republican field of White House hopefuls — though history suggests the early lead in the polls won't necessarily make him a shoo-in at the ballot box. Published July 3, 2011

Romney challenged on slam

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Thursday traveled to a century-old Pennsylvania manufacturing plant that closed earlier this year and blamed its shuttering on the "Obama economy" - but elected officials and business leaders said it was unfair to connect the president's policies to the plant's closure, which was decades in the making. Published June 30, 2011

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. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published June 20, 2011

Candidates take cue from voters on social issues

Gail McClure isn't just any Republican - she's a Granite State Republican. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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." Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published 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. Published June 1, 2011