Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
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
Conservatives fancy the idea of a long nomination fight
Conservatives gathered in Washington this week are increasingly relishing the prospect that the Republican presidential nomination fight will extend for months, and could even lead to a brokered convention in Tampa this summer. Published February 9, 2012
Hot-button social issues burst back onto radar in GOP race
It's no longer just the economy, stupid. Social issues such as gay marriage, abortion and religious freedom have elbowed their way back into the political debate in the 2012 presidential race. Published February 8, 2012
GOP voters belie Gingrich’s claim to conservative mantle
Newt Gingrich says he is the conservative choice in the 2012 presidential race, but five states into the campaign, Mitt Romney has won more self-identified conservative voters, according to an analysis by The Washington Times of entrance and exit polls. Published February 5, 2012
Romney scores victory in Florida primary
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney reclaimed the top spot in the Republican presidential race with a decisive victory in Tuesday's Florida primary, making him the first candidate to notch two wins. Published January 31, 2012
Romney: S.C. loss set up Florida rebound
Mitt Romney said Tuesday that his loss in South Carolina taught him that he couldn't let the attacks from rivals against him go unanswered in Florida, where he has widened his lead in the polls on the back of an around-the-clock negative campaign against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ahead of Tuesday's pivotal primary vote. Published January 31, 2012
Gingrich lobbies for anti-Romney votes in Florida
The fate of Tuesday's Florida primary may come down to the preferences of voters whose preferred candidates are no longer in the running. Published January 30, 2012
Romney hits Gingrich again over Freddie Mac
Mitt Romney said Monday that the more people learn about rival Newt Gingrich's lucrative work for housing finance giant Freddie Mac, the less likely they will be to support him in the Tuesday's primary — comments that dovetail with new polls that show the former House speaker is losing ground as the vote approaches. Published January 30, 2012
In Florida run-up, Chuck Norris battles for Gingrich
Chuck Norris — perhaps best known for his role in "Delta Force" and TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger" — endorsed Newt Gingrich more than a week ago and on Monday the former House speaker's campaign pointed to his words as evidence that the "mainstream media" and "Washington elite" are out of touch with the everyday voters. Published January 30, 2012
In Florida, Republican hopefuls target Castro
Mitt Romney says if he's elected, he expects Fidel Castro will be "taken off this planet." Newt Gingrich vows he "won't tolerate another four years of a Cuban dictatorship" and Rick Santorum argues the 50-year-embargo shouldn't be lifted until the "Castros are dead." Published January 29, 2012
Romney, Gingrich clash over immigration in Florida debate
Newt Gingrich played the role of political pinata in the debate here Thursday as his Republican rivals whacked away at his stances on immigration, previous support of a federal health care mandate and recent call for a new moon base — all just five days out from the state's all-important presidential primary. Published January 26, 2012
Gingrich opens door for illegal immigrants
Fighting to curry favor with Florida's large pool of Hispanic voters, Newt Gingrich on Wednesday called for a guest-worker program for most illegal immigrants, but his campaign could not say whether those people would be on a path to citizenship — the key question in the immigration debate. Published January 25, 2012
