Seth McLaughlin

Cain parries GOP rivals’ attacks on ‘9-9-9’

Fresh off the first GOP presidential debate in which he was considered a top contender — and a top target — Herman Cain urged state lawmakers Wednesday to support him over Mitt Romney, saying his rivals' attacks on the Cain plan to scrap the tax code show he is headed in the right direction. Published October 12, 2011

GOP rivals target Cain’s ‘9-9-9’ plan

Former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain learned last night what it’s like to sit among the top tier of candidates in the GOP presidential race, as his rivals poked fun at and dismissed his "9-9-9" tax plan, which he argues would kick-start economic growth. Published October 11, 2011

Romney snares key Christie endorsement

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday threw his support behind Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. Published October 11, 2011

Tea partyers scoff at ‘Occupy’ comparisons

Leaders from the anti-spending tea party movement are openly rejecting attempts to liken the “Occupy Wall Street” protesters to their grass-roots movement, saying that the two groups are running in opposite directions. Published October 10, 2011

GOP hopefuls clash over Perry attack ad

Texas Gov. Rick Perry kicked off Columbus Day with a sharply critical new Web video that lights into presidential rival Mitt Romney's support of a universal health care law in Massachusetts, suggesting it is evidence that the former governor's attempts to cast himself as a successful conservative businessman ring hollow. Published October 10, 2011

Romney outlines foreign policy for an ‘American Century’

Mitt Romney vowed Friday to push back against proposed cuts to defense spending. Published October 7, 2011

Perry plays up Obama-Romney parallels

Rick Perry's camp is painting Mitt Romney as the second coming of President Obama. Published October 7, 2011

Sarah Palin rules out run for president

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin closed the door on a presidential run Wednesday, removing the last big question mark in the Republican presidential field one day after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced he would take a pass on a White House bid. Published October 5, 2011

Christie pass on bid brings clarity to GOP field

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's decision — apparently definitive — Tuesday to pass on a 2012 presidential bid has brought a little more clarity to the fluid GOP primary race and potentially boosted the fortunes of front-runners Rick Perry and Mitt Romney, both of whom stood to suffer if Mr. Christie had jumped in. Published October 4, 2011

Interstate 4 corridor drives Florida politics

"We say in Hillsborough County, you can't win Florida unless you win the I-4 corridor and you can't win the nation if you can't win Florida." Published October 3, 2011

Florida GOP defies party with early primary date

Florida pushed its primary date up to Jan. 31 — earlier than the RNC hoped. Published September 30, 2011

Gingrich’s new ‘Contract’: More U.S. oil, fewer jobless

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich rolled out his "21st Century Contract with America" on Thursday that he says would make the United States the world's biggest oil producer, cut unemployment by more than half and gain control of the southern border — all within a matter of years of him taking office, and without cutting government benefits or raising taxes. Published September 29, 2011

Florida prepared to jump line in GOP primary order

Defying national party officials, a top Florida Republican said Wednesday that the Sunshine State is on the verge of jumping the line and holding its presidential primary Jan. 31, as states jockey to move up in the calendar to increase their influence and clout. Published September 28, 2011

Conservative leader: Christie wouldn’t get evangelical vote

The New Jersey governor would have to build bridges with values voters, Tony Perkins said. Published September 27, 2011

Perry hurt by tuition stance on illegals

Rick Perry struggled to explain Texas offering in-state college tuition discounts to illegal immigrants. Published September 26, 2011

Herman Cain wins GOP Florida straw poll; Rick Perry in second place

Former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain won the Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, delivering a blow to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's front-runner status and a victory for a candidate who has struggled to transform his grass-roots popularity into strong showings in national polls. Published September 24, 2011

Romney keeps after Perry on immigration

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pressed his attack Friday on conservative concerns over presidential rival Rick Perry's support of favorable tuition rates for some children of illegal immigrants, hitting the three-term Texas governor's claim that critics of the law are simply heartless. Published September 23, 2011

Perry’s support of tuition for children of illegals puts him in GOP cross hairs

Rick Perry went out on a limb Thursday by refusing to back off his support as Texas governor for granting in-state tuition to some of the children of illegal immigrants, and painting critics of the law as heartless — remarks that landed him in the cross hairs of his GOP rivals. Published September 23, 2011

Romney, Perry take political feud to Florida debate

Rick Perry and Mitt Romney played a rhetorical badminton game in the debate in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, with the two Republican presidential front-runners trading barbs over Social Security, illegal immigration and jobs. Published September 22, 2011