Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
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
GOP presidential field needs excitement
In a Republican presidential field where no top-tier candidate offers a flawless resume, the question facing GOP primary voters is whether they can find a diamond in the rough — a standard-bearer who embodies the party's conservative backbone and can give President Obama a run for his money. Published May 31, 2011
Palin bus tour seen by some as a signal
With many conservatives dissatisfied with the GOP field of White House hopefuls, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is taking steps - including a bus tour - that appear to be setting her up for a presidential bid. Published May 26, 2011
Dem chief: House is ‘in play’ for 2012
The head of the Democratic campaign arm in the House said Thursday that the party's upset win in Tuesday's special congressional election for a New York House seat shows that the lower chamber is up for grabs in the next election. Published May 26, 2011
N.Y. vote has GOP rethinking Medicare
A day after watching Democrats use Republicans' Medicare plan to score an upset victory in a special congressional election in New York, the GOP regrouped, retooled its message and saw most of its troops rally behind the plan in a key test Senate vote. Published May 25, 2011
Pawlenty urges freeze on federal salaries, will counter Ryan plan
Appearing in Washington for the first time since announcing his presidential bid, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said salaries of federal employees should be frozen temporarily until they fall in line with the earning levels of their private sector counterparts. Published May 25, 2011
Ryan stands firm on Medicare after N.Y. vote
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul D. Ryan pushed back Wednesday against critics eager to cast the result of Tuesday's special election in New York as a stiff rebuke of his plan to curb the cost of Medicare. Published May 25, 2011
Democrat wins 3-way race for House seat from N.Y.
Democrat Kathy Hochul pulled off a stunning, come-from-behind victory Tuesday night in New York's 26th Congressional District in a race that was billed as a proxy fight over the GOP's plans to change Medicare. Published May 24, 2011
GOP 2012 hopefuls atoning for flaws
The GOP presidential field is firming up, and all the major White House hopefuls have something in common besides a desire to defeat President Obama: Each has on his resume a violation of conservative orthodoxy certain to anger primary voters. Published May 23, 2011
Election seen as test for Ryan, Medicare
A special congressional election in western New York on Tuesday could offer an early answer to one of the key questions of the 2012 election cycle: Will Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to reshape Medicare cost the GOP at the ballot box? Published May 22, 2011
Pass by Ryan still leaves Democrats in tough spot
Rising GOP star Rep. Paul Ryan is taking a pass on next year's open Senate race in Wisconsin, but that doesn't make the contest any easier for the Democratic Party, which is facing an uphill slog in a slew of battles across the Midwest. Published May 17, 2011
Gingrich’s spending call irritates his base
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich did something Monday that few of his potential Republican primary challengers have dared: He proposed new spending. Published May 16, 2011
Lawmakers push for car chargers on Capitol Hill lots
Sen. Carl Levin and Rep. Dale E. Kildee have offered plans in the House and Senate that would task the architect of the Capitol to install electric vehicle recharge stations for lawmakers, congressional staffers and others authorized to park in the Capitol complex. Published May 15, 2011
