Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Huntsman set to exit GOP presidential race
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. planned to withdraw from the Republican presidential race on Monday, winnowing the field down to Mitt Romney and four others who are trying to stake their claim to be the conservative alternative to the former Massachusetts governor. Published January 15, 2012
Congress logs most futile legislative year on record
It's official: Congress ended its least-productive year in modern history after passing 80 bills — fewer than during any other session since year-end records began being kept in 1947. Published January 15, 2012
States’ rights backer Perry struggling in South Carolina
No state is more under siege by the federal government than South Carolina, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry is arguably the Republican presidential field's best advocate for states' rights. Published January 15, 2012
Four GOP candidates blocked on Va. ballot bid
A judge has rejected a last-ditch bid by four Republican presidential candidates to get on Virginia's GOP primary ballot, leaving the March 6 contest only to front-runner Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Published January 13, 2012
Justice Department backs Obama on recess appointments
The Justice Department reversed course Thursday and backed President Obama's move last week to use his recess appointment power to install four top officials. Published January 12, 2012
Romney targets Obama on stump in South Carolina
Fresh off his win in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney arrived in South Carolina on Wednesday sounding ever more like the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, launching straight into an attack on President Obama. Published January 11, 2012
Romney’s push against amnesty makes immigration a defining issue
Mitt Romney collected the endorsements Wednesday of the architect of Arizona's immigration-crackdown law, completing a journey that has taken him from lukewarm support of legalization to the Republican presidential field's most ardent opponent of amnesty. Published January 11, 2012
Romney boosts bankroll with best fundraising quarter
Fresh off his win in New Hampshire, making former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney two-for-two in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, his campaign on Wednesday said he had raised $24 million in the final three months of 2011 and had $19 million in cash on hand. Published January 11, 2012
Up next, South Carolina a make-or-break state
Even before Mitt Romney clinched the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, most of the Republican candidates already had turned their eye to South Carolina, which is shaping up to be the key make-or-break test in the party's presidential nomination marathon. Published January 10, 2012
Paul’s campaign finds big gender gap to bridge
Ron Paul's been playing to big crowds in Iowa and New Hampshire, but there's something striking about them — there are usually way more men than women at his events. Published January 9, 2012
U.S. runs in the red for 39th straight month
The federal government ran a deficit in December, marking the 39th straight month in the red, according to preliminary estimates Monday by the Congressional Budget Office, continuing a streak that dates back to the last days of President George W. Bush and encompasses President Obama's entire term. Published January 9, 2012
Hardship claim extended for immigration applicants
Moving yet again to streamline the immigration process, the Obama administration on Friday proposed new hardship rules to make it easier for illegal immigrants to apply for legal status and stay in the country if they have a family member who is here legally. Published January 8, 2012
No major takers for federal campaign funds
Not a single major candidate has signed up to take taxpayer-supported matching funds for his presidential campaign this year, signaling the death of the system that had controlled campaigns since the Watergate era. Published January 8, 2012
Obama expands ‘hardship’ waiver for illegal immigrants
The Obama administration on Friday proposed new hardship rules that would make it easier for illegal immigrants to apply for legal status and stay in the country if they have a spouse or parent already living here legally. Published January 6, 2012
Paul strong in N.H. poll; Romney still dominant
Fresh off his near-win in Iowa, Rick Santorum has lept to 11 percent support among likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters — but he still trails front-runner Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, according to the inaugural Washington Times/JZ Analytics Poll, taken Wednesday. Published January 5, 2012
Iowa takes toll: Bachmann out
Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota ended her presidential bid Wednesday, a day after voters in Iowa, the state in which she was born, left her in sixth place — last of all the major Republican candidates who competed there. Published January 4, 2012
Bachmann ends campaign after loss in Iowa
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann ended her presidential bid Wednesday, a day after voters in Iowa, her birth state, left her in sixth place — last of all the major Republican candidates who competed here. Published January 4, 2012
Romney’s Iowa win falls short of 2008 showing
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won Iowa's caucuses by the narrowest of margins, collecting fewer votes than he won here in 2008 — even as the caucuses themselves saw a slight uptick in voters compared with last time. Published January 4, 2012
Iowans press candidates on same issues that concern Republicans across country
Iowa's caucuses may not always pick the eventual presidential nominee, but voters this year did something more helpful to the process: They asked the kinds of tough questions about the economy and spending that are on the minds of Republicans across the country who still have yet to vote. Published January 3, 2012
Romney vs. ‘anyone but’ in Iowa
Four years after a second-place finish in Iowa's caucuses mortally wounded his campaign, Mitt Romney is counting on the state to write a different story on Tuesday — a win here could go a long way toward sewing up the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. Published January 2, 2012