Politics

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The Vote
How should Mitt Romney shift his campaign now?

Mitt Romney is moving closer to sewing up the GOP nomination – and is acting like the presumptive nominee. But he has a lot of work ahead to catch President Obama in the polls. 
Americans spread blame for high gas prices, foresee $4.75 a gallon

Americans foresee, on average, gas prices at $4.75 a gallon within three months, shows a Christian Science Monitor/TIPP poll. They most blame the oil industry and Wall Street. But they expect politicians to act.
Mitt Romney's problem with women voters: views from a battleground state

In Virginia, a 2012 battleground state, women prefer Obama to Mitt Romney by 13 percentage points, polls show. Analysts say Virginia reflects the national outlook, which could bode well for the president come November.
Candidates' wives: What will they bring to the 2012 election

While only the candidate will be on the ballot in November, voters cannot ignore their wives. But what do they bring to their husbands' presidential campaigns? And do they have favorable views?
The Vote
The Hunger Games: Should Ron Paul be a Hunger Games super fan?

The Hunger Games tells us: If you can provide for yourself, you can make it through. If it's government help you want, the price may be your very life.
Focus
Gender gap daunting for GOP: Why women's vote is key

The gender gap for the next election is daunting for Mitt Romney as President Obama leads the likely GOP nominee among women in major polls. With simply more women voters, can he overcome it between now and November?
Officials tout record roundup of 'criminal aliens,' Obama immigration policy

A federal operation last week netted more than 3,000 'criminal aliens' nationwide, US immigration officials said Monday. They also defended Obama's immigration policy as 'sensible.'
Why Wisconsin primary could be start of something big for Romney

With a decisive win Tuesday in the Wisconsin primary, Mitt Romney could finally claim the mantle of the inevitable GOP nominee. Wisconsin is also important to the Republican Party as a potential battleground state in November.
The faith factor: A Santorum voter trusts conservative values

Faith is a big factor in Santorum voter Brian Weldy's politics: He believes that if Christians do right, economic recovery will follow.
Cover Story
The faith factor: Religion's new prominence in campaign 2012

Whose beliefs matter? From birth control to taxes, religion is playing an unprecedented role in campaign 2012.
The faith factor: Religious liberty is GOP mom's big issue

Faith and religious liberty is a big factor in GOP mom Rosemary McDonough's politics, even if she's not in lock step with all church teaching.
The faith factor: Liberal pastor sees secular line around politics

A liberal pastor thinks public politics should be secular, even if faith is a quiet factor personally.
How Occupy Wall Street plans to spring back to action

Occupy Wall Street isn't dead, leaders of the movement say. It's ready to emerge from a winter of hibernation with a spring of renewed activism.
Ryan budget, passed in House, becomes political weapon for both sides

Ryan budget is dead on arrival in the Senate, but is expected to play strong in 2012 races. Democrats say it wrecks Medicare, Republicans say they are willing to make tough decisions.
If Supreme Court scraps health-care law, who wins politically?

Harsh questioning from the Supreme Court majority has touched off new political calibrations over President Obama's health-care law. In some ways, Democrats could be the winners.
Why the Simpson-Bowles budget defeat isn't the end of the line

Simpson-Bowles is still the top bipartisan budget deal out there – and Congress may need it when it faces a showdown in December over the expiring Bush tax cuts and mandated spending cuts.
The Vote
Why couldn't Rep. Bobby Rush wear hoodie on House floor?

A hoodie won't fly on the House floor, where dress code mandates no hats – and a hoodie counts as a hat, even when its used to bring attention to Trayvon Martin.
Republicans back a Republican budget: why that's news

House Republicans are setting aside differences to give the Ryan budget the votes to proceed, despite tea party concerns. In the Senate, however, it will be dead on arrival.
EPA issues new rule on greenhouse gas emissions: Where does that leave coal?

The EPA proposed the first-ever US curbs on power plants' greenhouse gas emissions, saying next-generation coal plants should meet the restrictions. But the coal industry slammed the new rule.
Did Trayvon Martin attack George Zimmerman first?

Neighborhood watch leader George Zimmerman says Trayvon Martin punched him, jumped on top of him and began banging his head on a sidewalk. Zimmerman said he cried for help, then shot Martin.