Topic: Ben Smith

Has Rick Perry proved he's a better campaigner than Michele Bachmann?

At a Republican dinner in Iowa Sunday night, recently announced candidate Rick Perry appeared to outshine the straw poll winner, Michele Bachmann. His campaign team is receiving accolades too.

Sarah Palin biopic opens in theaters. How's it doing?

The Sarah Palin documentary 'The Undefeated' was never going to beat 'Harry Potter' at the box office. But at one theater in conservative Orange County, Calif., only the reviewer showed up.

“O”: Who wrote this book?

Early reviews are tepid, but that hasn't kept politicos from puzzling over the identity of the anonymous author of "O."

Why 'tea party' defenders won't let N-word claims rest

Black congressmen's charges that they faced 15 N-word slings from 'tea partyers' in the run-up to the health-care vote tarred the movement. Will tea party insistence that the lawmakers present evidence help US move to a 'post-shame' era?

In energetic 'tea party,' is there room for social conservatives?

The 'tea party' movement coalesces around fiscal responsibility and limited federal government, not bans on abortion or gay marriage. It's an agenda that some say will attract more people to the Republican Party, though it may leave social conservatives wandering in the wilderness.

CPAC: Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll - ends Romney's CPAC domination

CPAC straw poll victory. Ron Paul ended Mitt Romney's three year streak of winning the CPAC straw poll Saturday.

Online media awaits Obama VP announcement