Topic: The Club for Growth

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Briefing
Six 2012 races where the tea party counts

After playing kingmaker in the 2010 election cycle, the tea party movement is having a less prominent role in 2012. But its support or opposition could swing some key races and even determine whether Republicans win control of the Senate. Here are six US Senate contests where the tea party could make a difference.
Who's who on Congress's debt 'super committee'

Congress has created a special super committee to find at least $1.2 trillion in US budget cuts. If the plan is voted down, automatic spending cuts are slated to occur. Here are the 12 lawmakers named to the super committee.

All Content

Tea party drools over Ted Cruz, but can he survive Texas primary?

Ted Cruz is running for the US Senate seat being vacated by Kay Bailey Huchinson, and in many ways he's the ideal tea party candidate. But his best hope Tuesday is to force a runoff.
Decoder Wire
Has the tea party sold out? House freshmen aren't who they seem.

A report by the arch-conservative Club for Growth undercuts the notion that freshmen House Republicans are unified – and uniformly committed to the most stringent tea party ideals.
Why Sarah Palin's pick could triumph in Nebraska's US Senate race in fall

Tuesday's victory by Deb Fischer, who had the endorsement of Sarah Palin in the Nebraska GOP Senate primary, is an upset. But Fischer may in fact be the strongest Republican to run against Democrat Bob Kerrey, analysts say.
Nebraska's GOP Senate primary: another tea party surprise?

A late surge for Sarah Palin's pick for the Nebraska primary could topple yet another GOP establishment candidate, in a race that could help determine control of the US Senate.
In Richard Lugar defeat, a tea party road map for revamping Washington?

Six-term Sen. Richard Lugar (R) of Indiana lost by a landslide to a tea party-backed challenger in Tuesday's GOP primary. The outcome buoys the tea party movement nationally, but some say Lugar's problems were unique to him.
If GOP's Sen. Dick Lugar loses, are Dems prepared to pounce?

If six-term Sen. Dick Lugar loses in Tuesday's GOP primary in Indiana, Democrats see much-improved chances of picking up that US Senate seat in November. But it would not be a shoo-in.
The Vote
A possible blessing for Dick Lugar in fight to retain US Senate seat

A primary vote Tuesday in Indiana will determine if Sen. Dick Lugar (R) will get the GOP nod to run again for his seat. It helps Lugar that Rick Santorum, who would have drawn a lot of conservative voters to the polls, is out of the presidential race, analysts note.
Tea party set to topple Sen. Richard Lugar. Could he try third-party run?

Centrist Sen. Richard Lugar (R) of Indiana has been in office since 1977. Tea party-challenger Richard Mourdock has attacked him from the right and looks set to win Tuesday's GOP primary.
Tea party challenge puts Sen. Richard Lugar in the fight of his political life

Sen. Richard Lugar is a six-term incumbent, highly regarded for his work on national security issues. But tea party-backed challenger Richard Mourdock says Lugar has lost touch with his Indiana constituents. In the run-up to Tuesday's GOP primary, Mourdock leads in the polls.
Focus
Sen. Dick Lugar trails GOP rival in poll. A surge of tea party power?

Ahead of Tuesday's GOP primary in Indiana, incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar lags challenger Richard Mourdock by 10 points, a new poll shows. A Lugar defeat would be a convincing demonstration of tea party power in 2012 election cycle.
Student loan bill? Not so fast.

Student loan bill, which would keep graduates' interest rate costs from doubling, gets caught up in election free-for-all. House passes student loan bill, despite Obama veto threat.
GOP-led House votes to keep rate low on student loans, as Obama balks

The White House says Obama will veto the House bill on student loans. It prefers a Senate measure that also helps debt-crushed students, but that covers the cost by closing a tax loophole benefiting the wealthy.
Briefing
Six 2012 races where the tea party counts

After playing kingmaker in the 2010 election cycle, the tea party movement is having a less prominent role in 2012. But its support or opposition could swing some key races and even determine whether Republicans win control of the Senate. Here are six US Senate contests where the tea party could make a difference.
Utah Republican convention: How Orrin Hatch (almost) beat back a tea party revolt

As Republicans in Utah have turned more moderate since 2010, veteran US Sen. Orrin Hatch has turned more conservative. Taken together, this nearly helped Hatch survive a tea party challenge at Saturday's Republican nominating convention. Instead, he faces a primary election in June.
Tea party insurgency could unravel Paul Ryan Republican budget plan

Conservatives in Congress, led by three tea party senators, are balking at Rep. Paul Ryan's Republican House budget, saying it doesn't balance the budget quickly enough.
How super PACs are changing the GOP presidential race

The $41 million that 'super PACs' have spent so far leaves 2008 in the dust and is changing campaign dynamics. Notable effects: many more negative ads and an ability to keep faltering campaigns alive.
Solar energy subsidies: sticky wicket for Tea Party recipient?

Solar energy tax credits benefited firms owned by Tea Party Republican running for the US Senate. But Mark Neumann, who decries Obama stimulus plan, got the solar energy credits under President Bush.
Vox News
Stephen Colbert super PAC raises $1 million. How does that compare? (+video)

OK, other super PACs have a lot more money to spend. But the Stephen Colbert super PAC ranks in the middle class of super-PACdom, and with it the comedian can keep ridiculing the US campaign finance system.
House to reject debt limit increase. Why that doesn't really matter.

The House is voting Wednesday on a resolution disapproving of a request by President Obama to raise the national debt limit by $1.2 trillion. But the issue actually was resolved last summer.
Is Rick Perry on the comeback trail?

Rick Perry has snagged the media spotlight with his flat tax plan, among other moves. Is it enough to get Rick Perry's campaign on track, asks DCDecoder.
Senate slap of China a sign that patience is wearing thin on trade

With jobs at a premium in the US, senators from states hard-hit by job losses to Chinese manufacturing passed a bill to sanction China for manipulating its currency.
Tax VOX
Is that Boehner we hear? Nope, that would be Obama.

When it comes to extending the payroll tax cut, Obama and Boehner are sounding more and more like each other. How did the Democrats come to favor tax cuts, and why do Republicans want to see them end?
Who's who on Congress's debt 'super committee'

Congress has created a special super committee to find at least $1.2 trillion in US budget cuts. If the plan is voted down, automatic spending cuts are slated to occur. Here are the 12 lawmakers named to the super committee.
Why Wisconsin's recall election matters to the rest of America

Tens of millions of dollars are pouring into Wisconsin, where voters will decide Tuesday whether to recall six Republican state senators for their role in the union battles of February and March.
As congressional debt-ceiling plans founder, eyes turn to executive option

There is growing pressure on President Obama to simply declare an increase in the debt ceiling by executive order and tell everyone else: Deal with it.