Topic: 2012 Election

Michele Bachmann Has Inspired a Sexy Romance Novel

Badlands Unlimited

Michele Bachmann was the muse for a new romance novel called Fires of Siberia, to be published June 1, about a fiery presidential candidate who tries to bone up on her foreign policy credentials only to get stuck in the wilderness with a sexy stranger.

By Eric Randall

Jul 31, 2012

The Federal Government's Saving Its Shut-Downs for After the Election

Good news: The federal government came to a spending agreement Tuesday, most likely avoiding a shut-down long before most of us started seriously started stressing about it.

Comments | 345 Views

By Eric Randall

Jul 31, 2012

Obama's Latest Campaign Donor Is ... Obama

President Obama donated $5,000 to his campaign he announced Tuesday, mostly, it seems, so that he could e-mail supporters about it.

Comments | 1,710 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 31, 2012

Florida's Jewish Grandmas Are Mixed on Romney's Israel Trip

Is there a chance Jewish voters will vote not quite so overwhelmingly Democratic in the presidential election?

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 31, 2012

Romney Aide Curses at the Press in Poland

Mitt Romney's press secretary got so mad at reporters yelling questions at the candidate that he yelled back, "Kiss my ass. This is a holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect."

Comments | 3,138 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 30, 2012

Poll Watch

Romney Gets Slightly Higher Marks Than Obama for Leadership, Values, and Honesty

Romney leads Obama in leadership, values and honesty, Americans think creating jobs is the most important issue for the next president, and Obama's approval rating is up. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter. 

Comments | 7,147 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 30, 2012

What We Learned About Romney on His Israel Trip

The Israel leg of Mitt Romney's trip abroad went much better than the London leg, and while he didn't offer much foreign policy details, we did learn something about how Romney sees the world.

Comments | 9,139 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 30, 2012

Newsweek's Weak Case for Romney's Weakness

While a solid skewering of a powerful person is usually fun, Newsweek's case that Mitt Romney is too insecure to be president -- "the wimp factor," as its cover says -- is deeply unsatisfying.

Comments | 1,379 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 27, 2012

Poll Watch

Obama Up In Ohio and Wisconsin

New polls out today find that Obama has leads in swing state Ohio and swing-y state Wisconsin. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 1,103 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 27, 2012

Is 'You Didn't Build That' a Race Thing?

In President Obama's heart, way deep down inside, if congressional majorities weren't a concern, what would he really want to do?

Comments | 3,204 Views

By Eric Randall

Jul 27, 2012

It's Not Just Tampa: The Perennial Tales of Strip Clubs and Party Conventions

As the national political conventions in Tampa and Charlotte approach, we're starting to see signs of an election year tradition: News stories about sex and the delegates—a fairly simple and always sensational tale, but one that should maybe stop surprising us.

Comments | 1,552 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 27, 2012

Ad Watch

Obama Hopes Some Olympic Spirit Rubs Off on Him

Today in Ad Watch: President Obama says "America is the greatest nation on earth" as we get set to demonstrate that by owning the Olympics, the Republican National Committee gives you permission to vote against Obama, and Democrats go for veterans.

Comments | 517 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 27, 2012

Look How Mad the British Press Is at Mitt Romney

You can't fully appreciate how mad British newspapers are at Mitt Romney without seeing their headlines in context.

Comments | 5,281 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 26, 2012

Poll Watch

Business Owners Are Not Fans of Obama

Business owners are not keen on the job Obama is doing,  and "bubble state" Missouri goes for Romney. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 1,632 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 26, 2012

Karl Rove Hates the Money Game He's So Good at Playing

Karl Rove doesn't want it to be this way. He doesn't want outside groups like his own to have so much power.

Comments | 1,207 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 26, 2012

Romney Plays Loud American Tourist in London

Mitt Romney's big foreign trip is not going so well. His problem Thursday is that he told NBC News of the London Olympics, "You know, it's hard to know just how well it will turn out," adding, "There are a few things that were disconcerting."

Comments | 8,978 Views

Ad Rates Are Now Really High in Swing States

The cost of running a single television advertisement has jumped in key markets across the country as candidates, party committees, and independent groups race to get their advertisements on the airwaves.

Comments

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 26, 2012

There's a Romney Dressage Horse News Blackout

Reporters are not allowed to even see Ann Romney's fancy dancing horse Rafalca—much less whisper an interview to her—before she competes in dressage at the Olympic Games on August 2.

Comments | 7,579 Views

By Serena Dai

Jul 26, 2012

Jon Stewart Chips Away at 'You Didn't Build That'

Jon Stewart delves into the debate surrounding President Barack Obama's "you didn't build that" line last night on The Daily Show. Or rather, he delved into the lack of need for debate around Obama's poorly worded assertion that businesses received government help to succeed.

Comments | 7,957 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jul 26, 2012

Romney Adviser Makes Enough Blog News with One Speech

It was supposed to be an easy policy debate for Romney's foreign policy aide, Richard Williamson. Instead, he found a way to make news two ways. First, by latching onto Tom Donilon as the White House leaker, and then by referring to Russia as the Soviet Union. 

Comments | 1,538 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jul 26, 2012

Obama Hints Towards Bringing Back Assault Weapons Ban

Obama spoke out about gun control for the first time since the Aurora shootings at a National Urban League convention on Wednesday night, and it seems like he's going to lobby for the ban on assault weapons to return. 

Comments | 4,716 Views

By Eric Randall

Jul 25, 2012

Mark Your Calendars for Presidential Debate Season

The Commission on Presidential Debates released dates and details Wednesday so mark your calendar for a tension-filled Halloween season!

Comments | 1,277 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 25, 2012

Poll Watch

Michigan All Over the Map

A confusing presidential picture in Michigan, New York wont' be in play, and voter stagnancy in general. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 4,512 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 25, 2012

Ad Watch

Birthers Get Their Own Campaign Ad

Today in Ad Watch: Birthers get their very own TV ad, while a pro-President Obama group takes an Olympic shot at Mitt Romney. Plus: Allen West shows his caring side, and Elizabeth Warren says she's fighting for consumers.

Comments | 3,841 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 25, 2012

Republicans Are Happy to Put Obama in Context

Mitt Romney has seized on Barack Obama's out-of-context quote, "If you've got a business, you didn't build that," but whether the full exonerates the President or not is what the election is all about.

Comments | 690 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jul 25, 2012

State Polls vs. National Polls: Who Should We Believe?

Everyone wants to correctly predict the outcome of November's election, but how do you do that when nationwide polling tells you the race is close thing and a state-by-state approach tells you Obama is winning big? Why can't these two methods seem to agree?

Comments | 560 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jul 25, 2012

Romney Adviser: Obama Doesn't Appreciate 'Anglo-Saxon Heritage'

Mitt Romney isn't expected to land in Britain until Wednesday morning, but he'll have plenty to talk about once he gets there. A campaign advisor told the U.K.'s Telegraph Romney has a special bond with Englanders because of "an Anglo-Saxon heritage." 

Comments | 11,898 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jul 24, 2012

Obama and Romney's Dueling Olympic Strategies

We are days away from the Olympics, and we'll be seeing a lot of at least one Presidential candidate's face while we watch the pole vault. The other's getting in his time with the public before the opening ceremony starts. 

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 24, 2012

Did the Bain Attacks Have a Lasting Effect on Romney?

Mitt Romney's tax returns and his quit date Bain Capital were the big political stories for weeks, but now talk on that issue has gone silent. Did Romney manage to ride it out and deflect the damage? Or did President Obama fundamentally change how voters see him?

Comments | 714 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 24, 2012

Poll Watch

Voters Think They Have All They Need on the Candidates

A majority of voters think they have all the information they could want on Romney and Obama in one poll. In another they are frustrated with negative campaigning. Meanwhile, Romney and Obama are tied. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 862 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 24, 2012

Ad Watch

Obama Campaign Offers Tips for Arguing with Your Email-Fowarding Grandma

Today in Ad Watch: The Obama campaign gives young supporters tips for talking to their conservative relatives about Obama's "you didn't build that" line, while Republicans continue attacking Obama for the same comment.

Comments | 1,289 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 24, 2012

Romney to Revive the Charge That Obama's an Appeaser

The break the presidential candidates took from attacking each other ended not all at once, but in pieces Monday, mostly at the campaign staff level. On Tuesday, all niceness will end at the candidate level, too, as Romney will call Obama an appeaser.

Comments | 2,759 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 23, 2012

Poll Watch

Obama's Upwardly Mobile Approval Rating

Obama's approval rating is creeping up, while he is blamed for the economy in another poll, and leads Minnesota in yet another. Meanwhile, Romney's time in business is seen as a plus for the economy. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 1,731 Views

By Eric Randall

Jul 23, 2012

Now a Romney Campaign Ad Star Turns Out to Be Less Than Perfect

The vetting of campaign ad stars continues: Jack Gilchrist, the New Hampshire businessman disgruntled with President Obama's "you didn't build that" line and the star of Mitt Romney's "These Hands" ad, has reportedly received some government help for his business through the years.

Comments | 2,030 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 23, 2012

How the Campaigns Will Spend Their Very Short Summer Break

After a couple weeks of talking about nothing but Bain Capital, the presidential campaign has hit a reset. Mitt Romney is getting ready for a trip abroad, while President Obama is in post-tragedy mode, visiting with the families of the victims of the Aurora shooting. The candidates have paused their harshest attacks on each other, but their campaigns haven't.

Comments | 261 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 23, 2012

No One's Going to Read Mitt Romney's Olympics Emails

We are running out of ways to not get Mitt Romney's emails. Just as his emails from his years as Massachusetts governor have disappeared — his staff removed the messages from the server — the emails from the years he spent running the Salt Lake City Olympics appear to be lost, too.

Comments | 1,977 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jul 21, 2012

How Much Can Each Campaign Spend?

The world of campaign finance can be confusing, so we've spent our afternoon making sense of breathless summer election reports to explain what, exactly, is happening with the Romney and Obama campaign bank accounts.

Comments | 2,858 Views

By Eric Randall

Jul 20, 2012

George W. Bush Gives Romney a Break and Passes on the RNC

Former President George W. Bush, for the second election in a row, won't be attending the Republican National Convention, a move that makes sense if you imagine that he probably wanted to attend about as much as the Romney campaign wanted to have him there.

Comments | 2,073 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 20, 2012

Poll Watch

Wisconsin Swings Obama, With Growing Approval of Gay Marriage

Obama leads in Washington, Nevada, and Wisconsin, where a small majority of voters think gay marriage should be illegal. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 2,069 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 20, 2012

The Delicate Art of Being a Politician When a Tragedy Occurs

President Obama and Mitt Romney were both scheduled to talk about how terrible each other are this Friday, but then an actual terrible thing happened.

Comments | 1,874 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 20, 2012

What Happened After Romney's Retroactive Retirement from Bain

Mitt Romney has said he doesn't recall attending Bain board meetings after he took a leave of absence on February 11, 1999, to run the 2002 Winter Olympics, but on Friday, the Boston Globe's  Beth Healy and Michael Kranish report that he attended a Palm Beach meeting to celebrate the firms 15th anniversary after he'd already left for Salt Lake.

Comments | 2,341 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 19, 2012

Poll Watch

Condoleezza Rice Is a Popular VP Choice

Republican voters like the idea of Condi for VP, Mitt should release tax returns, the economy is important to people, and deadlocked in Virginia. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 862 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 19, 2012

Ad Watch

Obama Plays Call-and-Repeat with Romney

President Obama's campaign says Mitt Romney took the president's words out of context, Romney says Obama hates business, and a red-state Democrat starts airing ads against all three of her potential opponents before the primary is even over.

Comments | 2,006 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 19, 2012

Romney Campaign Hands Conservative Blogs the Ad They Wanted

Mitt Romney is slowly getting more in touch with what's happening on the conservative Internet, releasing a new ad Thursday based on something that blew up on the blogs a week ago: President Obama saying "If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that." 

Comments | 2,977 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 19, 2012

Trimming the Times

Cuomo in the Hamptons, Children's TV, and Forgeries

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 690 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 18, 2012

Choose Your Own Romney Tax Return Adventure

By only releasing one year of tax returns, Mitt Romney has done something really fun: given us a mystery to solve!

Comments | 5,506 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 18, 2012

Will Anyone Defend the Rich?

If Mitt Romney won't defend capitalism and those who've thrived in it, who will?

Comments | 1,428 Views

By Eric Randall

Jul 18, 2012

Romney Corrects Woman Who Called Obama a 'Monster'

Mitt Romney is giving a town hall in Bowling Green, Ohio, and in response to a woman's assertion that President Obama is a "monster," Romney replied, "That's not the term I would use." 

Comments | 10,346 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 18, 2012

Poll Watch

Most Voters Care At Least Somewhat About Romney's VP Pick

Mitt better pick carefully, New Hampshire is tight, and New Jersey is blue. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 515 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 18, 2012

Ad Watch

Which Flavor of Capitalism Do You Prefer: Crony or Vulture?

Today in Ad Watch: President Obama and Democrats continue attacking Mitt Romney on his taxes and his fancy horse, while Romney and Republicans attack Obama on wasted stimulus money.

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 18, 2012

Romney Campaign Wants to Go Negative

Conservatives wonder: If Mitt Romney won't make the case for their policies, won't he, at the very least, bash President Obama in the way John McCain refused to do in 2008? For today at least, the Romney campaign answers: Yes!

Comments | 3,609 Views

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