msnbc.com: Politics

Romney, aided by prop, pushes debt message in swing state Florida

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:41:34 GMT

Mitt Romney continued to drive a debt-oriented message on Wednesday, extending his "prairie fire" of debt metaphor with the assistance of a debt clock.

Debt-ceiling showdown returns to Washington

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:15:06 GMT

First Read: Speaker Boehner lays down markers for the next debt-ceiling fight that include deep spending cuts and no tax increases.

Boehner: 'I'm not threatening default'

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:48:57 GMT

House Speaker John Boehner denied he was threatening default when he called for equal or greater spending cuts to accompany a future increase in the debt ceiling.

Romney wins Nebraska, Oregon primaries

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:59:42 GMT

Mitt Romney won the Nebraska and Oregon Republican primaries on Tuesday, adding to his delegate haul in his march toward the GOP presidential nomination.

A day of contradictions for Obama

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:16:02 GMT

First Read: From same-sex marriage to Bain Capital, Obama campaign finds itself out of step.

Boehner lays down markers on year-end 'fiscal cliff'

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:36:09 GMT

Boehner said that the House would vote this fall "before the election" to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, and vowed to extract additional spending cuts in exchange for again raising the debt limit.

Republican Fischer upsets rivals in Nebraska Senate primary

Wed, 16 May 2012 03:32:33 GMT

Insurgent Republican candidate Deb Fischer bested two rivals with superior financing and organizations to win the Republican Senate nomination in Nebraska on Tuesday.

Bill Clinton, Paul Ryan headline fiscal summit talks

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:45:56 GMT

Bill Clinton as symbol and a source of wisdom can be a flexible campaign instrument – used in different ways by Democrats and Republicans depending on the circumstances.

GOP kills civil unions in Colorado special session

Tue, 15 May 2012 02:19:24 GMT

A last-ditch effort by Colorado's governor to give gay couples in the state rights similar to married couples failed Monday after Republicans rejected the proposal.

Obama: Gay marriage 'strengthens families'

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:25:25 GMT

At an LGBT event in New York, Obama spoke about same-sex marriage and the need of equal rights for all.

Paul says he'll cease campaigning in coming primaries

Mon, 14 May 2012 18:56:11 GMT

Texas Rep. Ron Paul said Monday that he'll cease campaigning in upcoming caucuses and primaries, an announcement of symbolic, if not substantive, significance.

Obama's Bain attack plays into middle class anxiety

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:56:36 GMT

The Obama campaign's assault on Mitt Romney's private sector career is meant to accomplish two goals: tarnish the cornerstone of the presumptive GOP nominee’s political biography, and play into middle class voters' economic anxieties over the actions of large financial institutions.

Clyburn seeks 'national policy' legalizing same-sex marriages

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:48:55 GMT

Rep. James Clyburn, the House Democrats’ third-ranking leader, said the question of legal recognition of marriage between same-sex couples should be decided at the national level.

Obama campaign hit Romney on jobs

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:17:50 GMT

First Read: The president’s campaign is up with a new ad in swing states hitting Mitt Romney on his time at the head of Bain Capital.

Weary warriors favor Obama over Romney, poll shows

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:08:38 GMT

Disaffection with the politics of shock and awe runs deep among men and women who have served in the military during the past decade of conflict. While the 2012 campaign today is dominated by economic and domestic issues, military concerns could easily jump to the fore.

Obama seeks to undercut Romney's record on jobs

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:10:06 GMT

President Barack Obama is casting Mitt Romney as a greedy, job-killing corporate titan with little concern for the working class in a new, multi-pronged effort that seeks to undermine his business credentials.

Dems, GOP using popular bills to hurt other party

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:10:42 GMT

Congress is producing little this election year that will become law, yet both parties are churning out bills designed to make the other side look bad.

Christie's pension problem: double-dipping in N.J.

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:27:46 GMT

A criminal investigation of pension fraud involves the running mate of N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. New Jersey Watchdog's Mark Lagerkvist reports.

NYT: Churches split over gay marriage

Mon, 14 May 2012 04:45:08 GMT

The clash over same-sex marriage does not simply pit ministers against secular gay advocates. Religion is on both sides in this conflict.