Seth McLaughlin

Scott Walker has White House advantage after Mitt Romney’s retreat

Mitt Romney's decision to sit out the next presidential race moves one of the GOP's biggest anchors to the past, and the party's fresh faced hopefuls are already scrambling to take advantage.

February 1, 2015

Gov. Scott Walker: Time for ‘new’ approach to governing

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Friday that ordinary Americans are tired of the heavy hand of Washington and are yearning for elected leaders to take a "fresh" bottom-up approach to governance that empowers states and localities.

January 30, 2015

Chris Christie backs legalized sports betting in bid to boost Atlantic City — and 2016 hopes

If New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had his way, football fans would be flocking to Atlantic City this weekend to plunk down bets on the Super Bowl as part of his plan to help pull the city out of a tailspin.

January 29, 2015

Republican hopefuls reject Mitt Romney ‘47 percent’ remarks, appeal to all economic classes

Republican presidential hopefuls are determined to wipe away the stain of Mitt Romney's "47 percent" comments from the 2012 campaign, saying the GOP must find ways to connect with voters of all economic classes if the party wants to win the White House in 2016.

January 26, 2015

Scott Walker impresses at Iowa Freedom Summit, strongly hints at 2016 bid

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker vowed this weekend to spend a lot of time in Iowa, in a declaration seen as his unofficial launch of a presidential campaign that many Republicans say has the potential to unify a fractured party next year.

January 25, 2015

Ted Cruz warns Iowa voters that ‘talk is cheap’ on campaign trail

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas called on Iowa voters to thoroughly vet the GOP candidates that run for president to make certain they are not peddling a false bill of goods on the campaign trail.

January 24, 2015

Donald Trump to Iowa Freedom Summit crowd: Avoid Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush

New York real estate mogul Donald Trump cautioned Republicans against nominating either former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for president in 2016 — sparking a hearty applause and rounds of laughter from the conservatives gathered here for the Iowa Freedom Summit.

January 24, 2015

Scott Walker at Iowa crowd he’ll return ‘many more times’ at Iowa Freedom Summit

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin cast himself Saturday as a conservative warrior who has overcome death threats, and big government special interest groups, to pass "commonsense conservative reforms" that has bettered the lives of the people living in his state.

January 24, 2015

Ben Carson at Iowa Freedom Summit: Top goal of next president is to seal the border

Famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson said Saturday the next president must be committed to stopping flow of illegal immigrants coming into the country.

January 24, 2015

Iowa Freedom Summit: Rep. Steve King prays God will help GOP ‘restore the soul’ of U.S.

Rep. Steve King called on God Saturday to help the GOP nominate a 2016 presidential candidate that will "restore the soul" of the United States.

January 24, 2015

Iowa Hispanics to tell GOP to stay away from amnesty opponent Steve King

As GOP presidential hopefuls descend on Iowa this weekend, immigrant rights advocates have a warning for them: Stay away from Rep. Steve King if you want to have a chance at winning Hispanic votes.

January 22, 2015

Marco Rubio touts foreign policy credentials ahead of possible 2016 bid

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said Wednesday that his foreign policy credentials could give him a leg up on some of the current and former governors flirting with making bids for the Republican presidential nomination.

January 21, 2015

Chris Christie donors power campaign against Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney

Republican donors say Chris Christie won't be squeezed out of the Republican presidential race even if Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush dive in because there is plenty of money to go around among the three men viewed as the establishment's candidates and the New Jersey governor has advantages the other two don't have.

January 20, 2015

Chris Christie meets with tech leaders in Virginia, edges closer to forming leadership PAC

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is meeting Tuesday with technology leaders in Northern Virginia in what is sure to be read as another sign that he is looking to expand his base of support beyond his political backyard.

January 20, 2015

Joni Ernst brings outsider perspective to Republicans’ State of the Union rebuttal

She's a freshman senator with less than two weeks in office in Washington and no bills yet to her name, but Republicans are hoping Sen. Joni Ernst can overcome the curse of the GOP State of the Union response Tuesday night.

January 19, 2015

Mitt Romney 2016 bid fails to inspire GOP

Mitt Romney has shot to the top of GOP primary polls, but the potential for his third presidential bid isn't playing as well among Republican Party leaders and activists who are no longer sold on him, and say he's far from a shoo-in to win their nomination again.

January 15, 2015

Rick Perry touts bipartisanship in farewell speech to Texas Legislature

Texas Gov. Rick Perry delivered his farewell address to his state legislature Thursday by touting bipartisanship, in an address that doubled as a preview of the message he is likely to espouse if he enters the 2016 presidential race.

January 15, 2015

Chris Christie, Scott Walker go global in State of the State addresses

Govs. Chris Christie and Scott Walker managed to carve out space in their respective State of the State addresses this week to delve into international affairs, signaling the importance global politics is expected to play in the 2016 GOP nomination race.

January 14, 2015

Chris Christie gives State of the State address

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vowed Tuesday in his annual State of the State Address that he would still be "standing here in one year" — a promise sure to raise questions about his presidential aspirations in 2016.

January 13, 2015

Rand Paul: Time to rethink opposition to judicial activism

Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday that conservatives should not be so fast to attack the courts, saying judges have played an important role in defending the rights of individuals fighting against government overreach.

January 13, 2015