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Articles by Stephen Dinan

Romney

Hispanics out West a tougher sell for Romney

Mitt Romney took a hard line on illegal immigration, was labeled anti-immigrant and had a national network of Hispanic Republicans come out against him, yet he won Florida's primary by carrying more than half of Hispanics who voted - better than he did among whites.

February 1, 2012
** FILE ** Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney celebrates his Florida primary election win at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Romney wins big among Hispanics in Florida primary

Mitt Romney took a hard-line position on immigration into the Florida primary Tuesday and emerged victorious, signaling that his stance isn't costing him yet, though it could still be a problem if he's the GOP's presidential nominee in November.

February 1, 2012
Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks during a Tea Party rally Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Gurzinski)

Candidates head to Nevada for caucuses

After three big primaries that seemed to write, rewrite and then re-rewrite the 2012 GOP campaign storyline, the candidates now begin a stretch run where four of the next five contests are caucuses.

January 31, 2012
**FILE** Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf (Associated Press)

Budget chief: Big challenges, ‘worrisome trends’ for U.S.

After years of putting off big decisions the federal government faces daunting budget challenges this year, according to Congress's chief scorekeeper, which said Tuesday that continued high unemployment, low tax rates and above-average spending are creating a volatile mixture.

January 31, 2012

CBO says federal employees rake in much more pay

Buoyed by generous benefit packages, federal workers earn significantly better compensation than similarly educated workers in the private sector, according to a report released Monday from Congress' chief scorekeeper that threatens to reignite at the national level last year's state battles over public-employee rights.

January 30, 2012
Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, New York Democrat (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Bill would ban using Hill data for profit

Moving quickly on at least a part of President Obama's State of the Union program, Senate Democrats will hold their first vote Monday on a bill to prevent members of Congress from profiting from inside knowledge gained through their official duties.

January 26, 2012
Sen. Max Baucus, Montana Democrat

Senate clears way for hike to $16.4T debt limit

The debt fight that dominated Congress last year whimpered to a close Thursday as the Senate voted to clear the way for President Obama to raise the federal government's borrowing limit by another $1.2 trillion to $16.4 trillion, which he hopes will last past the November election.

January 26, 2012
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, talks Jan. 24, 2012, to reporters on Capitol Hill following the Republicans' weekly strategy session. (Associated Press)

Senate paves way for final debt increase

The debt fight that dominated Congress last year whimpered to a close Thursday as the Senate voted to clear the way for President Obama to raise the federal government's borrowing limit by another $1.2 trillion to $16.4 trillion, which he hopes will last past the November election.

January 26, 2012

Democrats press for Koch testimony on Keystone XL

Democrats demanded Wednesday that Koch Industries officials testify before Congress about whether they have any financial stake in the Keystone XL pipeline, as President Obama's allies sought to limit political damage from his decision this month to reject the project.

January 25, 2012
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (center), Arizona Democrat, is greeted by Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Democrat, before President Obama's State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Saul Loeb, Pool)

Giffords exits, but legacy of cooperation could remain

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had been through State of the Union addresses before. But it was the speech she missed last year where her presence was felt most — and has given her a chance at a lasting legacy.

January 24, 2012

Inability to sway undecideds hurt Romney

Mitt Romney on Sunday downplayed his collapse in South Carolina's primary over the weekend, saying winner Newt Gingrich had "a good week." But the results of the vote show the former Massachusetts governor still hasn't overcome his problems with conservative voters searching for any candidate but him.

January 22, 2012
Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich greets supporters after a town hall meeting Jan. 20, 2012, at the Cinema Room in Orangeburg, S.C. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Gingrich backs portion of Dream Act

Newt Gingrich on Friday backed at least a portion of the Dream Act, saying that he would grant a path to citizenship to illegal immigrant youths who agree to sign up and serve in the U.S. military.

January 20, 2012
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (left) makes a point as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich listens during the Republican presidential candidate debate at the North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, S.C., on Thursday. (Associated Press)

Gingrich assails infidelity charges in S.C. debate

Besieged by accusations from one of his former wives of marital problems, Newt Gingrich on Thursday night fired back, blaming the press for carrying the story and calling it "trash," as he and the three remaining Republican candidates held their final debate before South Carolina's primary on Saturday.

January 19, 2012
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has a campaign built around supporters who largely reject traditional politics. (Associated Press)

Backers reflective of Paul’s wild-card status

Wonder Ann is a big Ron Paul supporter - so much so that during his town-hall meeting here Tuesday she urged him to consider ditching the GOP and running as an independent if he doesn't win the Republican presidential nomination.

January 19, 2012
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his wife, Anita, arrive for a news conference in North Charleston, S.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, at which he announced the suspension of his GOP presidential campaign and his endorsement of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Perry pulls out of race, backs Gingrich

Texas Gov. Rick Perry ended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday morning and endorsed rival Newt Gingrich, further crystallizing the race for the conservative alternative to front-runner Mitt Romney.

January 19, 2012
** FILE ** Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum greets his audience at a gathering Tuesday on the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, S.C. He is trying to convince voters in the run-up to the state's primary Saturday that he is the best conservative in the race. (Associated Press)

Recount gives Santorum edge in Iowa caucuses

Rick Santorum claimed a victory in Iowa's caucuses Thursday after a recount of the Jan. 3 votes gave him a 34-vote advantage over Mitt Romney, who earlier had been declared the winner in the first contest of the Republican presidential nomination.

January 19, 2012
INFLUENTIAL: South Carolina residents Peggy Morse of Myrtle Beach, Beth Morse Ferguson of Charleston and Mary Ann Carnazza of Longs listen to Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry speak in Myrtle Beach on Monday. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Female turnout critical in South Carolina primary

Female voters generally turn out at a lower rate than men in Republican primaries, but not in South Carolina, where in past elections estimates say they have made up about half of the electorate — more than all but a few other states.

January 18, 2012
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas waves to supporters after a campaign stop at a Holiday Inn in Rock Hill, S.C. Mr. Paul's non-interventionist stance has fueled his rise in the GOP presidential field. He finished in third place in Iowa and in second place in New Hampshire. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Times poll shows GOP schism on interventionism

Nearly half of all Republican primary voters say it's time the U.S. stops intervening in world affairs and focuses on domestic priorities instead, signaling a persistent rift that is playing out in the party's presidential nomination battle.

January 17, 2012
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination at the Florence Civic Center in Florence, S.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Romney defers release of income-tax returns

Mitt Romney said Tuesday he will eventually release his income-tax returns, but acknowledged he likely pays a lower overall tax rate than many less-wealthy Americans.

January 17, 2012
Republican Presidential hopefuls Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich take the stage at a Presidential Debate held by The South Carolina Republican Party, Fox News Channel, The Wall Street Journal, and Twitter at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, SC, Monday, January 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

GOP voters want Gingrich on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Republican primary voters think Rick Santorum is the most generous of heart and say Mitt Romney is the man they would trust to manage their financial portfolios, but it's Newt Gingrich whom they want to see do the hustle on TV.

January 17, 2012