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Articles by Stephen Dinan

** FILE ** Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, campaigns at Cherokee Trike and More in Greer, S.C., on Thursday. (Associated Press)

Romney solidifying lead, Times poll finds

With two wins under his belt, Mitt Romney holds a significant lead among national Republican voters, though there is still room for conservative voters to unite against him and back an alternative to be the GOP presidential nominee, according to the latest The Washington Times/JZ Analytics Poll.

January 17, 2012
Republican presidential hopefuls Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul take the stage at a 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, S.C., Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

In debate, Romney urged to release tax forms

Mitt Romney's opponents in the Republican presidential primary pounced Monday night, using the latest debate to question his economic record, turn his own supporters' attacks back on him, and demand he release his tax forms.

January 16, 2012
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman walks off stage with his family Jan. 16, 2012, after announcing the withdrawal of his presidential candidacy in Myrtle Beach, S.C. From left are wife Mary Kaye and daughters Gracie and Abby. (Associated Press)

Withdrawing Huntsman takes parting shot at GOP field

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. dropped out of the Republican presidential race Monday and endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, but not before firing one last shot at the rest of the field, accusing them of running a race "not worthy of the American people."

January 16, 2012
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks at the Faith & Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/The Sun News, Janet Blackmon Morgan)

Santorum defends support for restoring felons’ voting rights

Rick Santorum pushed back Monday morning against a series of ads being run against him on his record on earmarks, labor issues and a vote he took in 2002 that would have forced states to let felons' voting rights be restored when they completed their sentences.

January 16, 2012
Huntsman

Huntsman set to exit GOP presidential race

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. planned to withdraw from the Republican presidential race on Monday, winnowing the field down to Mitt Romney and four others who are trying to stake their claim to be the conservative alternative to the former Massachusetts governor.

January 15, 2012
"We've spent months on things that used to happen just matter-of-factly. I would hope that they understand that everything doesn't have to be a fight," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said.

Congress logs most futile legislative year on record

It's official: Congress ended its least-productive year in modern history after passing 80 bills — fewer than during any other session since year-end records began being kept in 1947.

January 15, 2012
Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at a campaign stop at the Hilton Head Diner Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, in Hilton Head, S.C. A federal judge refused to add Rick Perry and three others to the Virginia Presidential primary Friday. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Four GOP candidates blocked on Va. ballot bid

A judge has rejected a last-ditch bid by four Republican presidential candidates to get on Virginia's GOP primary ballot, leaving the March 6 contest only to front-runner Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

January 13, 2012
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and South Carolina Gov. Nikki R. Haley campaign at the Hall at Senate's End in Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday. Mr. Romney took aim at President Obama on the stump, saying he is in "over his head." (Associated Press)

Romney targets Obama on stump in South Carolina

Fresh off his win in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney arrived in South Carolina on Wednesday sounding ever more like the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, launching straight into an attack on President Obama.

January 11, 2012
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney boards his campaign plane Wednesday in Bedford, Mass., heading for South Carolina, site of the next primary contest on Jan. 21. His strong stance against illegal immigration dovetails with South Carolina's tough new law. (Associated Press)

Romney’s push against amnesty makes immigration a defining issue

Mitt Romney collected the endorsements Wednesday of the architect of Arizona's immigration-crackdown law, completing a journey that has taken him from lukewarm support of legalization to the Republican presidential field's most ardent opponent of amnesty.

January 11, 2012
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney celebrates his win in the New Hampshire primary election in Manchester, N.H., on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Romney boosts bankroll with best fundraising quarter

Fresh off his win in New Hampshire, making former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney two-for-two in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, his campaign on Wednesday said he had raised $24 million in the final three months of 2011 and had $19 million in cash on hand.

January 11, 2012
Richard Boggs of Fort Mill, S.C., (left) listens as Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a GOP presidential hopeful, speaks (at right) during a campaign stop to Kinch's restaurant in Rock Hill, S.C., on Tuesday. (Associated Press)

Up next, South Carolina a make-or-break state

Even before Mitt Romney clinched the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, most of the Republican candidates already had turned their eye to South Carolina, which is shaping up to be the key make-or-break test in the party's presidential nomination marathon.

January 10, 2012
Newly printed $20 notes are seen at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ** FILE **

U.S. runs in the red for 39th straight month

The federal government ran a deficit in December, marking the 39th straight month in the red, according to preliminary estimates Monday by the Congressional Budget Office, continuing a streak that dates back to the last days of President George W. Bush and encompasses President Obama's entire term.

January 9, 2012
Rep. Lamar Smith, of Texas and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said President Obama was putting "illegal immigrants ahead of the interests of American citizens and legal immigrants." (Associated Press)

Hardship claim extended for immigration applicants

Moving yet again to streamline the immigration process, the Obama administration on Friday proposed new hardship rules to make it easier for illegal immigrants to apply for legal status and stay in the country if they have a family member who is here legally.

January 8, 2012
Republican presidential hopeful Buddy Roemer.

No major takers for federal campaign funds

Not a single major candidate has signed up to take taxpayer-supported matching funds for his presidential campaign this year, signaling the death of the system that had controlled campaigns since the Watergate era.

January 8, 2012
**FILE** Immigrant rights groups and community members rally in Los Angeles on Aug. 15, 2011, for an end to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Secure Communities Program, which was created in 2008 and calls for police to submit suspects' fingerprints to DHS so they can be cross-checked with federal deportation orders. (Associated Press)

Obama expands ‘hardship’ waiver for illegal immigrants

The Obama administration on Friday proposed new hardship rules that would make it easier for illegal immigrants to apply for legal status and stay in the country if they have a spouse or parent already living here legally.

January 6, 2012
Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum pumps his fist Jan. 4, 2012, during a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H. (Associated Press)

Paul strong in N.H. poll; Romney still dominant

Fresh off his near-win in Iowa, Rick Santorum has lept to 11 percent support among likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters — but he still trails front-runner Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, according to the inaugural Washington Times/JZ Analytics Poll, taken Wednesday.

January 5, 2012
A member of Rep. Michele Bachmann's team wipes tears from his eyes as the former Republican presidential hopeful hugs family and staff members after announcing in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday that she would end her campaign. She finished sixth in Tuesday's Iowa Republican caucuses. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Iowa takes toll: Bachmann out

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota ended her presidential bid Wednesday, a day after voters in Iowa, the state in which she was born, left her in sixth place — last of all the major Republican candidates who competed there.

January 4, 2012