Political action committee launches presidential 'campaign in waiting' for Republican Jon Huntsman

Can you launch a campaign without a candidate?

Rahm Emanuel wins Chicago mayor race

Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayor's race Tuesday night, gaining well over the 50% he needed to avoid a runoff, according to unofficial returns.

Dueling authors of Sarah Palin books do battle

WASHINGTON -- As Sarah Palin ponders whether to enter the 2012 GOP presidential wars, a skirmish over two competing chronicles of her time in Alaska has broken out.

Harry Reid offers plan to avert government shutdown

WASHINGTON — Yielding no ground in the budget standoff, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Tuesday said he would propose a measure that would fund the government at current levels for one month, a path that would avoid a government shutdown while the Senate and the Republican-led House negotiate a long-term spending plan.

Clarence Thomas hits five years without asking a question

Eight justices of the Supreme Court engaged in a fast-paced argument Tuesday morning over whether a female microbiologist who tried to poison her husband's lover with a toxic chemical could be charged under a federal law intended to regulate chemical weapons.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's standing is eroding, opponents say, citing poll

As Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker prepares to make his case to the public, a new poll commissioned by his union adversaries finds state voters are not fully embracing his proposals to balance the state's books, including stripping state workers of collecting bargaining rights.

Sen. John Thune says he will not run for president in 2012

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) announced Tuesday that he will not be a candidate for president in 2012, ending speculation surrounding the young South Dakotan.

Obama talks small business in Cleveland -- but avoids talking about Libya, Scott Walker

President Obama brought his vision for America's economic recovery to Cleveland on Tuesday, bringing along several members of his Cabinet for a forum on small business.

Fight over Wisconsin unions heats up

Wisconsin Republicans on Monday turned up the heat on Democratic state senators who fled to Illinois last week to block passage of a controversial bill that would eliminate collective bargaining for most public employee unions.

Gov. McDonnell says he would likely accept vice presidential spot if asked

Gov. Bob McDonnell gave a intriguing answer to a question from NBC12's Ryan Nobles this week acknowledging that if the Republican presidential nominee asked him it would be tough to turn down the vice presidential nomination.

Voters not flocking to ballot without a Daley

The draw of a mayoral ballot that didn’t have a Daley on it wasn’t as great as some election forecasters had expected.

In Cleveland, a battle for the economy

The narrative that haunts Cleveland — former empire of iron and steel, shipping and rail — has followed it for decades: the collapse of the manufacturing economy, the erosion of jobs, the exodus of residents.

Scott dismisses new high-speed-rail assurances

MELBOURNE — Gov. Rick Scott waved off efforts Monday by high-speed-rail supporters to assure him that the $2.7 billion project would not cost Florida taxpayers any money, dismissing them as "all these hypotheticals."

Mike Huckabee in no hurry to decide on presidential bid

If Mike Huckabee does decide to jump into the 2012 presidential race, it may not come any time soon.

Joe Courtney: Not Running For U.S. Senate

Congressman Joe Courtney said Monday he would not run for U.S. Senate in 2012.

Gallup: Solidly Democratic states are down by half

A Gallup analysis released Monday shows that as the nation heads toward the 2012 presidential elections, the number of solidly Democratic states has fallen by half while the number of politically competitive states has almost doubled since 2008.