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National Election Headlines

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New ad campaign targets disillusioned Obama voters

A conservative-leaning independent group is launching a $10 million television ad campaign saying President Barack Obama has not lived up to the expectations voters had for him. Crossroads GPS is running 30- and 60-second versions of the ad, titled "Basketball," in 10 swing states. The ad targets voters who backed ...

Central Texas ed board hopefuls set for primary

A Central Texas Republican primary contest for the State Board of Education is shaping up to become one of the races that could define the board for years to come. Each of the 15 seats on the State Board of Education is on the ballot this year, but only seven ...

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is surrounded by members of the Secret Service as he arrives in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, May 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Romney's playbook on Bain unclear as attacks grow

The core of his presidential candidacy under attack, Mitt Romney has yet to shape a playbook to defend a quarter-century in the business world that created great riches for him and great hardship, at times, for some American workers. Romney and his aides have struggled to respond consistently to intensifying ...

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2010 file photo, former Secretary of State Colin Powell meets with President Barack Obama, in the Oval Office at the White in Washington. Powell is declining to renew the endorsement he gave Barack Obama four years ago, when he called Obama "a transformational figure." Pressed in a network interview to say whether he's backing Obama, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff demurred Tuesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Powell not ready to endorse Obama for re-election

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell declined Tuesday to renew the presidential endorsement he gave Barack Obama four years ago, saying he wasn't ready "to throw my weight behind someone" at this time. The former chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff and Cabinet member under President George W. ...

President Barack Obama pauses during his news conference at the NATO Summit in Chicago, Monday, May 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Obama's preference for talks with Iran faces test

President Barack Obama's preferred path to end the Iranian nuclear standoff faces a stern test this week when world powers sit down with Iran in another bid to press it to meet international demands to prove it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons. Failure will strengthen calls for military ...

President Barack Obama waves before boarding Air Force One during his departure from Chicago O'Hare International Airport after attending the NATO Summit Monday, May 21, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Summit doubleheader short on surprises

A long weekend of economic and security summits was heavy on stagecraft and light on surprises. The Group of Eight gathering in Camp David, Md., and the larger gathering of NATO leaders in Chicago yielded agreements worked out in advance and already made public. Lengthy statements summing up the summit ...

Obama stands by hits on Romney's Bain Capital days

President Barack Obama sought to undermine Mitt Romney's key rationale for his presidential candidacy Monday, sharply attacking his Republican challenger's background as a venture capitalist and arguing that profit-making alone is not a qualification for the White House. "His main calling card for why he thinks he should be president," ...

Mich. House Dems aim to regain power lost in 2010

To After the largest Republican sweep in decades sapped Democrats of power in 2010, party leaders in the Michigan House said Monday they're working to regain the majority by focusing on fundraising, candidate training and door-to-door campaigning. Democratic lawmakers and candidates gathered in Lansing to discuss their plans and prospects ...

Convicted Pa. Sen. Orie submits resignation

Convicted Pennsylvania state Sen. Jane Orie stepped down from her seat Monday, a few days after her state Supreme Court justice sister was charged with similar allegations she used taxpayer-funded staff for campaigns. The Allegheny County Republican submitted her resignation in a letter to Senate President Joe Scarnati dated Friday ...

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the Democrat challenging Republican Gov. Scott Walker in a recall election next month, holds up a copy of an email at a Milwaukee news conference on Monday, May 21, 2012, that he says shows Walker was aware of illegal activity going on in his office when Walker was the Milwaukee County executive. (AP Photo/Dinesh Ramde)

Wis. recall leaders struggle to gain momentum

Amid signs that the effort to oust Republican Gov. Scott Walker is losing ground, Wisconsin Democrats and union leaders are preparing a fundraising and get-out-the-vote push to regain momentum in the final weeks before the June recall election. Opponents of Walker are concerned that the governor, aided by a huge ...

Cory Booker is latest gaffe-prone Obama surrogate

Add Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker to the long list of political stand-ins for both President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney who've veered wildly off message in a presidential contest notable for its attention-grabbing gaffes. An Obama backer, Booker forced the president's campaign into damage-control mode over the weekend ...

Former appraiser in LA County is charged

Corruption charges were filed Monday against a former Los Angeles County appraiser as part of an investigation into influence peddling claims involving the assessor's office. Scott Schenter, 49, was arrested in Beaverton, Ore., and charged with 60 counts, including falsifying accounts and records. If convicted, he could face up to ...

Jury at Edwards trial ends 2nd day of deliberation

The jury deciding the fate of John Edwards in North Carolina has finished a second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict. The former presidential candidate faces 30 years in prison after pleading not guilty to six campaign finance corruption charges. The jury began considering its decision Friday, after nearly ...

Mandel, Renacci donations subject of federal probe

Federal officials are investigating questionable campaign contributions to two Ohio officeholders, freshman Rep. James Renacci and state treasurer and Senate candidate Josh Mandel, spokesmen for both Republicans confirmed Monday. Renacci spokesman Shawn Ryan said the U.S. Attorney's Office contacted the campaign four or five months ago with questions about donations ...

FILE - In this May 17, 2012 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks in Jacksonville, Fla. Romney is set to raise about $10 million during a fundraising swing through the northeast. Romney's top finance aide on Monday told donors in New York City that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was set to raise at least that _ and possibly “substantially” more _ during more than a dozen fundraising events in Connecticut and New York over the course of two days. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Romney to raise about $10 million in NY, Conn.

Chasing President Barack Obama's cash advantage, Republican challenger Mitt Romney expects to raise $10 million during a three-day fundraising swing through the New York area that included a video meeting with donors in China. Romney's top finance aide told donors in New York City on Monday that the presumptive Republican ...

Excerpts from recent Nebraska editorials

McCook Daily Gazette. May 18, 2012. How about a rural location for new Rural Institute? We enjoy living in small towns, or we wouldn't be here, but that doesn't mean we don't think they could use improvement. In fact, it takes growth to even maintain the standard of living that ...

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton mingle before the meeting on Afghanistan during the NATO Summit, Monday, May 21, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

THE RACE: Obama and Romney fight over budget goals

The presidential race is shaping up as a battle between Republican calls for more government austerity and Democratic appeals for more spending to promote jobs and growth with tax hikes on high-income earners. It mirrors a fight raging in Europe. Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney has embraced a House-passed Republican ...

TX-Winners

Here is a TEST list of winners of races in Texas. President Barack Obama (i), Dem President Newt Gingrich, GOP U.S. Senate Paul Sadler, Dem -- Advances to runoff Grady Yarbrough, Dem -- Advances to runoff U.S. Senate Ted Cruz, GOP -- Advances to runoff Craig James, GOP -- Advances ...

A nation-by-nation look at Arab Spring's progress

Starting Wednesday, Egypt is holding its first free presidential election since it came under dictatorship 60 years ago. The winner will succeed Hosni Mubarak, one of four rulers toppled in the uprisings that began 18 months ago across the Middle East and became known as the Arab Spring. But replacing ...

TX-Uncontested

Here is a TEST list of uncontested races in Texas.< U.S. House - District 1 Shirley McKellar, Dem U.S. House - District 1 Louie Gohmert (i), GOP U.S. House - District 2 Jim Dougherty, Dem U.S. House - District 2 Ted Poe (i), GOP U.S. House - District 4 VaLinda ...