Romney Staff Wiped Records Before '08 Bid

Romney emphasizes Bain, Olympics over time as governor

(NEWSER) - Four of the past six US presidents were also former governors, and the qualification is generally considered one of the best for the White House. Nevertheless, you won't hear Mitt Romney boasting of his term as governor of Massachusetts very often, preferring instead to talk about the Salt Lake City Olympics and Bain Capital. That's because Massachusetts talk equals RomneyCare, abortion-rights support, and closing tax loopholes for the rich—in other words, being a centrist, a fate worse than arugula this election cycle, reports Politico . More»

Your look at what to watch for today

(NEWSER) - It's here at last: Super Tuesday, the day 10 states cast their ballots in the 2012 primary. Here's what's at stake for each of the candidates today:

• Mitt Romney—Expected to win: Massachusetts, Vermont, Virginia. Really wants to win: Ohio and Tennessee. Winning both would give him both of America's top swing states (Ohio and Florida), and a win in the South, and make him, in the Wall Street Journal 's words, "the presumptive leader." Keeping an eye on: Romney's camp says it's shifting into delegate-acquisition mode, so though it won't win Georgia and it's not expecting Tennessee, it's invested in the Atlanta and Knoxville regions.

Thanks to 1992 voting technicality

(NEWSER) - If calling Mitt Romney a "Massachusetts moderate" isn't helping Newt Gingrich, here's a new label: "Massachusetts Democrat." The former governor was briefly a Democrat in 1992, thanks to a technicality BuzzFeed discovered related to his much-discussed Democratic primary vote for Paul Tsongas . Romney was registered as an "unenrolled" voter, meaning he wasn't part of a political party. His vote for a Democrat made him one, under 1992 law that has since been changed. More»

Massachusetts' biggest paper snubs Romney—again

(NEWSER) - The biggest-selling newspaper in the state Mitt Romney governed for four years has snubbed him and endorsed Jon Huntsman to be the GOP nominee. Huntsman has been bold where Romney has been cautious, and "rather than merely sketch out policies, he articulates goals and ideals," the Boston Globe writes, praising the former Utah governor's foreign policy credentials, ability to lead in a bipartisan spirit, and willingness to stand up to those in his party who "reject evolution and the science behind global warming." More»

His 2006 health-care law provides medical care to undocumented immigrants

(NEWSER) - In last week's angry debate, Rick Perry resurrected allegations that Mitt Romney hired a lawn service that used undocumented immigrants—and that may not be the final illegal immigrant discussion Romney gets pulled into. The Los Angeles Times reports that his 2006 health care law's Health Safety Net program allows the uninsured—and, by extension, uninsured illegal immigrants—to get basically free care at any health clinic or hospital in Massachusetts. Supporters say the program, which cost more than $400 million last year, actually saves money in the long run, because it keeps the uninsured from seeking care at a more expensive hospital emergency room. More»