Romney: Don't Wish Failure on Obama

Up in the polls, Rubio gets party blessing

(NEWSER) - The Republican Party is making a none-too-subtle push to get onetime golden boy Charlie Crist out of Florida's Senate race. “We believe there is zero chance Gov. Crist continues running in the Republican primary,” says the executive director of the National Republican Senate Committee. The group once tried to push Marco Rubio aside for Crist, but that was before Rubio opened a 20-point lead in the polls, reports the Miami Herald . More»

Current Republican field riddled with weak spots

(NEWSER) - Republicans talk a good game about challenging President Obama in 2012, but the GOP would look scarier if it had even one legitimate challenger , says Dick Polman. "Obama's job-approval numbers are tepid these days—but he looks robust when matched against actual Republican challengers," warns the Philadelphia Inquirer columnist. "Not to mention the inevitable wounds and scars that any Republican will suffer during a primary season that promises to be downright Darwinian." More»

Who knows, maybe her star power will make her the next Reagan

(NEWSER) - No matter what kind of gains Republicans make in the midterm elections next year, it’s going to be tough to unseat President Obama—and that’s why the GOP is going to choose Sarah Palin, its heart’s preferred candidate, over Mitt Romney, its head’s favorite. Or as Matt Lewis puts it, “If you’re going to lose anyway, is it better to lose atop the horse you really want to ride?” More»

Planned Parenthood goes after Mitt, Mitt goes after Solyndra

(NEWSER) - Now that Mitt Romney has officially clinched the Republican presidential nomination, the fight is on. An update on the lines of attack being launched now that we know for sure it's Obama vs. Romney:

• The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is targeting Romney with one of its biggest political ad campaigns ever. A new video spot claims Romney will deny women access to birth control and cancer screenings, take away abortion rights, and not support equal pay for women. The campaign hits hard where it hurts, as Romney is already trailing President Obama among women, the New York Times notes.

But a few worry strategy could hurt among independents

(NEWSER) - Some Democratic leaders may have their doubts about President Obama's attacks on Bain Capital —but most give the message the thumbs up and want him to keep at it. Mitt Romney "wanted to have this conversation," Pennsylvania's Democratic chair tells the Washington Post , which has interviewed numerous top Dems over the last week. "We’re going to have it. There should be no hesitation or equivocation." Colleagues in Nevada, Ohio, and New Hampshire say voters' anger centers on Wall Street, which could be this election's "bogeyman"—and that makes the strategy a smart and appropriate one, they say. More»