Obama Insider 'Queasy' Over '12 Challenge From Utah Gov.

Almost looks like he's running for something...

(NEWSER) - Howard Dean’s return to the national stage with stinging criticism of the compromises Democratic leaders accepted on health care reform has thrilled disaffected progressives—and even sparked talk of another run for president. One liberal blogger says his dusted-off bona fides make Dean “perfectly positioned” to challenge Obama in 2012. While many think that strains credulity, Politico reports, he appears to be preparing for something. More»

He's 'no panda-hugger,' but he does speak Chinese

(NEWSER) - After President Obama nominated Utah’s Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr as his ambassador to China, New Yorker correspondent Evan Osnos takes the pulse of the Chinese press. He found three matters of note:

• The press approved Obama’s personal announcement of Huntsman’s new post: It shows Obama takes the job “seriously,” even if Huntsman’s not a close personal friend, as his predecessor was to President Bush.

Even though Santorum didn't bow out until April 10

(NEWSER) - No one's been nominated yet—but the media crowned Mitt Romney the winner of the GOP primaries after he took Michigan on Feb. 28, a Pew report finds. Of course, Romney didn't essentially seal the deal until Rick Santorum dropped out. That happened on April 10, weeks after the media had effectively called the race for Romney, finds the report, which tracked 11,000 news outlets from Jan. 2 to April 15. After Feb. 28, we saw "a suddenly intense discussion of 'delegate math' and the conclusion that no other candidate could win," explains the report's co-author. More»

Cash problems hound Gingrich's dying campaign

(NEWSER) - He was hoping for a bounce in the polls, but the only thing bouncing in Utah was Newt Gingrich's $500 application fee to get on the primary ballot, reports the Salt Lake City Tribune . Worse—when Utah officials tried to get in touch with Gingrich's local office, there was no response from the phone numbers or email addresses provided on the application. Gingrich has until April 20 to sort things out if he wants to get on the ballot there. More»

But Obama leads Romney in general election polling

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney leads Rick Santorum 40% to 33% in Wisconsin, according to a new NBC News-Marist poll . Ron Paul follows in third with 11% and Newt Gingrich is last with 8%. Romney leads the way with moderate and liberal Republicans, conservatives, and those earning more than $75,000 per year. Santorum, however, leads with very conservative voters, evangelical Christians, and Tea Party supporters. More»