Yahoo! News: Politics - Republican Party

Politics - Republican Party

• GOP insiders rise up to cut Gingrich down to size (AP)

  AP - Republican insiders are rising up to cut Newt Gingrich down to size, testament to the GOP establishment's fear that the mercurial candidate could lead the party to disaster this fall.

  
  

• Romney, Gingrich focus on Hispanic voters in Fla. (AP)

  AP - Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney urged conservatives to back off aggressive anti-immigration policies as the Republican presidential candidates vied for Hispanic votes Friday, a day marked by heightened tensions entering the final weekend before Florida's primary.

  
  

• Paul braves snowy Maine in hunt for GOP delegates (AP)

  AP - Ron Paul braved Maine's snow and ice Friday in a quest to pick up delegates, vowing he and his loyal band of supporters would be a factor in the Republican nominating contest for weeks to come.

  
  

• What You Missed While Not Watching The Last Florida GOP Debate (Time.com)

  Time.com - "Only one thing is certain," CNN's opening montage declares. "Expect the unexpected." That hits the spot. We need false hope at a time like this. It's the 19th Republican debate.

• Republican senator wants Keystone XL bill (Reuters)

  Reuters - Republican Senator John Hoeven is set to introduce legislation on Monday seeking to bypass President Barack Obama and empower Congress to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, an aide said on Friday.

• Fading Gingrich attacks Romney in ad (Reuters)

  Reuters - Newt Gingrich struggled to regain momentum in the Republican presidential race on Friday as two new polls showed him falling behind rival Mitt Romney, who was seen as the winner of the final debate before the Florida primary.

• Pelosi’s Attack on Gingrich Is a Political Ruse (ContributorNetwork)

  ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | Nancy Pelosi made big news this week when the former House Speaker suggested in a CNN interview that she knows something about Newt Gingrich that could disqualify his candidacy. Her cryptic comment came only days before the critical Florida primary. Pelosi has since backed off from the suggestion, though she is still adamant Gingrich won't be the Republican nominee. What should be made of the House Minority Leader's claim?

• Palin Backing Newt: GOP Establishment 'Trying to Crucify' Gingrich (ContributorNetwork)

  ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | Don't think Sarah Palin's actually supporting Newt Gingrich? Think again. She has not officially endorsed a candidate as yet, but recent remarks show whom she's backing.

• Note to Gingrich: Our Problems Are Bigger Than the Moon (ContributorNetwork)

  ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | According to Space.com, Republican candidate Newt Gingrich is saying that, if elected president, he will see to it that the United States has a manned colony on the moon by 2020. He also said that commercial spaceflight would be bustling and a next-generation propulsion system will have the nation sending astronauts to Mars.

• What the Republican Candidates Say About Moon Colonization (ContributorNetwork)

  ContributorNetwork - A day before the most recent Republican debate in Florida, Newt Gingrich promised that if he were elected president, there would be a permanent base on the moon. The former Speaker of the House added that if 13,000 Americans were living there, the moon could apply for U.S. statehood.

• Romney holds 8-percentage point lead in Florida (Reuters)

  Reuters - Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has opened up a lead of 8 percentage points over rival Newt Gingrich in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in Florida, as he regains front-runner status in the Republican race.

• Republican Santorum heads home as he lags in Florida (Reuters)

  Reuters - Trailing in opinion polls, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum headed home to Pennsylvania on Friday for a short visit, effectively turning his back on the Florida primary that has become a two-man race between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

• Nevada GOP to release results via Twitter, Google (AP)

  AP - Results of the Nevada Republican presidential caucus will be released through Twitter and Google, the first time the social network will play a central role in announcing the outcome of a political presidential contest.

• While others woo Florida, Ron Paul’s strategy is to rack up delegates in February (The Ticket)

  The Ticket - When asked in front of a national audience this week to defend his ability to win the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, Ron Paul responded by emphasizing the real contest: the race for delegates. "The delegates [are] what counts," Paul said at the NBC presidential debate in Tampa, Fla., after noting that the Iowa caucuses (in which [...]

• Romney puts Gingrich on defensive in Florida debate (Reuters)

  Reuters - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took the fight to chief rival Newt Gingrich on Thursday in his most aggressive debate performance yet, five days ahead of Florida's primary vote.

• Romney's forceful body language scores in debate (AP)

  AP - The hands came out of the pockets. The gaze was intense. Mitt Romney leaned confidently into the lectern.

  
  

• GOP seeks limits on new Colo. child-care rules (AP)

  AP - Talk about red tape: Colorado's Department of Human Services last year proposed regulating child care businesses down to the number of crayons per box and the color of dolls kids can play with.

  
  

• Biden takes swipe at Republicans Romney, Gingrich (Reuters)

  Reuters - Vice President Joe Biden took a rare public swipe at Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich on Friday, criticizing them for comments about the poor and about the federal government's automaker bailout.

• Obama urges Congress to act in election year (AP)

  AP - President Barack Obama rallied House Democrats for an election-year fight, urging them to work with Republicans if they show some willingness to put politics aside but telling the rank and file to call them out if they stand in the way.

  
  

• Understanding the Influence of Florida’s Hispanic Voters (ContributorNetwork)

  ContributorNetwork - The Florida Republican primary Tuesday is shaping up as a two-man contest between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich in which Hispanics may determine the outcome.