Unions gearing up to spend big in 2012 election »

Unions are gearing up to spend more than $400 million to help re-elect President Barack Obama and lift Democrats this election year in a fight for labor's survival.

Poll: Obama benefitting from improving economy »

President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.

Obama seeks corporate tax rate cut, loophole limit »

President Barack Obama rolled out a corporate tax overhaul plan Wednesday that lowers rates but also eliminates loopholes and subsidies cherished by the business world. A long-shot for action in an election year, the plan nevertheless stamps Obama's imprint on one of the most high-profile issues of the presidential campaign.

Poll: Obama benefitting from improving economy »

President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.

FDA panel gives nod to Vivus obesity drug »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An experimental obesity drug from Vivus Inc won a U.S. panel's support on Wednesday, raising hopes regulators would approve a weight-loss pill for the first time in 13 years. A panel of outside experts to the Food and Drug Administration voted 20-2 to recommend approval of Qnexa, meant to treat obesity and its accompanying health problems. The FDA usually follows panel recommendations, although it is not required to, and a final decision is expected by April 17. (Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Gary Hill)

How the poll was conducted »

The Associated Press-GfK Poll on President Obama and the economy was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications from Feb. 16-20. It is based on landline and cellphone telephone interviews with a nationally representative random sample of 1,000 adults. Interviews were conducted with 700 respondents on landline telephones and 300 on cellular phones.

Pro-Obama group runs anti-Romney ads in Michigan »

An independent group supporting President Barack Obama's re-election bid is running ads in Michigan chiding Republican candidate Mitt Romney for opposing the $80 billion auto industry bailout.

Home resales at 1-1/2 year-high, supply falls »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Home resales rose to a 1-1/2-year high in January, pushing the supply of properties on the market to the lowest level in almost seven years in a hopeful sign for the housing sector. The National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday existing home sales increased 4.3 percent to an annual rate of 4.57 million units last month, the fastest pace since May 2010. It was the latest indication the housing market may be coming off the floor. While economists attributed some of the rise to unseasonably warm winter weather, they also said it signaled genuine improvement. ...

Factbox: Mitt Romney tax plan would cut personal rates »

(Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney offered some details on Wednesday to his plans to overhaul the U.S. tax system. Highlights include: * INDIVIDUAL TAX RATES Individual tax rates would drop by 20 percent. The top rate would be reduced to 28 percent from 35 percent and the lowest to 8 percent from 10 percent. He had previously proposed permanently extending the 2001 and 2003 Bush-era tax cuts. ...

Santorum se mofa de Romney antes de debate en Arizona »

Rick Santorum reconoció el miércoles que está rezagado en Arizona con respecto a Mitt Romney, pero imploró a una audiencia del tea party que no acepten a un "recién venido a la causa conservadora".

Ohio Dem seeks apology for GOP leader's Obama quip »

A Democratic state lawmaker is asking the Ohio House speaker to apologize for a joke suggesting President Barack Obama should be jailed — but Republican William Batchelder says he won't take back what he viewed as a light-hearted quip.

Cerrada disputa en las elecciones salvadoreñas »

El izquierdista Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional y la derechista Alianza Republicana Nacionalista mantienen una cerrada competencia para ganar las elecciones municipales y legislativas del 11 de marzo.

Russia warns against 'hasty conclusions' over Iran »

Russia said Wednesday the world should not draw "hasty conclusions" over Iran's most recent rebuff of U.N. attempts to investigate allegations the Islamic Republic hid secret work on atomic arms, but the U.S. and its allies accused Tehran of nuclear defiance.

Romney calls for 20 percent income tax cuts »

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday called for 20 percent across-the-board cuts in personal income tax rates as part of a program to help the economy grow.

Obama urges corporate tax cut, closing loopholes »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama made an opening offer in what could be a long negotiation with corporate America on Wednesday, putting forward his first clear plan to cut the corporate tax rate. Though it has little chance of becoming law in an election year with Congress deeply divided on fiscal issues, Obama's plan aligns him roughly with the Republican presidential challengers and could minimize the corporate tax rate as a political issue. The president proposed cutting the top corporate rate to 28 percent from 35 percent, addressing a long-standing gripe by U.S. ...

Chavez surgery rocks Venezuela ahead of election »

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's imminent departure for more cancer surgery in Cuba has thrown his re-election campaign into uncertainty and once again shaken the socialist leader's passionate supporters. Though the 57-year-old former soldier looked stoic and played down the dangers of his latest condition, the announcement inevitably raises questions over his ability to stand for the October 7 presidential vote - or rule beyond it. Chavez, who has dominated Venezuela since taking office in 1999 and whose fierce anti-U.S. ...

Santorum mocks Romney ahead of Arizona GOP debate »

Rick Santorum acknowledged Wednesday that he's probably running behind Mitt Romney in Arizona, but he implored a tea party crowd not to settle for "a Johnny-come-lately to the conservative cause."

Newark mayor: NYPD misled us on Muslim spying »

The mayor and police director of New Jersey's largest city said Wednesday the New York Police Department misled their city and never told them it was conducting a widespread spying operation on Newark's Muslim neighborhoods. Had they known, they said, they never would have allowed it.

Lawmakers to Obama: tamp down fuel prices with oil stocks »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday urged the White House to signal it is ready to tap the nation's oil stockpiles to combat surging fuel prices, arguing an "aggressive" strategy could tamp down speculation. Oil prices hit their highest level in nine months on Tuesday as tensions with Iran continue to rattle crude markets. The skyrocketing oil costs have turned U.S. gasoline prices into a key issue for the 2012 presidential election season. ...

Obama Breaks Ground on African-American History Museum »

Breaking ground on the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, President Obama said today he hopes the museum will remind future generations of the “sometimes difficult, often inspirational, but always central role that African-Americans have played in the life of our...