T he 2012 U.S. elections could be the most exciting and consequential in years. In Wisconsin, we might be looking at political Armageddon. Wisconsin is a swing state in the presidential race. There is a wide-open contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Herb Kohl . Read full article > >

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Who’s progressive in Wisconsin

Presidential contests are inherently an expectations game, and because of that, the expectation is that Saturday’s contest in Nevada doesn’t mean much. Rightly or wrongly, when a state isn’t competitive, we generally discount its broader impact on the presidential race. Read full article > >

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Do Nevada’s caucuses matter?

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announces the introduction of a tax on financial transactions, as the presidential election looms.

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Sarkozy sets out ‘Robin Hood’ tax

The powerful political groups known as super PACs, whose heavy spending has become a significant factor in the presidential race, are also beginning to play a role in congressional races around the country. The groups have set off a scramble among candidates in both parties, who are now struggling to cope with a flood of negative ads run by organizations that are outside their direct control. Read full article > >

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Super PACs target congressional races

The outcome of a movement to recall Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin could have meaning for other states trying to cut union costs and for the presidential election.

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Scott Walker Recall Drive Is Closely Watched

Christian leaders voted to support the presidential candidacy of Rick Santorum in hopes of undercutting Mitt Romney’s dominance of the Republican field.

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Conservative Religious Leaders, Seeking Unity, Vote to Back Rick Santorum

Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou is leading in the presidential election with more than half the votes counted, TV reports say.

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Taiwan president ‘leads in poll’

When the presidential candidate asked for advice in cyberspace, some people advised him to step aside.

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Online Suggestion Box Peril for Putin, Who Is Urged to Quit

The high-spending independent groups that have formed to support the presidential candidates may be barred by law from coordinating with the candidates’ campaigns, but that doesn’t mean that their ads can’t sound almost exactly the same. Read full article > >

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PAC ads adding confusion

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner did not have thyroid cancer as feared, her operation last week has proved, the presidential spokesman says.

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Fernandez ‘did not have cancer’

Whether on purpose or by coincidence, the White House and federal agencies released several notable nuggets of news over the holidays, when most reporters were out of town or preoccupied with college football bowl games and the beginnings of the presidential election campaign. Some might call it the holiday edition of “ Take Out the Trash Day ” — as described in a classic “West Wing” episode — when the White House and federal agencies release potentially embarrassing or politically tricky policy decisions and personnel changes on a day when reporters and the general public are less likely to notice or care. Read full article > >

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A look at the ‘holiday news dump’

Katty Kay visits the mainly rural state of Iowa, the first US state to have its say in the presidential campaign.

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VIDEO: How Iowa ‘colours’ presidential race

Whether on purpose or by coincidence, the White House and federal agencies released several notable nuggets of news over the holidays when most reporters and were out of town or preoccupied with college football bowl games and the beginnings of the presidential campaign. Some might call it the holiday edition of “ Take Out the Trash Day ” — as described in a classic “West Wing” episode — when the White House and federal agencies release potentially embarrassing or politically tricky policy decisions and personnel changes on a day when reporters and the general public are less likely to notice or care. (The EPA is most guilty of the practice, according to colleague Emily Heil .) Read full article > >

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What you missed over the holidays

DES MOINES Iowa is awash in presidential candidates right now, and for the next week they will be focused on turning out their voters for the caucuses . But a larger worry should be part of their calculation: how to reverse the damage the Republican brand has suffered in the past year. A year ago, after their big midterm election victory, Republicans were full of confidence and anticipation. As Americans look toward next November, the question that many will be asking is: Are the Republicans really ready to lead? In three political arenas — Congress, the states and the presidential campaign trail — Republicans have left a checkered record in the past year. Read full article > >

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For GOP candidates, worries about the party’s brand

More than a year after Republicans first pledged to “repeal and replace” President Obama’s new health-care law, the GOP is still struggling to answer a basic question. Replace it . . . with what? The repeal-and-replace argument has been a central line of attack in the GOP’s anti-Obama assault, both on the presidential campaign trail and on Capitol Hill. Read full article > >

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For GOP, ‘repeal and replace’ has been nothing but a mantra on health-care law