Although President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney offer voters "a distinct choice," Romney is still courting conservatives within his party who have been concerned about his past positions on things such as abortion and health reform.
The Associated Press: On Taxes, Health Care And Government's Role, Obama And Romney Offer Distinct Choices To Voters
Those differences surely exist. Obama and his Republican challenger are offering voters a distinct choice on taxes, a sharp disagreement over health care and a classic ideological divide on social issues that neither candidate seems eager to talk about (5/1).
The Associated Press: Santorum Wants Promises From Romney Before Backing
[Romney] signed a health care overhaul as governor that provided the groundwork for Democrats' national law that requires all Americans to buy insurance or face a fine. Romney's health care overhaul in Massachusetts required health care coverage. That's the primary issue Santorum plans to discuss Friday when he meets privately with Romney. "We want to make sure he doesn't replace it with any kind of mandate," Santorum adviser Hogan Gidley said (Elliott, 5/1).
At the state level, reports on Wisconsin's recall election and a new GOP ad in the special election to replace Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. -
Chicago Tribune: Wisconsin's Walker Raises $13 Million For Recall Election
Walker enraged Democrats and unions representing government workers such as teachers when he pushed through the legislature last spring a measure drastically reducing their powers. The law forced them to pay a portion of the cost of health insurance and pensions, capped wage increases, and required unions to be recertified every year. … The first-term governor, who faces the expensive special election in June, raised that amount between January 17 and April 23, according to a finance report filed with the state (O'Brien, 4/30).