Walker may challenge Holden in mayor’s race

Kip Holden captured 71 percent of the vote and became the only mayor-president to win all 314 of East Baton Rouge Parish’s precincts when he was re-elected in 2008, but his quest for a third term Nov. 6 may prove much more of a challenge.

Conservatives shrug at birth control backstep

President Barack Obama’s political shifting over contraception coverage has united conservative Republicans in protest even as they split over which GOP presidential hopeful should face him in the general election.Continue reading →

Greek premier defends bailout deal

ATHENS, Greece — Warning of a “catastrophe” that would leave Greeks subsisting on food stamps and the country wallowing in bankruptcy, Greek leaders urged lawmakers Saturday to pass more painful spending cuts on the eve … Continue reading →

Politics column for Feb. 12, 2012

Senator calls GOP on ‘Obamacare’State Sen. Ed Murray, D-New Orleans, chided the Jindal administration Thursday, like many Republicans, for referring to the 2010 federal health-care legislation as “Obamacare.”“I couldn’t find … Continue reading →

Romney’s bad day is Santorum’s best in GOP race

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Romney’s bad day is Santorum’s best in GOP race

AP Photo MOJR115, COGH126, MNJM108, OHEV124

Eds: Updates throughout with details. With AP Photos. AP Video.

By LAURIE KELLMAN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rick Santorum is looking to capitalize on … Continue reading →

Inside Report for Feb. 9, 2012

Critics say Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recent proposals for dramatic state pension system changes are fraught with problems — constitutional and otherwise.Ask top officials of the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System, which … Continue reading →

Jubilant Santorum wins Minnesota, leads in Colo.

WASHINGTON — A resurgent Rick Santorum won Minnesota’s Republican presidential caucuses with ease and was nearing victory in Colorado.Santorum triumphed, as well, in a nonbinding Missouri primary for bragging rights but no delegates.Continue reading →

Romney targets Santorum

Sensing a possible threat, Mitt Romney criticized Rick Santorum’s time in the Senate as “not effective” because of his past support for spending on pork-barrel projects as … Continue reading →

Romney: Out of Fla. with momentum

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Barreling out of Florida with money and momentum on his side, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney said Wednesday that the bare-knuckled nomination fight thus far has toughened him up for contests to come. Chief … Continue reading →

Romney confident in Fla. voting

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republicans were putting an end to a raucous, big-spending, character-bashing primary campaign Tuesday as they decided whether a confident Mitt Romney or a defiant Newt Gingrich would win the state’s 50 delegates, the … Continue reading →

Analyst handicaps GOP in election

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s former chief of staff said Monday he believes President Barack Obama is well positioned for re-election, while he expects Republicans to make more gains in Congress.Timmy Teepell, now a partner in the OnMessage … Continue reading →

No letup on Gingrich

Updated at 6:25 p.m. – MIAMI (AP) — Cheered by new polls, Mitt Romney is all but predicting victory in Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary. Newt Gingrich is looking past Florida to regroup, vowing he won’t stay buried long.“With a turnout like … Continue reading →

Romney credits tactics change

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Looking for a convincing win, a confident Mitt Romney said Monday the Florida primary is breaking his way and urged voters to send Newt Gingrich “to the moon.” Gingrich claimed he’s gaining ground and … Continue reading →

Edwards returns home

Former Gov. Edwin W. Edwards returned home to Gonzales Monday after a bout with pneumonia landed him in the hospital over the weekend.His wife, Trina, posted on Facebook Monday afternoon that her husband was at home … Continue reading →

Gingrich: All in until convention

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — On the weekend before the pivotal Florida primary, Newt Gingrich vowed on Saturday to stay in the race for the Republican presidential nomination until the national convention this summer even … Continue reading →

Romney would be among richest presidents ever

WASHINGTON — Just how rich is Mitt Romney? Add up the wealth of the last eight presidents, from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. Then double that number. Now you’re in Romney territory.Continue reading →