As political watchers fix their eyes on the Republican primary in Florida this week, there’s a longer-term issue that will affect voters in several states come November: photo-ID laws. While arguments about the disparate impact of these new laws are usually couched in lawsuits and research studies, some activists are pushing beyond identifying the problem…

As political watchers fix their eyes on the Republican primary election in Florida this week, there’s a longer-term issue that will affect voters in several other states come November: photo ID laws. While arguments about the disparate impact of these new laws are usually couched in lawsuits and research studies, some activists are pushing beyond…

In the crucial final debate before Tuesday’s Florida Republican primary, the candidates faced off at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Moderated by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, conversation ranged from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to building colonies on the moon (yes, this was discussed for, like, 15 minutes) to whose wife would make the best first…

With all the focus on the presidential election, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that this is an election year for members of Congress, too. And the congressional contest is no mere side attraction — the political steam of whoever is in the White House all comes down to which party holds the reins…

The State of the Union address is framed as one that sets the year’s legislative agenda, but in an election year it serves double duty as a campaign speech that expresses a vision for a second term. At moments, with rousing applause from the Democratic caucus, President Obama’s assertive address on Tuesday evening resembled a…

After weeks of criticism over his reluctance to release his tax returns (and a bruising loss in the South Carolina primary), Mitt Romney caved in on Tuesday, making public his tax returns from 2010 and an estimated return for 2011. Despite his earlier hemming and hawing, Romney said he has nothing to hide. “Will there…

President Obama delivers his third State of the Union address on Tuesday night. The nation’s only constitutionally mandated speech, this version will have an added ingredient: It is Obama’s first major speech in the year in which he’s running for re-election. Here’s what to look out for. 1. A Focus on Economic Inequality In a…

Riding a wave of recent momentum, on Saturday Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary. Mitt Romney took second place, followed by Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. It’s an outcome that seemed unlikely just a week ago, when conventional wisdom said that Romney would handily take the state. Back then he was basking in the…

In their last chance to make an impression before the South Carolina primary, the final four Republican presidential candidates tangled again for another round of debating. Broadcast on CNN from the North Charleston Coliseum, here are the top moments. 1. Newt Gingrich Rages Against the Media Moderator John King opened the debate by asking Gingrich…