A rookie mistake  —  On Monday, 24 hours before the Rasmussen poll would show him up 13 points on Mitt Romney after only three days in the GOP presidential race, Rick Perry made a mistake.  —  He answered a question in an Iowa field about the Federal Reserve with a waspish threat to Ben Bernanke …

Obama dares Republicans to block his coming jobs package  —  The president, visiting the Midwest, pledges to send Congress a plan in September and challenges Republicans to block it.  Not all Democrats are comfortable with his hard-line stance.  —  Reporting from Davenport, Iowa …

Crashing the Tea Party  —  GIVEN how much sway the Tea Party has among Republicans in Congress and those seeking the Republican presidential nomination, one might think the Tea Party is redefining mainstream American politics.  —  But in fact the Tea Party is increasingly swimming …

The sad facts behind Rick Perry's Texas miracle  —  Rick Perry's Texas is Ross Perot's Mexico come north.  Through a range of enticements we more commonly associate with Third World nations — low wages, no benefits, high rates of poverty, scant taxes, few regulations and generous corporate subsidies …

Wirch, Holperin win Senate recalls; GOP retains 17-16 majority  —  By Tom Tolan, Patrick Marley and Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel  —  The six-month saga that was Wisconsin's state Senate recall movement ended Tuesday with Democrats retaining two seats - and Republicans still in possession …

Canucklehead Obama bus-ted!  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama is barnstorming the heartland to boost US jobs in a taxpayer-financed luxury bus the government had custom built — in Canada, The Post has learned.  —  The $1.1 million vehicle, one of two that Quebec-based Prevost sold the government …

GOP Bigs Push Paul Ryan to Run  —  Mitch Daniels, Jeb Bush, John Boehner, Jim Jordan, and Bill Bennett encourage Ryan to run for president.  —  As Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan comes to a final decision about running for president, several top national conservatives are encouraging him to join the race.

Christie Is Flat And Obama Is Down In New Jersey, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Are Not Worried About Gov's Health  —  New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie stops his slide and flattens out with a 47 - 46 percent job approval rating from New Jersey voters, his best score in four months …

AP source: Obama to give major jobs speech  —  (AP) WASHINGTON — Seeking a jolt for a wilting economy, President Barack Obama will give a major speech in early September to unveil new ideas for speeding up job growth and helping the struggling poor and middle class, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.

Renegade Miami football booster spells out illicit benefits to players  —  Nevin Shapiro and a second source said this photo of the booster and Kellen Winslow Jr. was taken in Shapiro's VIP section of Opium Garden nightclub in 2003.  —  KEARNY, N.J. - A University of Miami booster …

This is a developing story as police are still investigating the shooting of a non-union business owner, John King, by what appears to be a union assailant.  —  With around 25 employees, John King owns one of the largest non-union electrical contracting businesses in the Toledo, Ohio area.

Scores show students aren't ready for college  —  75% may need remedial classes  —  **FILE** Students at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Ill., walk between buildings on campus.  (Associated Press)  —  For many students, getting a high school diploma doesn't mark the end of a high school education.

Abercrombie to ‘Jersey Shore’: Ditch our brand  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Mike “the Situation” Sorrentino may have to find some new attire for his “gym, tan, laundry” routine.  —  On Tuesday, clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch ( ANF) said it would offer “substantial payment” …

NBC News Caught Red Handed ‘Selectively Editing’ & ‘ Doctoring’ Video to Smear Gov Perry as Racist  —  Ed Schultz used a deceptive edit to misinform his audience about the content of Gov. Rick Perry's speech in Iowa yesterday.  Schultz claimed that Gov. Perry was calling President Obama a …

Firearms from ATF sting linked to 11 more violent crimes  —  Guns from Operation Fast and Furious were found at scenes in Arizona and Texas, the Justice Department acknowledges, widening the scope of the danger posed by the program.  —  Bill Newell, special agent in charge of ATF Phoenix …

Stephen Colbert loses treasurer to Rick Perry  —  No joke: Presidential candidate Rick Perry and comedian Stephen Colbert, who last week barraged Iowa voters with advertisements urging voters to support “Rick Parry,” shared the same political committee treasurer - until they didn't.