Republicans increasingly see Mitt Romney as the ‘inevitable candidate’  —  NASHUA, N.H. — Buoyed by a series of strong debate performances, Mitt Romney is suddenly attracting new support from major donors and elected officials, some of whom had resisted his previous entreaties …

Buffett's Son Defends Occupy Wall Street  —  Howard Buffett, the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) director and son of Chairman Warren Buffett, said Wall Street protesters were provoked by abuses from corporations amid a widening disparity between rich and poor.

Obama Surges Past Money-Making Goal  —  The Obama Campaign and Democratic National Committee raised a combined nearly $70 million for the 2012 campaign from July through September, the groups reported today in an email to supporters.  —  Obama for America brought in $42.8 million …

Obama gets win as Congress passes free-trade agreements  —  Congress resoundingly approved long-stalled trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama late Wednesday, authorizing the most significant expansion of trade relations in nearly two decades.

I Am Not Your Mirror Image  —  Russ Roberts tries to debunk my explanation of the reasons to believe in a broadly Keynesian view of the world — and reveals more than he intended.  —  First, a few points.  Roberts treats my statement that we have a lot of evidence on the effects of monetary policy …

Scott Brown web message mirrors 2002 Elizabeth Dole speech  —  WASHINGTON - A Democratic group has unearthed a bit of inspirational autobiography on Senator Scott Brown's official website that was lifted verbatim from a 2002 campaign speech by Elizabeth Dole.

Five questions for Rick Perry  —  Perry spoke to a large crowd at the Des Moines Register Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair last month.  (Justin Hayworth/The Des Moines Register)  —  1. You've been criticized over the racial slur that a rock once bore outside the hunting camp you leased …

Nearly 8-in-10 Americans now see country on the wrong track  —  Somehow, 16% of likely American voters still believe the country is doing swell.  —  Rescue teams are out looking for them right now.  —  Sixteen percent is not much of a political base for President Obama to build a 2012 reelection campaign on.

Ben Nelson's Ads May Break New Ground  —  WASHINGTON — A new series of political advertisements on behalf of an embattled Nebraska senator could open the door to a flood of similar ads financed by outside groups and even businesses working directly with political candidates — a sharp departure from past practice.

Japanese Government Nixed Idea of Obama Visiting, Apologizing for, Hiroshima*  —  In September 2009, US Ambassador to Japan John Roos reported to the Obama administration that the Japanese government did not think it was a good idea for President Obama to visit Hiroshima to apologize …

Solar Firm That Received $1.2 Billion Federal Loan Plagued by Financial Problems  —  With the Solyndra scandal still swirling, the Obama administration is under pressure to reveal the financial condition of the solar companies that received $4.75 billion in similar federal loan guarantees on the last day of the program.

Justice Dept. sues Transocean to force cooperation in Gulf rig blast probe  —  The Justice Department is suing Transocean - owner of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that blew up in the Gulf of Mexico last year - to force compliance with subpoenas issued by a federal agency probing the accident.

Conceding One to the Critics  —  As readers of this site have no doubt noticed, I'm not one who is greatly troubled by hostile criticism.  —  On the other hand, sometimes the critics make a valid point.  When they do, I'm not too obstinate to concede.  —  For years, I've shared …

Air Force Insists: Drone Cockpit Virus Just a ‘Nuisance’  —  The U.S. Air Force revealed new details Wednesday about the virus that's been infecting the remote cockpits of its drone fleet — and insisted, despite reports from their own personnel, that the infection was properly and easily contained.

Banks turn to demolition of foreclosed properties to ease housing-market pressures  —  View Photo Gallery — Demolition: Four years into this city's housing crisis, it has often become cheaper for banks to give away a home and pay to demolish it than continue to hold on.

In U.S., Support for Death Penalty Falls to 39-Year Low  —  Fifty-two percent say the death penalty is applied fairly  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Sixty-one percent of Americans approve of using the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, down from 64% last year.

N.H.'s Bill Gardner to Nevada: Drop dead  —  Bill Gardner just flipped the Republicans the bird.  Again.  —  In a three-page statement released Wednesday afternoon, the New Hampshire secretary of state reiterated his independence and said he'll move the primary up as far as necessary …