Obama to Offer ‘Accomodation’ on Contraception Rule  —  With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, ABC News has learned that later today the White House …

Santorum says ‘other types of emotions’ could preclude women in combat  —  For a candidate with virtually no staff and who tends to talk off the cuff, Rick Santorum has been nearly gaffe-free.  However, this evening might have been his first, and it comes at a time when he is trying …

Santorum Gets Spirited Reception at CPAC  —  Rick Santorum got such a positive reception from a meeting of the party's conservative base Friday morning, the former senator almost cut his speech short while he was ahead.  Well, almost. … Halfway through a speech to the Conservative Political …

Rep. Spencer Bachus faces insider-trading investigation  —  The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case.

Is 2012 Slipping Away From the GOP?  —  For a long time, I was confident that Republican voters would oust Barack Obama in 2012, hold the House and, in all likelihood, take the Senate.  Obama is a weak incumbent, who has been chronically unpopular since early in his term.

The Crowd Pleaser  —  At first glance, President Obama and Mitt Romney share some similar traits.  Both Harvard Law School grads are smart and analytical.  Both are emotionally reserved rather than touchy-feely.  Both are traditionalist in their family and personal lives.

Gingrich Seeks to Ease Fundraising Woes as Las Vegas Checks Slowing Down  —  Newt Gingrich was just days away from the Jan. 31 Florida Republican presidential primary when he told reporters that his campaign was down to its last $600,000.  —  Five losing contests later, Gingrich and Winning Our Future …

Obama's Worst Year  —  The inside story of his brush with political disaster.  —  Shortly after four o'clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 13, 2011, U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner walked down the hallway near his office toward a large conference room facing the building's interior.

Did Nancy Pelosi inadvertently cross a legal line?  —  Washington (CNN) - Did House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi inadvertently cross a legal line by asking for political contributions while on federal property?  —  At a Capitol Hill press conference Thursday, Pelosi was making the case …

Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say  —  WASHINGTON — Education was historically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable of lifting less advantaged children and improving their chances for success as adults.  But a body of recently published scholarship suggests …

8,000 instances of abuse alleged in Archdiocese bankruptcy hearing  —  By Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel  —  Sealed documents filed in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee bankruptcy identify at least 8,000 instances of child sexual abuse and 100 alleged offenders - 75 of them priests …

Poll: Joe Kennedy III has huge lead in U.S. Rep race  —  Joseph P. Kennedy III's famous family ties have handed him a huge early lead in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, a new UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll reveals.  —  Kennedy, the son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II …

Israeli fans beg PM to hold off Iran attack over Madonna show  —  New Facebook group asks Prime Minister to postpone any plans to a strike of Iran's nuclear facilities until after the Queen of Pop's planned May 29 visit.  —  Get Haaretz on iPhone  —  Get Haaretz on Android