Former Gov. Charlie Crist: Here's why I'm backing Barack Obama  —  I've studied, admired and gotten to know a lot of leaders in my life.  Across Florida, in Washington and around the country, I've watched the failure of those who favor extreme rhetoric over sensible compromise …

CNN Poll: Which candidate cares more about you?  —  Tampa (CNN) - A new national survey illustrates the challenge Mitt Romney faces at the Republican convention as the GOP presidential challenger gets re-introduced to the American public.  —  While a CNN/ORC International poll indicates …

Mitt Romney Event — Drops $500k on Journey Concert  —  MITT ROMNEY EVENT  —  Drops $500k on Journey Concert  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  ANY WAY YOU WANT IT ... is exactly what the band Journey said when they were offered $500,000 to play a campaign event for Mitt Romney ... and they accepted, TMZ has learned.

Top GOP Operative: Republicans ‘Will Run A Write-In’ To Defeat Todd Akin  —  Republicans are desperate for Todd Akin to drop out of the Missouri Senate race after his controversial comments about legitimate rape.  Nearly every top Republican, including Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, have publicly called for him to quit.

Tropical Storm Isaac Should Rival Hurricane Katrina  —  By Michael Barak, Joseph Bastardi and Alan Lammey  —  On August 24th, we warned on Forbes that Tropical Storm Isaac could pose a threat to energy markets and even rival Hurricane Katrina in its destructive power (Could Tropical Storm Isaac Turn Into Another Katrina?).

Paul: I don't fully endorse Romney  —  In an interview with the New York Times, Ron Paul details the ask from GOP officials in return for a convention speaking slot, and explains why he declined. … Paul's refusal to play ball stands in contrast to his son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul …

Romney defends Swiss bank account  —  Mitt Romney defended his foreign investments in an interview aired Sunday, noting that his personal finances have followed all U.S. laws and he got no special tax savings from a Swiss bank account.  —  “Well, first of all, there was no reduction …

Jeb Bush: GOP ‘Needs To Change... Reach Out To A Much Broader Audience Than We Do Today’  —  This morning on NBC, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush delivered a pointed critique of the modern Republican party.  Bush acknowledged that that the GOP “needs to change” and “reach out to a much broader audience.”

Romney Touts Romneycare: I'm The Guy That Got ‘Health Care For All The Women And Men In My State’  —  Just two weeks after a Romney spokesperson faced a barrage of conservative criticism for highlighting the success of the governor's Massachusetts health care law, Romney himself bragged …

FCC eyes tax on Internet service  —  The Federal Communications Commission is eyeing a proposal to tax broadband Internet service.  —  The move would funnel money to the Connect America Fund, a subsidy the agency created last year to expand Internet access.  —  The FCC issued a request for comments on the proposal in April.

Gritty N.J. city of Camden to scrap police department amid budget woes  —  Crime-ridden Camden, New Jersey - often referred to as the most dangerous city in the United States—is getting rid of its police department.  —  In the latest example of a cash-strapped municipality taking drastic measures …

Despite working-class image, Ryan comes from family of wealth  —  Paul Ryan was born into one of the most prominent families in Janesville, Wis., and his rise to political power and financial stability was boosted by family money and connections.  —  Paul Ryan, speaking in Ohio …