Arizona: Babeu Addresses Allegations, Admits He’s Gay

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, a Republican running for the nomination in Arizona’s 4th district, announced today he is gay and said he is stepping down as a co-chairman of the Romney for President campaign in Arizona. He also said he would continue his race for Congress.

Babeu, an immigration hard-liner running against Republican Rep. Paul Gosar in the new district, had been the subject of reports in the Phoenix New Times that he was having a relationship with an illegal immigrant and that he had threatened the man with deportation if the immigrant went public with their relationship.

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Texas Primary Likely Pushed Back Again

Hopes are dimming that Texas will have much influence in the GOP presidential contest, thanks to redistricting litigation.

Legal fighting over the Congressional map has already pushed back the primary date from March 6 to April 3. Now, U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry Smith has told Texas Republicans that the primary will be held May 29, although that date is not official, the Associated Press reports.

Such a late date vastly undercuts the Lone Star State’s relevance in the GOP presidential primary.

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LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to Chair Democratic Convention

(Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) will nominate Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to chair the party’s national convention in Charlotte, N.C.

“Mayor Villaraigosa has dedicated his career to civic engagement and empowering people at the grassroots,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement released this morning by the Democratic National Convention Committee. “And that’s exactly what we need to be successful at this convention — input and engagement from Americans across the country.” Full story

Pennsylvania: GOP Leaders Threaten to Move Primary Date

Chaos over the state legislative redistricting maps might delay Pennsylvania’s April 24 primary — a move that would effect Congressional and presidential races, too.

A later primary would give the Keystone State less prominence on the presidential nominating calendar, as well as influence several House contests, including the high-profile primary between Democratic Reps. Jason Altmire and Mark Critz in the redrawn 12th district.

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a state redistricting commission to redraw its controversial proposal for the legislative districts. But there’s growing concern the state Legislative Reapportionment Commission will not have enough time to pass new maps.

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Mitt Romney Goes Two for Two With Maine Win

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the non-binding Maine presidential caucuses today, capping off a day on which he also won the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll.

Romney took 39 percent of the vote in Maine, where fewer than 5,600 votes were cast, followed by Rep. Ron Paul (texas), who got 36 percent of the vote. Former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) did not compete in the Pine Tree State but got 18 percent and 6 percent, respectively. Full story

Palin Excoriates Washington, Obama in CPAC Closer

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin posed for pictures after addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

After several years of skipping the Conservative Political Action Conference, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin closed out the annual gathering by reading the riot act to both President Barack Obama and the political class in Washington, D.C., and called for larger tea party representation in GOP leadership on Capitol Hill.

Palin described the Republican wave in the 2010 midterms as “a good first step.” Looking ahead to this year’s elections, she urged Republicans to “take back the Senate and fortify the House.”

And with those gains, she pushed for a larger tea party presence in the GOP’s top ranks. “This time we expect them to get leadership posts in Congress,” she said. The remark could be construed as a reference to Sen. Ron Johnson’s (Wis.) loss to Sen. Roy Blunt (Mo.) in a December Senate leadership election.

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Mitt Romney Wins CPAC Straw Poll

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll with 38 percent of the vote. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference presidential straw poll, carrying 38 percent of the vote.

It is a comeback of sorts — Romney was a three-year winner from 2007 to 2009, but had come in behind Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) the past two years. Full story

Scenes from CPAC: Top Swag

If you’ve ever been to the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., you know that it’s a virtual treasure trove of political tchotchkes.

Below is just some of the swag that our photographers and reporters captured this year. Read some of Roll Call’s coverage of the three-day conservative confab here, here, here and here.

The event wraps up tomorrow with straw poll results announced at 4:15 p.m., followed by a speech from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at 4:30 p.m.

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

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Gingrich Goes for Wonk Over Red Meat at CPAC

(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

While the other presidential contenders may have tailored their Conservative Political Action Conference speeches to the crowd, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich chose to stick to his standard campaign speech today, ticking off a series of policy positions to largely polite applause.

Gingrich was repeatedly interrupted by sustained applause during last year’s CPAC and was treated like a conquering hero before and after his speech.

But this year, the Georgia Republican found himself in a much different position. Instead of a rousing stem-winder, Gingrich walked the listless crowd through dozens of his domestic and foreign policy proposals. Instead of constantly finding himself interrupted by standing ovations, Gingrich went nearly five minutes before hearing his first applause. Full story

Mitt Romney Assures Conservatives He’s One of Them

(Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Mitt Romney laid out his conservative credentials today in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, assuring activists that he is indeed one of them.

“I understand the battles we as conservatives must fight because I have been on the front lines and expect to be on those front lines again,” the former Massachusetts governor said. “This gathering has always welcomed me, and you’ve consistently supported me. Not because of my rhetoric but because of my record in that deep blue state.”

Romney won the CPAC straw poll in 2007 and 2008, and going into the 2008 gathering was seen as the conservative alternative to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Speaking to the same crowd four years later, Romney had some persuading to do to a segment of the GOP electorate still unsure of his authenticity. Full story

Rick Santorum Tells CPAC He’s the One They Know

Presidential candidate and former Sen. Rick Santorum brought his family onstage for his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Former Sen. Rick Santorum feels so at home at the Conservative Political Action Conference that he was joined onstage by nearly his entire family for his speech this morning.

The presidential hopeful came to the gathering fresh off three primary wins this week and with an aura of momentum not felt since the week before the Iowa caucuses. With his wife, sons and daughters standing behind him, Santorum made the case to the conservative activist crowd in Washington, D.C., that he is the GOP candidate they could trust.

“I know you, and you know me,” Santorum said. “And that’s important.” Full story

Obama, House Republicans Try to Put Points on the Board

Rep. Patrick Meehan, delivering the GOP's weekly address, said Congress should extend the payroll tax cut for a full year. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

In their weekly addresses, both President Barack Obama and House Republicans tried to put some legislative points on the board.

As the 2012 elections heat up, both the White House and its Republican opponents are pushing targeted legislative initiatives that could pass — or at least put the other side in a tough spot.
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Morning Roundup: All About Math

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In general, reporters hate math. But, there are times when we just can’t escape doing it.

We find ourselves reaching for a calculator four times a year when candidates and many political action committees file fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission. And it comes into play every presidential year when we begin to assess the delegate math needed to get a presidential nomination and then the electoral college math for winning in November. Full story

Morning Roundup: The Sunshine State Speaks

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

It’s primary day in Florida, where today’s high is expected to be 79 in Tampa and GOP voters across the state are casting ballots in the presidential race.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears headed for victory tonight — but everyone will be watching the margin by which he tops ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich. The final tracking poll by Public Policy Polling (a Democratic firm) found Romney at 39 percent and Gingrich at 31 percent. Full story

Cain Endorses Gingrich; Santorum’s Daughter Hospitalized

Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain endorsed former Speaker Newt Gingrich for the Republican presidential nomination at a surprise appearance in Florida tonight, multiple news outlets reported.

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