Exeter, New Hampshire (CNN) - In a speech notable for both its specificity and the warm audience response, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pledged Thursday to cut federal spending and improve government productivity.

Speaking to an effusive audience of several hundred in New Hampshire, Romney said if elected he would bring a businessman's philosophy to Washington. He promised to cut $500 billion in federal spending during his first term in office, and said he would cut funding to Amtrak, some foreign aid programs and President Obama's health care plan.
FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The lawyer for one of Herman Cain’s alleged accusers hopes on Friday to be able to release a one-page press release defending his client’s reputation.

The statement would rebut denials made by Cain, who has said any sexual harassment allegations made against him were groundless, according to attorney Joel Bennett.
FULL POST

(CNN) –- Texas Gov. Rick Perry said in an interview with CNN Thursday his campaign had nothing to do with leaking details of past sexual harassment charges against fellow candidate Herman Cain.

“We found out about this the same time that I suppose the rest of America found out about it, both on the Internet or the next day in the news,” Perry told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. “You know, I don't know how to tell it any other way except we knew nothing about it.
FULL POST

Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) - Despite his ranking in the polls and the first primary just over two months away, bottom-tier GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman believes time is on his side.

On a three-day campaign swing through the first Southern primary state, the former ambassador and Utah governor was asked if he has enough time to make up ground. Huntsman alluded to Herman Cain's recent troubles and the inherent fluidity of a primary race.
FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - In a pair of votes aimed more at making political points than law, the Senate rejected competing Democratic and Republican proposals to boost construction of roadways and other infrastructure projects.

Republicans blocked the Democratic bill, which would have approved about $50 billion for projects and another $10 billion to start an "infrastructure bank," because it relied on a surtax on people earning more than $1 million a year.

Washington (CNN) - National Democrats are launching a new attack against Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, blasting the former Massachusetts governor in a new web video over what they say is his support of a controversial abortion amendment.

Romney is targeted in a web video out Thursday by the Democratic National Committee which starts by describing a "personhood" amendment, which is on the ballot in Mississippi November 8. The controversial measure, if passed, would define "life" as beginning at the moment of conception and it would make illegal all abortions, including the termination of pregnancies caused by rape, incest, or which prove grave threat to the life of the mother. The amendment is opposed by some National Right to Life organizations, and the Catholic Church in Mississippi says it is too extreme.
FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - A defiant Herman Cain on Thursday continued to deny allegations of sexual harassment in his past and said he won't be deterred by the controversy that has dominated his front-running campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Citing strong fundraising this week, Cain said voters knew that the allegations were a baseless political attack.

(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain told Sean Hannity on his nationally syndicated radio program Thursday that the sexual harassment allegations against him are "not working."

"The American people are starting to see through this stuff," Cain said, pointing to a recent poll showing him doing well in the GOP race.

(CNN) - The 'millennial generation' overwhelmingly supported the Senator Barack Obama in 2008, but surveys and analysis from the Pew Research Center find support from younger Americans eroding.

Despite the decline, voters under 30 still represent the strongest area of support for President Obama and Democrats. Currently 50% of 18-30-year olds say they lean toward Democrats, versus 58% in 2008.
FULL POST

(CNN) – Scandal has proven lucrative for Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.

Since news of alleged sexual harassment claims broke Sunday, the former pizza executive's campaign has raised $1.2 million, spokesman J.D. Gordon told CNN.
FULL POST