Washington (CNN) – Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says so-called "RomneyCare" should not disqualify former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney from running for president in 2012.

"I don't think it disqualifies him," Huckabee said on "FOX News Sunday". "I think the purpose of states are always to be laboratories of government."
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Washington (CNN) - Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota said the Republican-backed plan to avoid a government shut down is "acceptable," but that it is "not the way to go."

The continuing resolution that is currently funding the government expires March 4 and members of Congress are in negotiations to avoid a government shutdown. Most recently, leading Democrats appeared open to the Republican proposal that would include $4 billion in cuts and fund the government for an additional two weeks while a more permanent deal is worked out.
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(CNN) - Two leading U.S. senators were both critical Sunday of President Barack Obama's delay in speaking out over the uprising in Libya.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Obama should "stand up for democracy" and noted that the British prime minister and French president were not hesitant to address the crisis.
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Washington (CNN) - New White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley told a Democratic crowd Saturday that they have every reason to be confident in America, despite some rough years.

"There have been two tough years for our country. And in hard times, it's easy for people to lose faith, to wonder what the future holds," Daley said at the Democratic National Committee meeting in Washington. "But I think we have every reason to be confident, and I know this president feels that too."
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(CNN) - A co-chair of Chicago mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel's transition team resigned from her new post Friday after it was revealed that she left her high-level state job last summer over ethics violations, CNN confirmed Saturday.

Judy Erwin previously served as the executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and served on then-candidate Barack Obama's Education Policy Committee during his 2008 presidential campaign. On Thursday, she was named to Emanuel's transition team and according to a news release, Erwin was also recently hired as managing director for ASGK Public Strategies, the communication management firm founded by former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod.

Read the full decision here.
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Washington (CNN) – While Congress works to prevent a government shutdown over a deal to continue funding the government, President Obama and Republican Sen. Rob Portman used their weekly web and radio addresses to advocate against gridlock.

Obama urged Democrats and Republicans to find common ground "so we can accelerate, not impede, economic growth."
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Washington (CNN) - The Democratic and Republican Congressional fundraising arms launched campaigns Wednesday targeting vulnerable candidates ahead of the 2012 election.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) will run automated phone calls, web ads and emails throughout the week aimed at 50 House Republicans for "backing partisan plans that make the wrong budget choices."
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Washington (CNN) - President Obama's approval rating fell in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia) from 2009 to 2010, according to a new poll. A closer look at the president's state-by-state popularity may provide a good sense of which states will be included in the "swing-states" category in the 2012 presidential campaign.
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(CNN) - Former Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took to her Facebook page Tuesday night to criticize the Obama administration's response to the ongoing turmoil in Libya.

She noted the White House released statements about the earthquake in New Zealand, "but nothing on the slaughter in Libya?"
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(CNN) - The Republican Governors Association is showing its support for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker with a new website amid extensive protests in the state.

The website, StandWithScott.com that launched Tuesday provides a forum for individuals to watch the governor's televised chat Tuesday and offer their support through links to his Facebook page and twitter account.
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