Election 2012: Pressure mounts on Romney for Illinois victory

Click to View in Browser 03/16/2012 Pressure mounts on Romney for Illinois victory WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pressure is mounting on Republican Mitt Romney to win next Tuesday's presidential primary in Illinois, a state considered friendly territory as he seeks to fend off a growing challenge from conservative rival Rick Santorum. For Romney, a campaign shaped by Bush allies WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In November 2010, supporters of George W. Bush gathered on a college campus in Dallas, Texas, to mark the groundbreaking of Bush's presidential library. Obama campaign turns to Biden for common touch TOLEDO (Reuters) - In a presidential election that could feature two Harvard-trained candidates not known for their common touch, President Barack Obama's campaign deployed a new weapon on Thursday: Vice President Joe Biden. Democratic Rep. Ackerman won't seek re-election NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Gary Ackerman, a 15-term Democrat from New York known for his colorful rhetoric and advocacy for Israel, said on Thursday he would not seek re-election this autumn. Super-PAC donors: The repo man backing Romney ALPHARETTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Roderick Aycox is not nearly as well known as some of the hedge fund managers and Wall Street financiers giving large checks to the super-PAC supporting Mitt Romney in his quest for the presidency. In fact, since such PACs are officially independent of their candidates, Romney might well know nothing about him. Independent reshapes race to replace Snowe in Maine (Reuters) - A decision by big-name Democrats to pass up Maine's U.S. Senate race and the candidacy of a prominent independent have shaken up a contest that once looked like a potential Democratic pickup after the retirement of moderate Republican Olympia Snowe. Romney, allies launch ad war for Illinois primary WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In the wild race for the Republican presidential nomination, there has been one constant: When Mitt Romney really needs to do well in a state, he and his allies pour money into ads, most of which attack his rivals. Obama hits back at Republicans on gas prices LARGO, Maryland (Reuters) - President Barack Obama accused Republican presidential candidates on Thursday of playing election politics over high gasoline prices, and mocked them for resisting development of alternative energy sources. Santorum to Puerto Rico: Speak English if you want statehood SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum told Puerto Ricans on Wednesday they would have to make English their primary language if they want to pursue U.S. statehood, a statement at odds with the U.S. Constitution. Romney's "island strategy" pays off in delegate race Neither is Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands or the North Mariana Islands. Related Video UK's Cameron looking at oil reserves Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich heads to prison Tales from the Trail Patricia Zengerle Republican presidential primaries leaving African American voters cold The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend