GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – Rick Santorum ended his improbable run for the White House on Tuesday after leading a Republican tilt to the right that could dog the more moderate front-runner, Mitt Romney, in November’s election.

Trailing in polls and fundraising, the conservative former Pennsylvania senator suspended his campaign and cleared the way for Romney to clinch the nomination to face President Barack Obama in the November 6 general election.

GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – Conservative Rick Santorum dropped out of the presidential race on Tuesday, clearing the way for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney to clinch the Republican nomination.

Trailing Romney in opinion polls and fundraising, the former senator from Pennsylvania told reporters he was suspending his campaign. That effectively ends his bid to be the Republican who will face President Barack Obama in the November 6 general election.

GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – Conservative Rick Santorum dropped out of the presidential race on Tuesday, clearing the way for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney to clinch the Republican nomination.

Trailing Romney in opinion polls and fundraising, the former senator from Pennsylvania told reporters he was suspending his campaign. That effectively ends his bid to be the Republican who will face President Barack Obama in the November 6 general election.

By Ann Saphir and Patricia Zengerle

(Reuters) – For all the derision U.S. Republican presidential hopefuls have heaped on the Federal Reserve, a November win by lead contender Mitt Romney would likely change little at the U.S. central bank, at least in the short term.

That might seem surprising, given the unprecedented barrage of criticism levied this campaign season at Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, whose aggressive efforts to support the economy have sparked accusations that he is setting the table for future inflation.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The conventional wisdom is that it would be a political disaster for Democratic President Barack Obama, and a boon for Republicans, if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down all or most of Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

That could be: The healthcare law – which among other things would require most Americans to buy health insurance – is Obama’s signature achievement in domestic policy, and the number-one target of many Republicans in this year’s elections.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The conventional wisdom is that it would be a political disaster for Democratic President Barack Obama, and a boon for Republicans, if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down all or most of Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

That could be: The healthcare law – which among other things would require most Americans to buy health insurance – is Obama’s signature achievement in domestic policy, and the number-one target of many Republicans in this year’s elections.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the Senate blocked legislation on Thursday to strip billions of dollars in tax breaks for the biggest U.S. oil companies, calling the bill a political stunt that would not help tamp down surging gasoline prices.

President Barack Obama, under pressure as the pinch of higher gasoline prices becomes a hot issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, had urged Congress to end the breaks, worth about $24 billion over 10 years, noting oil companies were raking in record profits.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama challenged Congress on Thursday to repeal billions of dollars in tax breaks for the biggest U.S. energy companies, saying they are raking in record profits while Americans struggle with higher gasoline prices.

“Today, members of Congress have a simple choice to make. They can stand with big oil companies, or they can stand with the American people,” he said at an event in the White House Rose Garden highlighting one of the hottest issues in the U.S. presidential campaign.

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) – More than two-thirds of
Americans disapprove of the way President Barack Obama is
handling high gasoline prices, although most do not blame him
for them, according to a Reuters/Ipsos online poll released on
Tuesday.

Sixty-eight percent disapprove and 24 percent approve of how
Obama is responding to price increases that have become one of
the biggest issues in the 2012 presidential campaign.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the way President Barack Obama is handling high gasoline prices, although most do not blame him for them, according to a Reuters/Ipsos online poll released on Tuesday.

Sixty-eight percent disapprove and 24 percent approve of how Obama is responding to price increases that have become one of the biggest issues in the 2012 presidential campaign.