NEW YORK (Reuters) - Massachusetts tax revenue rose just over 14 percent in September from a year ago, mainly because taxes paid by businesses and corporations leaped nearly 53 percent, the state Revenue Commissioner said on Monday.

OLD BRIDGE, New Jersey (Reuters) - He's gruff, not so charismatic and new to elected politics. But some see New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as the type of politician who can bridge the Tea Party movement and mainstream Republicans.

Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, Republican Charles Baker and independent Timothy Cahill had some of their sharpest exchanges yet on Monday during a gubernatorial debate otherwise focused on the state's biotechnology industry.

Mass. gubernatorial candidates have sharp exchanges amid debate focused on biotech industry. Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, Republican Charles Baker and independent Timothy Cahill had some of their sharpest exchanges yet on Monday during a gubernatorial debate otherwise focused on the state's biotechnology industry.

Wells Fargo exec admits verifying only the date on hundreds of foreclosure documents he signed. A Wells Fargo executive has acknowledged that he verified only the dates on up to 150 foreclosure documents he signed daily.

Wells Fargo exec admits verifying only the date on hundreds of foreclosure documents he signed. A Wells Fargo official has acknowledged that he verified only the dates on up to 150 foreclosure documents he signed daily.

Independent candidate Cahill staying in Mass. governor's race even after running mate quits. Independent Timothy Cahill, seeking to draw energy from the surprise defections of his running mate and two top staffers, vowed Friday to remain in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race until Election Day and said the "unprecedented insiders' play" proved he is the true outsider in the race.

BOSTON (Reuters) - A ban on texting behind the wheel goes into effect on Thursday in Massachusetts, one of 30 U.S. states that have taken action to rein in distracted drivers despite debate over the effectiveness of such laws.

GOP write-in gives Mass. Democrat who lost Senate race surprise opponent for attorney general. The Democrat who let the late Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat slip from her grasp now risks losing her day job to an unexpected opponent: A last-minute write-in candidate.

Mass. officials set to unveil 'Seal of Commonwealth Quality' label for local produce, seafood. Massachusetts officials are set to unveil a new label to help consumers identify agricultural and seafood products harvested and processed in the state.

Third-party nominees could swing outcome in tight governors and congressional races this fall. Whether they are sore losers or never-say-die patriots, third-party candidates threaten to tip a handful of congressional and gubernatorial races to contenders who otherwise might have lost this fall.

POLITICAL INSIDER: Palin urges backers to take aim at health overhaul's supporters. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is urging her supporters to oust lawmakers who come from districts she and presidential running mate John McCain won in 2008 and who voted for the health care overhaul.

National GOP group launches launches nearly $2M ad blitz against Mass. governor, an Obama ally. The Republican Governors Association is airing nearly $2 million worth of negative ads in the Massachusetts governor's race against one of President Barack Obama's close Democratic allies, Gov. Deval Patrick.

APNewsBreak: Coakley's GOP rival for Mass. AG skirts finance law with write-in campaign. The upstart former prosecutor who shocked even the Massachusetts Republican Party by winning a write-in bid to be his party's nominee for attorney general did so, in part, with a race that skirted state campaign finance laws.

APNewsBreak: Coakley's GOP rival for Mass AG skirts finance law with upstart write-in campaign. The upstart former prosecutor who won a write-in bid to be the Republican nominee for Massachusetts attorney general hasn't reported most of the money he spent on his campaign.

POLITICAL INSIDER: Polls shows Portman enjoying advantage over Fisher in OH Senate race. Former Bush budget director Rob Portman is enjoying a commanding advantage over his Democratic rival, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, in the race for Ohio's open Senate seat, according to a poll.

Mass. AG Coakley to face Republican challenger after lawyer gets primary write-in votes. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has a Republican opponent in November after all.

Castle says he won't support tea party favorite O'Donnell for Senate after bitter Del. primary. Surprise GOP Senate primary winner Christine O'Donnell called on fellow Republicans to rally around her Wednesday, but she can count out at least one ? respected longtime Rep. Michael Castle, her opponent in the nasty primary fight.

Illinois gay activists are alarmed by a 'New York Times' story predicting wins for Republicans Bill Brandy and Mark Kirk in the fall. Illinois gay activists are alarmed by a New York Times story predicting wins for Republicans Bill Brandy and Mark Kirk in the fall. Statistician Nate Silver is predicting an 87 percent chance that Illinois State Senator Brandy will defeat incumbent Governor Patrick J. Quinn to take the governor's mansion, and a 54 percent chance that Congressman Kirk will claim victory in the fall over his rival, Democrat Alexi Gianoulias, in the race to represent the people of Illinois in the U.S. Senate. ?Brady is no friend of the gay community,? Rick Garcia, public policy director for Equality Illinois, the state's largest gay rights advocate, told gay website ChicagoPride.com, which collaborated with On Top Magazine on this story. ?He is a hard right wing opponent of our basic rights.? Brady, a former real estate developer from downstate Bloomington, Illinois, oppose

President Barack Obama's Democratic allies and Republican foes are battling over a once-in-a-decade prize in November mid-term elections: power to literally redraw the US political map.