Jon Huntsman

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's threat to get tough with China about its trade practices increases the odds that China-bashing will permeate a presidential contest to woo U.S. voters seeking a culprit for the nation's economic malaise.

Texas Governor Rick Perry made his closely-watched debut at a Republican debate, weeks after surging into the race as frontrunner to fight Barack Obama for the White House.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans are sharply divided on issues from race to religion, often along generational and partisan lines, a survey concluded on Tuesday.

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Utah state government agencies will return to a five-day work week on Tuesday, scrapping the four-day plan launched three years ago by then-Governor Jon Huntsman, now a Republican presidential contender.

South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint said Sunday he could support any of the six candidates attending his Monday forum. South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint said Sunday he could support any of the six candidates attending his Monday forum. Texas Governor Rick Perry, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Godfathers Pizza CEO Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are set to appear at the Palmetto Freedom Forum sponsored by the American Principles Project. ?There's no one in that group that I couldn't support as our nominee,? DeMint told CNN's Candy Crowley on Sunday. ?I'm very open right now; I'm listening to what they say.? DeMint, a tea party favorite, could boost a candidate's campaign with his endorsement. Joining DeMint on the panel will be Iowa Representative Steve King and Robert P. George, founder of the American Principles Project and chairman emeritus of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the na

Complaints about U.S. role in Libya show divide, difficulty of issue. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, complained last month about President Barack Obama's handling of the situation in Libya.As The New York Times recounted Monday, Romney accused Obama of "mission muddle" for expanding the military's role from enforcing a no-fly zone to trying to stop dictator Moammar Gadhafi's attacks on his people.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rick Perry has taken a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential nomination race in two polls released on Wednesday, an indication that the Texas governor could replace the former Massachusetts governor as early favorite.

Under fire from angry Republicans, US Vice President Joe Biden's office has said that he firmly opposes "repugnant" Chinese population control practices like "forced abortion and sterilization."

Republican White House hopefuls on Monday hailed the apparent end of Moamer Kadhafi's iron-fisted rule of Libya and urged triumphant rebels to build a democratic government friendly to the West.

Gay marriage backer George Pataki considers entering the crowded GOP race for president . Move over Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson, there might be a full marriage equality candidate in the GOP race for president: Former New York Governor George Pataki. According to The New York Daily News, Pataki is close to formally declaring his bid for the White House. While former Utah Governor Huntsman's and former New Mexico Governor Johnson's support for civil unions for gay and lesbian couples leave them out of sync with their competitors who mostly oppose gay marriage and support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a heterosexual union, Pataki supports full marriage for gay couples. The only other GOP candidate who supports marriage is Fred Karger, an openly gay former political strategist turned gay marriage activist. David Catalfano, a Pataki spokesman, told the paper that the former governor ?continues to give it serious consideration.? But the paper noted that New York Republica

Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman took a swipe at his rivals and warned his party against rejecting science in an interview that will air Sunday.

Former US China envoy and Republican White House hopeful Jon Huntsman, lagging in public opinion polls, has scored big on Twitter with a shot at a rival's dismissive comments about evolution and global warming.

Texas governor Rick Perry has said that evolution is a "theory" with "some gaps" -- the latest in a string of comments indicating he will not temper his conservative views for his White House bid.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful Rick Perry has at least some supporters in the Democratic stronghold of Chicago -- President Barack Obama's re-election team.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful Rick Perry has at least some supporters in the Democratic stronghold of Chicago -- President Barack Obama's re-election team.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For presidential hopefuls in a campaign that is all about the U.S. economy, the Republican contenders have offered few clear plans for what they would do to get the country's finances back on track.

Chinese bloggers and the media speculated Monday about whether the new US ambassador's Chinese roots would help Sino-US ties -- and nicknamed him "the backpacker" for his frugal travelling habits.

Jon Huntsman was the only candidate who didn't engage in verbal fisticuffs during Thursday night's GOP presidential debate. That decorum may have cost him a chance to challenge Mitt Romney's lock on the Nevada presidential caucus vote.

(Reuters) - Eight Republican presidential hopefuls will debate in Iowa on Thursday, hoping to generate momentum two days before a closely watched straw poll that will test their campaigns' strength.

AMES, Iowa (Reuters) - No one will accuse Republican Tim Pawlenty of being too nice anymore.