Sam Youngman

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mitt Romney closed in on Rick Santorum in Ohio and picked up a crucial endorsement in Virginia on Sunday as he grows in strength ahead of "Super Tuesday," the biggest day yet in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned on Sunday against "loose talk" of a war with Iran ahead of a crucial meeting in which he will urge Israel's prime minister to avoid a premature strike on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned on Sunday against "loose talk" of a war with Iran ahead of a crucial meeting in which he will urge Israel's prime minister to avoid a premature strike on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities.

(Reuters) - Mitt Romney, who regained front-runner status in the Republican presidential race with three state wins this week, could build on that momentum with a victory in the Washington state caucuses on Saturday just three days before crucial Super Tuesday voting.

(Reuters) - Mitt Romney, who regained front-runner status in the Republican presidential race with three state wins this week, could build on that momentum with a victory in the Washington state caucuses on Saturday just three days before crucial Super Tuesday voting.

BELLEVUE, Washington (Reuters) - After eking out a slim victory in his home state of Michigan, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign said Thursday the front-runner for the party's nomination can survive a loss next week in the critical state of Ohio.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (Reuters) - After a week in which the race for the Republican presidential nomination often was a forum for divisive social and religious issues, the campaign turned Friday toward jobs and the economy, key issues in the upcoming "Super Tuesday" contests.

NASHUA, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Facing intensifying election-year attacks over rising energy prices, President Barack Obama will seek on Thursday to shift the spotlight onto oil and gas companies by calling for the repeal of tax breaks that benefit the industry.

SOUTHFIELD, Michigan (Reuters) - Mitt Romney faced a day of reckoning on Tuesday in Michigan's primary that could either re-establish him as clear front-runner in the Republican presidential nomination battle or hand him a humiliating defeat in his home state.

SOUTHFIELD, Michigan (Reuters) - Mitt Romney faces a day of reckoning on Tuesday when Michigan votes to either grant him a big victory in the Republican presidential nomination battle or hand him a humiliating defeat.

ROCKFORD, Michigan (Reuters) - A tough fight for Michigan between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum tightened on Monday in a primary that may prove pivotal in choosing a 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

ROCKFORD, Michigan (Reuters) - Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum crisscrossed Michigan attacking one another as well as President Barack Obama on Monday in a last-ditch grab for votes a day before a primary that could prove pivotal in choosing the 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A local sheriff resigned as a co-chair of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's campaign in Arizona on Saturday after he was accused of threatening a former male lover with deportation to Mexico if he talked about their relationship.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful Rick Santorum defended himself against attacks from Mitt Romney on Thursday as his hopes rose of dealing a heavy blow in Michigan to his main rival, who was the front-runner before falling behind in national polls.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful Rick Santorum defended himself against attacks from Mitt Romney on Thursday as his hopes rose of dealing a heavy blow in Michigan to his main rival, who was the party front-runner before falling behind in national polls.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama's campaign sparred on Thursday over whether the White House is too weak on China, a hot topic that is gaining prominence ahead of November's U.S. election.

MONROE, Michigan (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won the endorsement of Michigan's popular governor on Thursday, as polls showed him locked in a tight battle ahead of the February 28 primary in his boyhood state.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Roman Catholic television network said on Thursday it has filed suit in federal court to block President Barack Obama's new rule on contraceptives, while a Catholic Church leader and top Republicans stepped up their criticism of Obama.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday the White House was working to address concerns raised by the Catholic church over a new rule on contraceptives, and he believed an escalating election-year battle over the issue would be resolved.

LUTZ, Florida (Reuters) - Republican Newt Gingrich struggled to halt surging rival Mitt Romney's momentum on Sunday, accusing him of launching false attacks as polls showed Romney widening his lead two days before Florida's presidential primary.