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Seema Mehta

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney greets supporters at a campaign stop in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, May 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Auto bailout issue dogs Romney in Michigan

Last updated Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 9:34am

LANSING, Mich. -- Mitt Romney is making a play for his native Michigan, which last voted for a Republican for president nearly a quarter of a century ago. His task is made infinitely more difficult because of his opposition to the auto bailouts that many credit with saving the industry, a fact that was illustrated when he took the stage here Tuesday, not far from a GM plant.

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Romney focuses on Obama's economic record in Ohio

Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Monday, May 7, 2012 - 4:33pm

EUCLID, Ohio -- Campaigning in a key battle ground state, Mitt Romney said Monday that President Barack Obama has failed in his promises to reduce unemployment, improve the nation's housing market and right the nation's economy.

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Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney embraces Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., R-N.H., Monday, April 30, 2012, in Portsmouth, N.H. after she introduced him to speak at the state fishing pier. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Auditions continue for Romney's running mate

Maeve Reston, Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Thursday, May 3, 2012 - 11:49am

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- When Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire joined Mitt Romney for a tour of fishing boats this week, she was doing more than campaigning in her home state for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and for slashing President Barack Obama's regulatory policies.

She was one of a number of political stars who have shared the stage with Romney in recent days, auditioning -- in the view of many -- to be his running mate.

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Mitt Romney says Democrats 'just don't like business very much'

Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Thursday, May 3, 2012 - 6:47am

CHANTILLY, Va. -- Arguing that President Barack Obama's policies have harmed small businesses and divided Americans, Mitt Romney pledged Wednesday that he would ease regulations, increase domestic energy production and reduce taxes to right the nation's economy.

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Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney listens as he is introduced by Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Monday, April 30, 2012, in Portsmouth, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Romney says Obama needs to talk more about the economy

Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Tuesday, May 1, 2012 - 9:02am

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama on Monday of trying to distract the American people from his record on the nation's economy.

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Romney still pursuing far right

Maeve Reston, Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Monday, April 23, 2012 - 9:57am

GREENSBURG, Pa. -- Mitt Romney is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and for some conservatives that is a pill still too bitter to swallow.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee came to the podium at a county GOP event in Greensburg, located in a key conservative swath of Pennsylvania, days after Romney rival Rick Santorum dropped out of the race and effectively ceded the nomination to Romney. But she couldn't bring herself to mention Romney by name.

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Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney stands next to the Benjamin Franklin Memorial at a Tax Day Tea Summit held at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Monday, April 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

What would Romney cut? Overheard conversation holds clues

Maeve Reston, Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - 12:11pm

PHILADELPHIA -- When President Barack Obama told a Russian leader that he could be "more flexible" after the election -- during what he thought was a private conversation -- Mitt Romney came down like a hammer. He accused his Democratic rival of "pulling his punches with the American people" and hiding his real agenda.

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Romney, Santorum battle in Michigan

Paul West, Seema Mehta Tribune Washington Bureau

Last updated Friday, February 17, 2012 - 7:20am

DETROIT — With a new poll showing a virtual dead heat in Michigan’s presidential primary, the leading Republican candidates veered Thursday from defensiveness to discomfort.

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Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Mesa, Ariz., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Romney slams Obama budget proposal

Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - 11:28am

MESA, Ariz. -- Mitt Romney slammed President Barack Obama's budget proposal on Monday, arguing that the president has failed to keep campaign promises to reduce the nation's deficit while at the same time jeopardizing the safety net for seniors.

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Romney defends use of Obama quote in campaign ad

Michael A. Memoli, Seema Mehta McClatchy Newspapers

Last updated Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 4:58pm

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his new campaign ad that takes President Barack Obama's words out of context, saying there was "no hidden effort" to mislead voters.

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Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry shakes hands during a campaign stop at the Hamburg Inn #2 Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Brian Ray)

Perry targets Romney over jobs

Maeve Reston, Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Tuesday, August 16, 2011 - 10:17am

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Rick Perry opened an aggressive new front in the Republican campaign for president Monday, suggesting that Mitt Romney could not match his record on job creation and questioning whether Michele Bachmann had the experience to be president. Romney sought to stay above the fray in New Hampshire but touted his "real world" experience in the private sector as a key credential for the White House.

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(STEPHAN SAVOIA/The Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a town hall style campaign event at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester, N.H., on Friday.

Romney slams Obama on economy

Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times

Last updated Friday, June 3, 2011 - 7:39pm

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- In his first meeting with New Hampshire voters since announcing he would run for president, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Friday seized on new unemployment numbers to argue that President Barack Obama is a failure.

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Schwarzenegger puts acting career on hold to focus on 'personal matters'

Los Angeles Times, Seema Mehta

Last updated Thursday, May 19, 2011 - 3:48pm

LOS ANGELES -- Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is putting his acting career on hold while he focuses on his personal life, according to a statement released by his entertainment advisers.

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Despite tragedy, it's back to work for Rep. Giffords' staff

Los Angeles Times, Seema Mehta

Last updated Monday, January 10, 2011 - 4:32pm

TUCSON, Ariz. -- U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' staff briefly considered shuttering their Tucson district field office in the aftermath of the mass shooting that left the congresswoman in critical condition, killed her director of community outreach and wounded two colleagues.

But they couldn't do it.

"Congresswoman Giffords would not want us to stop what we do, and that's why the decision was made to open as normal at 8 a.m.," said spokesman C.J. Karamargin. "Obviously, the circumstances are anything but normal."

Congress, Congresswoman shot, Gabrielle Giffords, Shooting, National Read more Comments