Joe Ricketts, whose American Film Company produced The Conspirator, arrives at the film's premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010.
Billionaire Donor Joe Ricketts: From Behind The Scenes To Center Stage
()TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts became front-page news Thursday because of a report he was considering a $10 million ad campaign that would attack President Obama over his former pastor. But Ricketts has been quietly funding conservative political causes for the past few years.
It's All Politics
Lugar's Last Race: Indiana Senator Doesn't Take Defeat Sitting Down()
May 16, 2012 Sen. Dick Lugar has been running in the annual Capital Challenge charity race for three decades. After Lugar's defeat in the Indiana primary, Wednesday's race was the last for the 80-year-old. "I have been so fortunate to have these 31 great years in good health and spirits," he said.
It's All Politics
White House Sandwiches Followed By Snark, Disappointment, Warnings()
May 16, 2012 The descriptions of the White House lunch meeting from those on the opposing red and blue teams made it sound like yet another meeting featuring the nation's top policymakers that you could have accurately scripted beforehand.
Latino Voters: Seen, But Will They Be Heard, In 2012?()
May 16, 2012 Now the fastest growing voting group, Latinos have never been so heavily courted in a presidential race. They could play a key role in battleground states in the 2012 elections.
Presidential Race
Candidates Gird For A 'Scorched Earth' Campaign()
May 16, 2012 With both the economy and his own poll numbers weaker than he'd want them to be, President Obama has launched attack ads against Mitt Romney that are unusually blunt for this early stage of a campaign. And Romney has responded with a few roundhouse rights of his own.
It's All Politics
Biden On Bain: Romney 'Thinks This Experience Will Help Our Economy?'()
May 16, 2012 The Obama campaign on Wednesday escalated its attack on Mitt Romney's business career, with Vice President Joe Biden scheduled to aggressively question how Romney's management of the private equity firm Bain Capital might translate into running the U.S. economy.
It's All Politics
Little-Known Lawmaker Upsets GOP's Senate Plans In Nebraska()
May 16, 2012 Republican voters in Nebraska defied the expectations of pundits and the intentions of outside groups, nominating a little-known rancher and state lawmaker to run for an open U.S. Senate seat. Deb Fischer, 61, will face a former governor and former senator, Democrat Bob Kerrey, in November.
The Two-Way
Bush Says 'I'm For Mitt Romney,' But He Likely Won't Play Role In Campaign()
May 16, 2012 As an elevator's doors closed, former President George W. Bush confirmed the obvious. But Romney's campaign doesn't see Bush playing an important role in the 2012 campaign.
House & Senate Races
'Joe The Plumber' Race A 'Microcosm' Of 2012 Politics()
May 16, 2012 The conservative known for his role in the 2008 presidential election is taking on a veteran Democrat in a new Ohio district. An analyst calls the race a microcosm of "the culture wars that are going on in the country right now." Most of the candidates' funding is coming from outside the state.
It's All Politics
Coming To A Political Campaign Near You: Outside Money, And Lots Of It ()
May 16, 2012 Congressional candidates are increasingly raising money from supporters and groups who are ideological and outside their district — leaving some to say local voters and local issues are playing second fiddle to these donors' ideologies.
It's All Politics
Court Action May Lift Anonymity For Some Campaign Donors()
May 15, 2012 As of now, nonprofit groups that want to run campaign ads within two months of the general election will have to reveal the names of their donors. That's because a federal appeals court refused to stay a lower court's ruling on the matter. A full appeal could be heard this fall.






