A new national poll shows Newt Gingrich now leading for the GOP presidential nomination.
Gingrich now has 31% support from registered Republican voters in the Gallup daily tracking poll, compared with 27% for the former Massachusetts governor,Mitt Romney.
Gingrich now has completely erased a 23-point advantage Romney enjoyed earlier this month. Gingrich's standing reflects a surge last week, when he pulled in two strong debate performances and soundly defeated Romney in the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary.
Rick Santorum and Ron Paul each have 12% support among GOP registered voters nationwide, Gallup says
Gingrich now has 31% support from registered Republican voters in the Gallup daily tracking poll, compared with 27% for the former Massachusetts governor,Mitt Romney.
Gingrich now has completely erased a 23-point advantage Romney enjoyed earlier this month. Gingrich's standing reflects a surge last week, when he pulled in two strong debate performances and soundly defeated Romney in the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary.
Rick Santorum and Ron Paul each have 12% support among GOP registered voters nationwide, Gallup says
Newt Gingrich has claimed it's up to him to convince Republicans in Florida and elsewhere that he is the one conservative who can beat both Mitt Romney and President Obama.
"I can go toe-to-toe with President Obama on big things," Gingrich told "There are big differences."
The former House speaker said Republican attacks on each other will pale beside the negative campaign that the Obama re-election team will unleash on the Republican nominee in the fall.
Gingrich called the request "bizarre," given Romney's refusal to release his taxes and the fact that his staff scrubbed computer records on the development of his health care plan in Massachusetts.
"I can go toe-to-toe with President Obama on big things," Gingrich told "There are big differences."
The former House speaker said Republican attacks on each other will pale beside the negative campaign that the Obama re-election team will unleash on the Republican nominee in the fall.
Gingrich called the request "bizarre," given Romney's refusal to release his taxes and the fact that his staff scrubbed computer records on the development of his health care plan in Massachusetts.
President Barack Obama said he is working to foster job growth which would not require Congressional approval. Proposals advanced this week to boost tourism are among the many actions he’s taken to create jobs.
“Too often over the last few months, we’ve seen Congress drag its feet and refuse to take steps we know will help strengthen our economy,” he said in the weekly radio and Internet address. “That’s why this is the latest in a series of actions I’ve taken on my own to help our economy keep growing, creating jobs, and restoring security for middle-class families.”
The president will deliver his annual address to Congress next week and spell out his priorities as he runs for re- election in a contest in which the U.S. economy will be a dominant issue. While the unemployment dropped last month to 8.5 percent from a high of 10 percent in 2009, the nation’s employers have yet to replace all the jobs lost during the 18- month recession that began in 2007.
“Too often over the last few months, we’ve seen Congress drag its feet and refuse to take steps we know will help strengthen our economy,” he said in the weekly radio and Internet address. “That’s why this is the latest in a series of actions I’ve taken on my own to help our economy keep growing, creating jobs, and restoring security for middle-class families.”
The president will deliver his annual address to Congress next week and spell out his priorities as he runs for re- election in a contest in which the U.S. economy will be a dominant issue. While the unemployment dropped last month to 8.5 percent from a high of 10 percent in 2009, the nation’s employers have yet to replace all the jobs lost during the 18- month recession that began in 2007.
Mitt Romney reached into his pocket Saturday after a rally here and gave a handful of bills to an unemployed woman who started volunteering in his campaign offices this week.
Ruth Williams, 55, of Colombia, said she was at a stop sign along I-26 on Wednesday when she saw the Romney campaign bus pull through town in the Columbia area. "I was on the highway praying and said God tell me how to get [my house] lights on, and I pulled up to a stop sign and his bus was there," she said.
Williams said she followed the bus to the airport "because the Lord told me. It sounds strange but he really did. I mean God really talked to me about this."
The bus was picking up Romney after his New Hampshire primary win. Williams did not get to meet him upon his arrival, but aides told her to head to a rally in Columbia that evening, which she did.
Romney, briefed by his staff about her story, came over to talk to Williams after that rally. She spoke to him tearfully and asked him about his economic policies. "He was kind to me," she said. "He stopped doing everything." She told Romney she had a sick son and was looking for a job. "I told them about my problems and that I just want to work. I just want to work," she said.
Williams said she had been cleaning houses for home builders, but with the downturn in the housing market, had been unable to find work since October.
She said Romney took down her contact information and told her that perhaps the state of South Carolina would be able to help. She took down contact information for the campaign and found a warm welcome at his Columbia campaign headquarters the following day. She said she's been volunteering there ever since, cleaning and cooking collard greens for the staff.
On Saturday, Romney recognized Williams on a rope line here and handed her $50 or $60, according to his staff. Williams said it was the first time that she has directly received money from the campaign, but that South Carolina treasurer Curtis Loftis -- who chairs Romney's South Carolina campaign -- paid her light bill this week.
Williams said she has now met Romney three times, and has also met South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is campaigning with him in her state. "They really help people find jobs," Williams said, although she still needs one herself.
Ruth Williams, 55, of Colombia, said she was at a stop sign along I-26 on Wednesday when she saw the Romney campaign bus pull through town in the Columbia area. "I was on the highway praying and said God tell me how to get [my house] lights on, and I pulled up to a stop sign and his bus was there," she said.
Williams said she followed the bus to the airport "because the Lord told me. It sounds strange but he really did. I mean God really talked to me about this."
The bus was picking up Romney after his New Hampshire primary win. Williams did not get to meet him upon his arrival, but aides told her to head to a rally in Columbia that evening, which she did.
Romney, briefed by his staff about her story, came over to talk to Williams after that rally. She spoke to him tearfully and asked him about his economic policies. "He was kind to me," she said. "He stopped doing everything." She told Romney she had a sick son and was looking for a job. "I told them about my problems and that I just want to work. I just want to work," she said.
Williams said she had been cleaning houses for home builders, but with the downturn in the housing market, had been unable to find work since October.
She said Romney took down her contact information and told her that perhaps the state of South Carolina would be able to help. She took down contact information for the campaign and found a warm welcome at his Columbia campaign headquarters the following day. She said she's been volunteering there ever since, cleaning and cooking collard greens for the staff.
On Saturday, Romney recognized Williams on a rope line here and handed her $50 or $60, according to his staff. Williams said it was the first time that she has directly received money from the campaign, but that South Carolina treasurer Curtis Loftis -- who chairs Romney's South Carolina campaign -- paid her light bill this week.
Williams said she has now met Romney three times, and has also met South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is campaigning with him in her state. "They really help people find jobs," Williams said, although she still needs one herself.
Storm investigators were examining damage in western North Carolina on Thursday, trying to determine whether severe storms that moved through the area spawned a tornado, according to the National Weather Service.
At least 15 people were injured and 60 buildings were damaged when storms swept through parts of North Carolina on Wednesday, said Pat Tanner, a government hydrologist, in a telephone interview Thursday morning. No deaths have been reported.
“You have teams right now looking into” the storms, Tanner said, examining the path and trying to determine the strength and category. It was too early to know if the storms produced a tornado.
The storms struck in Rutherford and Burke counties late Wednesday afternoon as a cold front moved through the region. The storms traveled through in hours.
At issue for North Carolina is not whether a tornado strikes but when.
Since 1950, 23 tornadoes have been reported in that part of the ste state, so a tornado “is not real unusual,” said Tanner, who is based in South Carolina. However, it would be unusual for one to move through this early in the year.
The Red Cross opened a shelter Wednesday night for those needing a place to stay after the storm moved through.
At least 15 people were injured and 60 buildings were damaged when storms swept through parts of North Carolina on Wednesday, said Pat Tanner, a government hydrologist, in a telephone interview Thursday morning. No deaths have been reported.
“You have teams right now looking into” the storms, Tanner said, examining the path and trying to determine the strength and category. It was too early to know if the storms produced a tornado.
The storms struck in Rutherford and Burke counties late Wednesday afternoon as a cold front moved through the region. The storms traveled through in hours.
At issue for North Carolina is not whether a tornado strikes but when.
Since 1950, 23 tornadoes have been reported in that part of the ste state, so a tornado “is not real unusual,” said Tanner, who is based in South Carolina. However, it would be unusual for one to move through this early in the year.
The Red Cross opened a shelter Wednesday night for those needing a place to stay after the storm moved through.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday condemned as "utterly deplorable" a video that purports to depict four U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters. He said such behavior is "entirely inappropriate for members of the United States military" and those responsible will be held accountable.
Panetta said he had ordered the Marine Corps and Marine Gen. John Allen, the top commander of the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, to fully investigate.
Marines urinating on dead soldiers Taliban
The Marine Corps said Wednesday it would investigate the YouTube video but had not yet verified its origin or authenticity. The case has been referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Navy's worldwide law enforcement arm.
The video, posted on the Internet, shows men in Marine combat gear, standing in a semi-circle over three bodies. It is not clear whether the dead were Taliban or civilians or someone else. The title on the posting called them Taliban insurgents but it was unclear who added that title, Marine Corps officials in Washington said.
Panetta said he had ordered the Marine Corps and Marine Gen. John Allen, the top commander of the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, to fully investigate.
Marines urinating on dead soldiers Taliban
The Marine Corps said Wednesday it would investigate the YouTube video but had not yet verified its origin or authenticity. The case has been referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Navy's worldwide law enforcement arm.
The video, posted on the Internet, shows men in Marine combat gear, standing in a semi-circle over three bodies. It is not clear whether the dead were Taliban or civilians or someone else. The title on the posting called them Taliban insurgents but it was unclear who added that title, Marine Corps officials in Washington said.
Mitt Romney scored a decisive victory in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, securing his second win in the first two contests of the presidential nominating season and trying to turn his front-running campaign into a steamroller.
His New Hampshire performance puts Romney's campaign in strong position going into South Carolina, the next primary on the calendar and one that historically has been key to the GOP presidential nomination. But Romney still has a fight on his hands, as the five other candidates vowed to press on and meet him in the Palmetto State.
In New Hampshire, Ron Paul finished in second and Jon Huntsman finished in third. Rick Perry finished in sixth place. Any remaining drama in the state is the race for fourth, between Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Both candidates were pulling in 9 percent of the vote.
With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Romney was leading with 39 percent of the vote. Paul has 23 percent and Huntsman has 17 percent.
Romney's victory was apparent almost from the moment polls closed on Tuesday, and the frontrunning candidate addressed a jubilant and rowdy crowd in Manchester. The audience frequently broke out into cheers and chants of "Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!" as the candidate vowed to take the fight into South Carolina, whose contest is Saturday, Jan. 21.
"Tonight, we made history," Romney said. "Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we go back to work."
Keeping his eye on President Obama, Romney described the incumbent as a "failed" leader who did not live up to the "lofty promises" made on the New Hampshire stage just four years ago.
"The president has run out of ideas, now he's run out of excuses," Romney said. He urged South Carolina to "make 2012 the year he runs out of time."
His New Hampshire performance puts Romney's campaign in strong position going into South Carolina, the next primary on the calendar and one that historically has been key to the GOP presidential nomination. But Romney still has a fight on his hands, as the five other candidates vowed to press on and meet him in the Palmetto State.
In New Hampshire, Ron Paul finished in second and Jon Huntsman finished in third. Rick Perry finished in sixth place. Any remaining drama in the state is the race for fourth, between Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Both candidates were pulling in 9 percent of the vote.
With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Romney was leading with 39 percent of the vote. Paul has 23 percent and Huntsman has 17 percent.
Romney's victory was apparent almost from the moment polls closed on Tuesday, and the frontrunning candidate addressed a jubilant and rowdy crowd in Manchester. The audience frequently broke out into cheers and chants of "Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!" as the candidate vowed to take the fight into South Carolina, whose contest is Saturday, Jan. 21.
"Tonight, we made history," Romney said. "Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we go back to work."
Keeping his eye on President Obama, Romney described the incumbent as a "failed" leader who did not live up to the "lofty promises" made on the New Hampshire stage just four years ago.
"The president has run out of ideas, now he's run out of excuses," Romney said. He urged South Carolina to "make 2012 the year he runs out of time."
A remark about firing people, taken out of context, provides ammunition for opponents to accuse him of callousness toward working people.
Reporting from Nashua, N.H., and Anderson, S.C.— Jostling in a last heated day before the New Hampshire primary, Republicans ganged up on front-runner Mitt Romney, accusing him of a callous cluelessness about the economic anxiety facing many Americans.
The former Massachusetts governor, appearing at a Nashua Chamber of Commerce breakfast, gave fuel to his opponents with a comment that included the phrase "I like being able to fire people." It became instant fodder for critics eager to tear him down ahead of Tuesday's primary and, even more, the Jan. 21 balloting in South Carolina, which looks to be much closer.
Later in the day, Romney protested that he was talking about health insurance. The full quote was: "I want individuals to have their own insurance. That means the insurance company will have an incentive to keep you healthy. It also means that if you don't like what they do, you can fire them. I like being able to fire people who provide services to me. You know, if someone doesn't give me the good service I need, I want to say, 'You know, I'm going to go get someone else to provide that service to me.' "
But the flap played into a theme his Republican rivals are trying to develop, namely that Romney got rich at Bain Capital — the venture firm he co-founded — by breaking up companies and laying off workers. He says his efforts built successful enterprises and created a net gain of jobs.
Campaigning in Concord, the state capital, Jon Huntsman Jr. said the statement showed how out of touch Romney was "with the economic reality playing out in American right now."
"That's a dangerous place for somebody to be," the former Utah governor said.
By nightfall, the Democratic National Committee had rushed out a video spot featuring the remark, which appeared on YouTube under the provocative headline: "Mitt Romney Likes Firing People."
Hours later, Romney sought to clarify the context of his remark at a news conference in Hudson, N.H.
"Things can always be taken out of context, and I understand that that's what the Obama people will do," said Romney, who came under fire earlier in the campaign for taking the president's words out of context in a TV ad on the economy.
When a reporter pointed out that fellow Republicans were among those attacking Romney, he shrugged it off. "I'm not worried about that," he said. "I've got broad shoulders and I'm happy to describe my experience in the private economy."
Barring a stunning reversal, Romney is expected to easily win New Hampshire's primary. That has turned the contest into a wide-open fight for second place among Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, Huntsman (who has placed an all-or-nothing bet on the state), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the second-place finisher in the Iowa caucuses, Rick Santorum.
For much of the campaign, those candidates have trained their fire on one another, all but sparing Romney. But in the last few days, the dynamic has shifted and rivals have increasingly turned on the front-runner, seizing on his business background to try to make a case — Romney exploited working people for personal gain — that Democrats will happily reprise if they face Romney in the fall.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry weighed in Monday from South Carolina, where he campaigned after conceding New Hampshire. He seized on a comment by Romney on Sunday that he knew what it was like to worry about a pink slip.
"I have no doubt that Mitt Romney worried about pink slips," Perry told the crowd at a diner in Anderson. "With as many jobs as Bain Capital killed, I'm sure he was worried he would run out of them.
"There's nothing wrong with being successful and making money. That's the American dream. But there is something inherently wrong with getting rich off failure and sticking it to someone else."
Campaigning in New Hampshire, Gingrich demanded that Romney answer "legitimate questions" about how he made his millions and who may have suffered as a result. Gingrich accused Romney of building his fortune through a "flawed system" in which "a handful of rich people [can] manipulate the lives of thousands of other people and walk off with the money" by "looting a company and leaving behind broken families and broken neighborhoods."
"I think it's a legitimate question about exactly what happened: Where did the money go? Who got the money? What happened to the people involved? And to what extent is that his responsibility?" Gingrich told reporters in Manchester, N.H.
Santorum took another tack, suggesting that Romney lacked the boldness and conservative credentials needed to excite voters and, ultimately, put the White House in Republican hands.
Speaking at a town-hall-style meeting in Salem, N.H., Santorum said Republicans needed a candidate who would "energize the conservative base of the country." He drew a contrast between 2010, a Republican landslide year dominated by the fervor of the conservative tea party movement, and 2008, when President Obama was elected and many conservatives reluctantly voted for Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
Slapping at Romney, Santorum said Republicans shouldn't nominate someone who is only a variant of Obama. The fall campaign, the former senator from Pennsylvania said, should be about "drawing bright, bold contrasts."
After finishing a close third in Iowa, Paul has had a curiously light schedule, and that continued on the last day of New Hampshire campaigning. Only three events were announced — fewer than half those of Huntsman and Gingrich and also fewer than Santorum's five.
Reporting from Nashua, N.H., and Anderson, S.C.— Jostling in a last heated day before the New Hampshire primary, Republicans ganged up on front-runner Mitt Romney, accusing him of a callous cluelessness about the economic anxiety facing many Americans.
The former Massachusetts governor, appearing at a Nashua Chamber of Commerce breakfast, gave fuel to his opponents with a comment that included the phrase "I like being able to fire people." It became instant fodder for critics eager to tear him down ahead of Tuesday's primary and, even more, the Jan. 21 balloting in South Carolina, which looks to be much closer.
Later in the day, Romney protested that he was talking about health insurance. The full quote was: "I want individuals to have their own insurance. That means the insurance company will have an incentive to keep you healthy. It also means that if you don't like what they do, you can fire them. I like being able to fire people who provide services to me. You know, if someone doesn't give me the good service I need, I want to say, 'You know, I'm going to go get someone else to provide that service to me.' "
But the flap played into a theme his Republican rivals are trying to develop, namely that Romney got rich at Bain Capital — the venture firm he co-founded — by breaking up companies and laying off workers. He says his efforts built successful enterprises and created a net gain of jobs.
Campaigning in Concord, the state capital, Jon Huntsman Jr. said the statement showed how out of touch Romney was "with the economic reality playing out in American right now."
"That's a dangerous place for somebody to be," the former Utah governor said.
By nightfall, the Democratic National Committee had rushed out a video spot featuring the remark, which appeared on YouTube under the provocative headline: "Mitt Romney Likes Firing People."
Hours later, Romney sought to clarify the context of his remark at a news conference in Hudson, N.H.
"Things can always be taken out of context, and I understand that that's what the Obama people will do," said Romney, who came under fire earlier in the campaign for taking the president's words out of context in a TV ad on the economy.
When a reporter pointed out that fellow Republicans were among those attacking Romney, he shrugged it off. "I'm not worried about that," he said. "I've got broad shoulders and I'm happy to describe my experience in the private economy."
Barring a stunning reversal, Romney is expected to easily win New Hampshire's primary. That has turned the contest into a wide-open fight for second place among Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, Huntsman (who has placed an all-or-nothing bet on the state), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the second-place finisher in the Iowa caucuses, Rick Santorum.
For much of the campaign, those candidates have trained their fire on one another, all but sparing Romney. But in the last few days, the dynamic has shifted and rivals have increasingly turned on the front-runner, seizing on his business background to try to make a case — Romney exploited working people for personal gain — that Democrats will happily reprise if they face Romney in the fall.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry weighed in Monday from South Carolina, where he campaigned after conceding New Hampshire. He seized on a comment by Romney on Sunday that he knew what it was like to worry about a pink slip.
"I have no doubt that Mitt Romney worried about pink slips," Perry told the crowd at a diner in Anderson. "With as many jobs as Bain Capital killed, I'm sure he was worried he would run out of them.
"There's nothing wrong with being successful and making money. That's the American dream. But there is something inherently wrong with getting rich off failure and sticking it to someone else."
Campaigning in New Hampshire, Gingrich demanded that Romney answer "legitimate questions" about how he made his millions and who may have suffered as a result. Gingrich accused Romney of building his fortune through a "flawed system" in which "a handful of rich people [can] manipulate the lives of thousands of other people and walk off with the money" by "looting a company and leaving behind broken families and broken neighborhoods."
"I think it's a legitimate question about exactly what happened: Where did the money go? Who got the money? What happened to the people involved? And to what extent is that his responsibility?" Gingrich told reporters in Manchester, N.H.
Santorum took another tack, suggesting that Romney lacked the boldness and conservative credentials needed to excite voters and, ultimately, put the White House in Republican hands.
Speaking at a town-hall-style meeting in Salem, N.H., Santorum said Republicans needed a candidate who would "energize the conservative base of the country." He drew a contrast between 2010, a Republican landslide year dominated by the fervor of the conservative tea party movement, and 2008, when President Obama was elected and many conservatives reluctantly voted for Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
Slapping at Romney, Santorum said Republicans shouldn't nominate someone who is only a variant of Obama. The fall campaign, the former senator from Pennsylvania said, should be about "drawing bright, bold contrasts."
After finishing a close third in Iowa, Paul has had a curiously light schedule, and that continued on the last day of New Hampshire campaigning. Only three events were announced — fewer than half those of Huntsman and Gingrich and also fewer than Santorum's five.
Papa John's has issued an apology to a New York woman of Asian descent who was given a receipt that referred to her as "lady chinky eyes."
Minhee Cho, a communications manager for the journalism site ProPublica, posted a message with a photo of the offending receipt on her personal Twitter account after visiting one of the chain's restaurants.
"Hey @PapaJohns just FYI my name isn't 'lady chinky eyes,'" she wrote -- prompting outrage on the popular microblogging site.
The message itself was retweeted some 500 times and the photo quickly garnered over 150,000 views -- hours later Saturday, Papa John's posted an apology on its Twitter and Facebook pages.
"We are very upset by recent receipt issue in New York and sincerely apologize to our customer," the company wrote on Twitter, adding that the employee involved "is being terminated."
On Facebook, the company said it was "extremely concerned" to learn of the incident.
"This act goes against our company values, and we've confirmed with the franchisee that this matter was addressed immediately... We are truly sorry for this customer's experience."
Minhee Cho, a communications manager for the journalism site ProPublica, posted a message with a photo of the offending receipt on her personal Twitter account after visiting one of the chain's restaurants.
"Hey @PapaJohns just FYI my name isn't 'lady chinky eyes,'" she wrote -- prompting outrage on the popular microblogging site.
The message itself was retweeted some 500 times and the photo quickly garnered over 150,000 views -- hours later Saturday, Papa John's posted an apology on its Twitter and Facebook pages.
"We are very upset by recent receipt issue in New York and sincerely apologize to our customer," the company wrote on Twitter, adding that the employee involved "is being terminated."
On Facebook, the company said it was "extremely concerned" to learn of the incident.
"This act goes against our company values, and we've confirmed with the franchisee that this matter was addressed immediately... We are truly sorry for this customer's experience."
Jon Huntsman is climbing in a final, closely watched New Hampshire poll that shows a battle for who will finish behind Mitt Romney in Tuesday's GOP presidential primary.
The survey by WMUR-University of New Hampshire shows Romney comfortably at the top with 41% support from likely primary voters, with Ron Paul in second at 17%.
The key finding is the rise by Huntsman, a former Utah governor who has staked his campaign on New Hampshire, who is now tied for third with Rick Santorum. Both have 11% support.
"This race is wide open, maybe not at the top, but certainly for the second slot," Andy Smith of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center told WMUR.
Newt Gingrich has 8% support in the WMUR-UNH poll. Rick Perry, Buddy Roemer and Michele Bachmann are at 1%. Bachmann suspended her campaign after her disappointing finish at the Iowa caucuses.
The survey by WMUR-University of New Hampshire shows Romney comfortably at the top with 41% support from likely primary voters, with Ron Paul in second at 17%.
The key finding is the rise by Huntsman, a former Utah governor who has staked his campaign on New Hampshire, who is now tied for third with Rick Santorum. Both have 11% support.
"This race is wide open, maybe not at the top, but certainly for the second slot," Andy Smith of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center told WMUR.
Newt Gingrich has 8% support in the WMUR-UNH poll. Rick Perry, Buddy Roemer and Michele Bachmann are at 1%. Bachmann suspended her campaign after her disappointing finish at the Iowa caucuses.
The US State Department says it has expressed concern to the Bahraini government over the apparent beating of prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab.
Opposition activists say security officers beat him on the back, head and neck at a rally on Friday.
Bahrain's interior ministry denies the attack but the US is calling on it to fully investigate the allegations.
The US Fifth Fleet is stationed in Bahrain and the two countries have close ties.
The interior ministry has said police found Mr Rajab on the ground and took him to hospital.
It has released a video of the events, showing what it says was an unauthorised demonstration in the capital, Manama.
The US State Department said the facts of the case were in dispute, but that in general it was very concerned "about frequent reports of excessive force by the police".
It is unusual for Washington to publicly chastise Bahrain, despite considerable international criticism of the harsh crackdown against anti-government protesters over recent months, says the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Washington DC.
Even though the US wants to support democracy movements in the Middle East, Sunni-led Bahrain is a key ally against Iran's Shia influence, our correspondent adds.
Shia anger
Bahrain's King Hamad recently agreed to implement reforms after an independent commission found detainees were abused and even tortured to death.
Bahrain's Shia Muslim majority has been campaigning for greater rights in the kingdom since last February.
Confrontations between security forces and demonstrators occur almost daily.
Last spring, more than 40 people died in a heavy-handed government crackdown against protesters in the Gulf kingdom. An independent commission later concluded that "excessive force" had been used.
The violence has fuelled anger in Shia areas against the Sunni ruling family and political elite.
Opposition activists say security officers beat him on the back, head and neck at a rally on Friday.
Bahrain's interior ministry denies the attack but the US is calling on it to fully investigate the allegations.
The US Fifth Fleet is stationed in Bahrain and the two countries have close ties.
The interior ministry has said police found Mr Rajab on the ground and took him to hospital.
It has released a video of the events, showing what it says was an unauthorised demonstration in the capital, Manama.
The US State Department said the facts of the case were in dispute, but that in general it was very concerned "about frequent reports of excessive force by the police".
It is unusual for Washington to publicly chastise Bahrain, despite considerable international criticism of the harsh crackdown against anti-government protesters over recent months, says the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Washington DC.
Even though the US wants to support democracy movements in the Middle East, Sunni-led Bahrain is a key ally against Iran's Shia influence, our correspondent adds.
Shia anger
Bahrain's King Hamad recently agreed to implement reforms after an independent commission found detainees were abused and even tortured to death.
Bahrain's Shia Muslim majority has been campaigning for greater rights in the kingdom since last February.
Confrontations between security forces and demonstrators occur almost daily.
Last spring, more than 40 people died in a heavy-handed government crackdown against protesters in the Gulf kingdom. An independent commission later concluded that "excessive force" had been used.
The violence has fuelled anger in Shia areas against the Sunni ruling family and political elite.
SHANGHAI: China's state-run news media warned Washington on Friday not to "recklessly practice militarism" or engage in "war mongering," a day after the Obama administration outlined a new military strategy with an increased focus on China.
The sharply worded commentary , published by the official Xinhua News Agency, also urged the United States to play a constructive role in the region.
The official media also warned that the revamped national defence strategy and identifying China as a security threat may challenge mutual trust and cause potential military tensions between the two countries.
The new defence strategic document titled 'Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defence' calls for the US military to strengthen its presence in Asia-Pacific and identifies China as a security threat in long term. The military review says US economic and security interests are "inextricably" connected with the area and the US military accordingly will "of necessity rebalance toward the Asia- Pacific region" , including strengthening Asian allies and investing in the strategic partnership with India, state-run China Daily reported. China's state media also accused US of being a "troublemaker" .
President Obama introduced a new defence strategy on Thursday, aimed at creating a leaner, more dynamic American fighting force with an enlarged presence in Asia and the Pacific. The US had signaled its intention to bolster its military presence in Asia last month, and analysts say that has heightened concerns here that Washington is trying to counter China's rise. Relations between the US and China have often been strained over military issues.
The Xinhua commentary, published under the byline Yu Zhixiao, does not represent China's official position. But because Xinhua is the official propaganda arm of the Communist Party, its editorials often mirror Beijing's positions . The commentary echoed earlier statements by military officials.
The sharply worded commentary , published by the official Xinhua News Agency, also urged the United States to play a constructive role in the region.
The official media also warned that the revamped national defence strategy and identifying China as a security threat may challenge mutual trust and cause potential military tensions between the two countries.
The new defence strategic document titled 'Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defence' calls for the US military to strengthen its presence in Asia-Pacific and identifies China as a security threat in long term. The military review says US economic and security interests are "inextricably" connected with the area and the US military accordingly will "of necessity rebalance toward the Asia- Pacific region" , including strengthening Asian allies and investing in the strategic partnership with India, state-run China Daily reported. China's state media also accused US of being a "troublemaker" .
President Obama introduced a new defence strategy on Thursday, aimed at creating a leaner, more dynamic American fighting force with an enlarged presence in Asia and the Pacific. The US had signaled its intention to bolster its military presence in Asia last month, and analysts say that has heightened concerns here that Washington is trying to counter China's rise. Relations between the US and China have often been strained over military issues.
The Xinhua commentary, published under the byline Yu Zhixiao, does not represent China's official position. But because Xinhua is the official propaganda arm of the Communist Party, its editorials often mirror Beijing's positions . The commentary echoed earlier statements by military officials.
WASHINGTON: Popular US first lady Michelle Obama has had testy relationships with some top White House advisers, and at times pushed the president to pursue politically difficult causes like healthcare and immigration reform, according to a new book.
"The Obamas" by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor, paints Mrs. Obama as "an expert motivator and charmer" and "an increasingly canny political player" ahead of the 2012 presidential election, expected to be a tough fight for her husband, President Barack Obama.
Mrs. Obama fought against political tactics espoused by Rahm Emanuel, her husband's former chief of staff, and Robert Gibbs, the former White House press secretary, the book said, pushing her husband to replace advisers who she felt were "too insular, not strategic enough," according to excerpts from the book on the newspaper's website.
"'She feels as if our rudder isn't set right,'" the book quotes Barack Obama as telling aides.
The Obamas did not speak to Kantor for the book, which was based on interviews with more than 30 current and former staff members. It will be released on Tuesday.
The White House on Friday called the book "an overdramatization of old news" and said Kantor had not spoken to the Obamas since 2009.
"The emotions, thoughts and private moments described in the book, though often seemingly ascribed to the President and First Lady, reflect little more than the author's own thoughts," said Eric Schultz, a White House spokesman.
The book says Mrs. Obama, known for her campaign to promote healthy eating and exercise, initially sought a low-key role in the White House, and even considered postponing her move to Washington from Chicago after the 2008 election.
She was worried about being the first African-American first lady, and felt "everyone was waiting for a black woman to make a mistake," said a former aide quoted in the book.
Tensions arose between Mrs. Obama and Gibbs, who worried about public missteps. Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president and a friend of the couple, tried to moderate, the book said.
Mrs. Obama supported her husband's "instincts for ambitious but unpopular initiatives like the overhaul of health care and immigration laws, casting herself as a foil to aides more intent on preserving congressional seats and poll numbers," the excerpts say.
"She does think there are worse things than losing an election," said Susan Sher, her former chief of staff, in the book. "Being true to yourself, for her, is definitely more important."
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama kicked off an effort to encourage US businesses to keep jobs at home instead of outsourcing them overseas, as he rolled out a new election-year theme on Saturday aimed at courting middle-class voters.
In his weekly radio and video address, Obama previewed an event he will hold next week with business executives to highlight the advantages of investing in the United States.
"We'll hear from business leaders who are bringing jobs back home and see how we can help other businesses follow their lead," Obama said.
The White House forum on " Insourcing American Jobs" will be held on Wednesday. Executives from more than a dozen companies will attend, including padlock maker Master Lock, furniture company Lincolnton Furniture, software application developer GalaxE Solutions, and chemicals company DuPont.
The emphasis on keeping U.S. jobs at home is in line with a populist economic message championed by Obama that could play well with union workers, whose support the Democratic president will need to win re-election in November.
The White House sees an increasing trend of companies deciding to "insource" jobs and invest in U.S.-based plants and factories, according to a White House official. It wants to encourage more businesses to follow that trend, the official said.
The practice of U.S. companies moving jobs to foreign countries such as India and China, where labor is cheaper, is a source of concern to many U.S. workers.
The issue resonates strongly in Midwest industrial states such as Ohio and Michigan that have been hard hit, not only by the 2007-2009 economic crisis, but also by years of shrinkage in the manufacturing jobs sector. Many of those states are battlegrounds that are vital to Obama's re-election hopes.
Republicans vying to challenge Obama in November, including front-runner Mitt Romney, have hammered him over his economic stewardship. They contend that his regulatory policies, including new rules for Wall Street and the overhaul of the healthcare system, have discouraged investment. They also say his fiscal stimulus measures have not succeeded in bringing down high unemployment.
But the White House was encouraged by the December jobs report, released on Friday, which showed a drop in the jobless rate to 8.5 percent, its lowest level in nearly three years.
"We're heading in the right direction. And we're not going to let up," Obama said.
In his weekly radio and video address, Obama previewed an event he will hold next week with business executives to highlight the advantages of investing in the United States.
"We'll hear from business leaders who are bringing jobs back home and see how we can help other businesses follow their lead," Obama said.
The White House forum on " Insourcing American Jobs" will be held on Wednesday. Executives from more than a dozen companies will attend, including padlock maker Master Lock, furniture company Lincolnton Furniture, software application developer GalaxE Solutions, and chemicals company DuPont.
The emphasis on keeping U.S. jobs at home is in line with a populist economic message championed by Obama that could play well with union workers, whose support the Democratic president will need to win re-election in November.
The White House sees an increasing trend of companies deciding to "insource" jobs and invest in U.S.-based plants and factories, according to a White House official. It wants to encourage more businesses to follow that trend, the official said.
The practice of U.S. companies moving jobs to foreign countries such as India and China, where labor is cheaper, is a source of concern to many U.S. workers.
The issue resonates strongly in Midwest industrial states such as Ohio and Michigan that have been hard hit, not only by the 2007-2009 economic crisis, but also by years of shrinkage in the manufacturing jobs sector. Many of those states are battlegrounds that are vital to Obama's re-election hopes.
Republicans vying to challenge Obama in November, including front-runner Mitt Romney, have hammered him over his economic stewardship. They contend that his regulatory policies, including new rules for Wall Street and the overhaul of the healthcare system, have discouraged investment. They also say his fiscal stimulus measures have not succeeded in bringing down high unemployment.
But the White House was encouraged by the December jobs report, released on Friday, which showed a drop in the jobless rate to 8.5 percent, its lowest level in nearly three years.
"We're heading in the right direction. And we're not going to let up," Obama said.
Washington For the second time in less than two months, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said that the country is facing challenges from rising powers in Asia — China in particular and also includes India — in 21st century.
“We have got the challenges of dealing with rising powers in Asia. We have got the challenge of, you know, dealing with countries like Russia, rising countries that – like India and others.
“All of that represents the kind of challenges that we are going to have to deal with in this world of the 21st century,” Panetta told PBS News Hour in an interview.
A transcript of the interview, taken yesterday, was provided by PBS News Hour.
Panetta’s remarks came within hours of the Pentagon releasing its defense strategic review which said that the US is investing in long-term strategic partnership with India.
The strategy document unveiled by the US President Barack Obama identified China as one of the major security threat to the US in the long term and puts Asia on a bigger priority.
“The United States is investing in a long-term strategic partnership with India to support its ability to serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the broader Indian Ocean region,” said the strategy document.
Earlier in the day at a Pentagon news conference, Panetta had said that the US faces challenges from rising powers in Asia, but had not named any country.
“We’re facing challenges from rising powers in Asia. And we’re facing a situation in the Middle East that continues to be in turmoil.
“So, what we’ve got to do is to be able to have a flexible, adaptable, agile force that can deal with a myriad of challenges in today’s world.
“That’s what we’ve got to be able to develop,” he told the PBS in his interview.
This is for the second time in recent months that Panetta has identified India as a challenge among rising powers in Asia.
“We face the threats from rising powers — China, India, others — that we have to always be aware of and try to make sure that we always have sufficient force protection out there in the Pacific to make sure they know we’re never going anywhere,” Panetta had said on 17 November.
However, Panetta’s spokesman George Little had said that the Defense Secretary strongly values a close relationship with India and sees it as a nation of increasing prominence and power.
“The Secretary strongly values a close military relationship with India, which he sees as a nation of
increasing prominence and power. He doesn’t view India as a threat,” Little had said.
“The United States and India work together on a regular basis to find ways of cooperating around common security interests. We’re committed to pursuing even stronger cooperation in the future,” he had pointed out.
In his PBS interview, Panetta said that the US wants to build relationship with China.
“Well, the United States is a Pacific power. And we have always had a presence in the Pacific. China is a Pacific power as well. And we recognise that.
“And, frankly, my view is that we need to continue to work with China, continue to build a relationship with China, because they are a power, because our economy — our economies are related, because there are other relationships that we have in that area,” Panetta had said.
He said US has a common interest with China in dealing with the threats that exist in the Pacific, “stability of Korea, one example, the whole issue of being able to have commerce move freely through the oceans in that area, the whole issue of nuclear proliferation, the whole issue of dealing with humanitarian crises and disasters.”
He added, “All of these issues in the Pacific and the possibility that any one of those could develop the kind of challenge that would demand US power being invoked, that’s the reason we have got to focus an emphasis on the Pacific region.”
Earlier in the day, the State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, told reporters that the US President Barack Obama, and the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton “desire for a strong, growing, robust partnership with India”.
“We have got the challenges of dealing with rising powers in Asia. We have got the challenge of, you know, dealing with countries like Russia, rising countries that – like India and others.
“All of that represents the kind of challenges that we are going to have to deal with in this world of the 21st century,” Panetta told PBS News Hour in an interview.
A transcript of the interview, taken yesterday, was provided by PBS News Hour.
Panetta’s remarks came within hours of the Pentagon releasing its defense strategic review which said that the US is investing in long-term strategic partnership with India.
The strategy document unveiled by the US President Barack Obama identified China as one of the major security threat to the US in the long term and puts Asia on a bigger priority.
“The United States is investing in a long-term strategic partnership with India to support its ability to serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the broader Indian Ocean region,” said the strategy document.
Earlier in the day at a Pentagon news conference, Panetta had said that the US faces challenges from rising powers in Asia, but had not named any country.
“We’re facing challenges from rising powers in Asia. And we’re facing a situation in the Middle East that continues to be in turmoil.
“So, what we’ve got to do is to be able to have a flexible, adaptable, agile force that can deal with a myriad of challenges in today’s world.
“That’s what we’ve got to be able to develop,” he told the PBS in his interview.
This is for the second time in recent months that Panetta has identified India as a challenge among rising powers in Asia.
“We face the threats from rising powers — China, India, others — that we have to always be aware of and try to make sure that we always have sufficient force protection out there in the Pacific to make sure they know we’re never going anywhere,” Panetta had said on 17 November.
However, Panetta’s spokesman George Little had said that the Defense Secretary strongly values a close relationship with India and sees it as a nation of increasing prominence and power.
“The Secretary strongly values a close military relationship with India, which he sees as a nation of
increasing prominence and power. He doesn’t view India as a threat,” Little had said.
“The United States and India work together on a regular basis to find ways of cooperating around common security interests. We’re committed to pursuing even stronger cooperation in the future,” he had pointed out.
In his PBS interview, Panetta said that the US wants to build relationship with China.
“Well, the United States is a Pacific power. And we have always had a presence in the Pacific. China is a Pacific power as well. And we recognise that.
“And, frankly, my view is that we need to continue to work with China, continue to build a relationship with China, because they are a power, because our economy — our economies are related, because there are other relationships that we have in that area,” Panetta had said.
He said US has a common interest with China in dealing with the threats that exist in the Pacific, “stability of Korea, one example, the whole issue of being able to have commerce move freely through the oceans in that area, the whole issue of nuclear proliferation, the whole issue of dealing with humanitarian crises and disasters.”
He added, “All of these issues in the Pacific and the possibility that any one of those could develop the kind of challenge that would demand US power being invoked, that’s the reason we have got to focus an emphasis on the Pacific region.”
Earlier in the day, the State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, told reporters that the US President Barack Obama, and the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton “desire for a strong, growing, robust partnership with India”.