Spotlight Online: News

Florida: Promising the moon

Mike Pilewski — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:59:23 +0100

Mitt Romney won Florida's winner-take-all primary. Newt Gingrich lost. How? Simple. It came down to two things: big promises and bad rapping. Our special report on Election 2012 gives you the full story in words and videos.

$#*! William Shatner says

Mike Pilewski — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:06:13 +0100

"My plan has always been to return to Broadway every 50 years," Canadian actor William Shatner said as he described the one-man, two-hour show that will explore his life and career. Shatner's World: We Just Live in It starts in New York on 14 February.

South Carolina: Showdown

Mike Pilewski — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:06:30 +0100

Newt Gingrich used unconventional means to stop Mitt Romney's momentum. Gingrich says he's the only candidate ready to debate Barack Obama, "the most dangerous president of our lifetime". But Gingrich remains far too controversial for many Republicans.

Is that a library in the shop?

Mike Pilewski — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:43:57 +0100

Who says people aren't reading these days? Interest in books is as great as ever — and London department store Selfridges is hoping to prove it with a seven-week event devoted to the printed word.

New Hampshire: Reagan vs. Obama

Mike Pilewski — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:27:11 +0100

Mitt Romney has found his message: he is the next Ronald Reagan. But can he paint Barack Obama as Jimmy Carter, a president not in control of the economy, unable to project American power abroad and at odds with his advisers?

Iowa: Game on

Mike Pilewski — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:18:21 +0100

The January 3 vote in Iowa produced several surprises, among them a near-win by social conservative Rick Santorum. He equated the Democrats' support of a social-welfare system and a right to health care with Mussolini's Italy, which his grandfather left in 1925.

Barack Obama

Mike Pilewski — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:47:25 +0100

Three years after the promise of "hope" and "change", little has changed in America, and hope is hard to find. Barack Obama's reelection may depend on convincing ordinary voters that he is fighting for them. Read more in our Special Report on Election 2012.

Michele Bachmann

Mike Pilewski — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:54:33 +0100

It's a well-known technique: just stare at someone long enough, and that person will accept anything you say. Michele Bachmann does this to prevent interviewers from questioning her often bizarre statements. Bachmann left the race after a disappointing finish in Iowa.

Rick Santorum

Mike Pilewski — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:53:30 +0100

"I'm someone [who] believes that you approach issues using faith and reason," says former US Senator Rick Santorum. "If your faith is pure and your reason is right, they'll end up in the same place." Read more about the candidate in our Special Report on Election 2012.

Newt Gingrich

Mike Pilewski — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:12:01 +0100

Newt Gingrich is an expert on American history — some of which he helped to write. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, he attacked Bill Clinton for the Monica Lewinsky affair. Could Gingrich be the next US president? Read more in our Special Report.