The race for the White House has seen viewers deluged by over a million TV ads, with little evidence that voters have been swayed, reports Jeanne Cummings

Arnold Schwarzenegger says his wife Maria Shriver was criticised by her mother for trying to persuade him against running for California governor in 2003 – a confrontation that ultimately opened the door to his successful candidacy.

The publisher of an insider account of the US Navy SEAL raid that killed terror mastermind Osama bin Laden said it would begin public sales next week despite a Pentagon warning of possible legal action against the author and others.

AS A HUGE fan of the immensely important work that Wikileaks has done in recent years, it has been depressing to watch the deranged cult that surrounds its founder sully its brand.

Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi celebrates the 40th anniversary of Hunter S Thompson’s classic account of the campaign trail for the US presidential election in 1972

President Barack Obama’s re-election team plans to spend $25m (€19.15m) on advertising this month, a dramatic escalation of its media presence in a handful of states that could determine the outcome on Nov 6.

Fresh off a decisive victory in Illinois, Mitt Romney won critical establishment support from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as he looks to unite the Republican Party behind his candidacy.

On Feb 6 it all seemed so clear. Mitt Romney had won landslides in Florida and Nevada and looked set to soon lock up the Republican presidential nomination to take on Barack Obama in November.

TORN between reality and their political dreams, leading conservatives are defending Mitt Romney against attacks on his work in the private sector even as they search for a more palatable candidate amid a growing sense that his nomination looks certain.

The Republican Party’s search for a challenger in the 2012 presidential race seems stranger by the day.

ELECTIONS are not won by politicians who have to waste their time convincing their supporters.

TEA PARTY favourite Sarah Palin gave the strongest indication yet she is preparing a 2012 White House bid, saying she would run for president “if there is nobody else to do it”.

US Vice President Joe Biden became embroiled in a row with a key aide to former President George Bush after saying he gave an earful to Mr Bush in the Oval Office.

“THERE’S no question Mr McCain is in a difficult place,” wrote political strategist Karl Rove, explaining the odds against a candidate winning the White House who’s trailing in the polls like McCain is today.

It took Obama’s advert to attract viewers to the baseball world series final. Conor Ryan reports from Washington DC.

ONE month ago Barack Obama’s historic bid for the White House looked jaded, now he is on the cusp of delivering his party’s most emphatic victory for 40 years.

It was an election about unity, non-partisanship and getting America back on track, until Senator John McCain reignited a war that could cost the Democrats the election.

Alaska governor and US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a “per diem” (by the day) allowance intended to cover meals and expenses while travelling on state business.

A “pit bull in lipstick” electrified the Republican Party’s national convention and savaged Barack Obama in a “dynamite debut”, US political pundits said today.

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan defended his bombshell book about the Bush administration today, saying he did not speak up against the overselling of war in Iraq because he gave the president the benefit of the doubt.

FORMER White House press secretary Scott McClellan charges in an explosive new book due out next week that US President George W Bush and top aides shaded the truth to make the case for the Iraq war.

I WISH to take issue with your columnist Ryle Dwyer (April 26) for allowing his prejudices to overcome his objectivity regarding the current race to the White House.

Former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says he was foolish to have revealed the identity of a CIA employee.

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, under fire from congressional Democrats, has resigned, senior Bush administration officials said today.

US political adviser Karl Rove is to resign as White House deputy chief of staff, news reports said today.

Singer Sheryl Crow reportedly had a falling out with US political heavyweight Karl Rove after trying to touch the Deputy Chief Of Staff's arm midway through a green policy debate.

A UNITED States Senate panel has authorised subpoenas for White House political adviser Karl Rove and other top aides involved in the sacking of federal prosecutors.

A United States Senate panel, following the House of Representatives' lead, has authorised subpoenas for White House political adviser Karl Rove and other top aides involved in the sacking of federal prosecutors.

US President George Bush and congressional Democrats could face a constitutional showdown over whether top White House aides will testify under oath about the firing of federal prosecutors.

The chief White House lawyer floated the idea of firing all 93 US attorneys at the start of President George Bush’s second term, but the justice department objected and eventually recommended the eight dismissals that have generated a political firestorm two years later.

SO, Pat Rabbitte told John Bowman on Questions and Answers that he wouldn’t put Fianna Fáil back in Government.

WITH the White House bracing for guerrilla warfare on the home front politically if Republicans lose control of Congress, President George W Bush is seeking to shift the debate away from Iraq and scandal and boost his reputation for economic competence.

US President George Bush today urged the Senate to renew a landmark civil rights law passed in the 1960s to stop racist voting practices in the South.

Former CIA officer Valerie Plame and her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, today said they had decided to sue Vice President Dick Cheney and presidential adviser Karl Rove because they engaged in a “whispering campaign” to destroy her career.

US President George Bush, who often teases members of the White House press corps, apologised after he poked fun at a reporter for wearing sunglasses without realising they were needed for vision loss.

Top White House aide Karl Rove has been told by US prosecutors he won’t be charged with any crimes in the investigation into the leak of a CIA officer’s identity, his lawyer said today.

A lawyer for senior White House official Karl Rove says prosecutors have decided not to charge him with any crimes in the CIA leak investigation.

The man shot by US Vice President Dick Cheney experienced a heart irregularity after birdshot moved into his heart and was moved back to the intensive care unit for further treatment this morning.

US President George Bush’s public support has eroded to its lowest level yet, with the Iraq war dragging on, a top White House aide facing felony charges and the administration rushing to replace a failed Supreme Court nominee.

US VICE President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff yesterday pleaded not guilty in the CIA leak scandal, marking the start of what could be a long road to a trial in which top Bush officials could be summoned to testify.

US Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff today pleaded not guilty in the CIA leak scandal, marking the start of what could be a long road to a trial in which Cheney and other top Bush administration officials could be summoned to testify.

SENATE Democratic leader Harry Reid yesterday said US President George W Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney should apologise for the actions of their aides in the CIA leak case.

President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney should apologise for the possible involvement of their aides in the alleged illegal disclosure of a CIA undercover agent’s identity, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said today.

The White House was today left reeling from the indictment of one of its most senior aides, Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby, charged with lying to the FBI and a grand jury under oath.