Republican Party

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Republican presidential candidates former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty speaks as Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, listens during the Iowa GOP/Fox News Debate at the CY Stephens Auditorium in Ames, Iowa, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, Pool)

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Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, campaigns for the GOP presidential nomination at a stop in Humboldt, Iowa, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell speaks at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, in Fancy Farm, Ky. (AP Photo/Daniel R. Patmore)

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Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., along with GOP leadership, speaks to the media after the Senate passed the debt ceiling plan, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Illustration: GOP target by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

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House Speaker John Boehner and GOP leadership hold a press conference to discuss the debt bill that the House is expected to vote on tonight, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, July 28, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Led by Freshman Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., speaking at right, Freshmen GOP lawmakers voice their support for the House debt bill, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, July 28, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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House Speaker John Boehner and GOP leadership leave a press conference after discussing the debt bill in Washington, D.C., Thursday, July 28, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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House Speaker John Boehner and GOP leadership hold a press conference to discuss the debt bill that the House is expected to vote on tonight, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, July 28, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Illustration: The GOP's hand by Linas Garsys for The Washington Times

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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, center, joined by other GOP leaders, criticizes President Obama and Congressional Democrats for failure to end the debt crisis, Monday, July 25, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 25, 2011. From left are, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican, Boehner, Rep. David Dreier,, California Republican, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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As Congressional leaders try to reach an accord to avert a debt-ceiling crisis, House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, walks from his office to the House Chamber on Capitol Hill on July 25, 2011, following a morning meeting with other GOP leaders. (Associated Press)

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As Congressional leaders try to reach an accord to avert a debt-ceiling crisis, House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, walks from his office to the House Chamber on Capitol Hill on July 25, 2011, following a morning meeting with other GOP leaders. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Former Rep. Peter Hoekstra, shown in June 2010, plans to seek the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2012, the Associated Press has learned. (AP Photo/Adam Bird)

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Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain came in fourth in a new poll of GOP primary voters in South Carolina at 10 percent. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry has phoned influential Republicans in early-voting New Hampshire and Iowa in recent days as he weighs whether to enter the race for the GOP presidential nomination. (Associated Press)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney talks to reporters Thursday at the Allentown Metal Works, Inc., manufacturing plant in Allentown, Pa. He blamed its closure on the “Obama economy.” But some politicians and business leaders disputed the direct correlation.