As the two presidential campaigns rev up their engines and hit the home stretch, WSN reflects back on what has transpired over the summer.
Tuesday, May 29
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney wins the Texas primary and 152 of its delegates, pushing him past the 1,144 threshold necessary to unofficially clinch the GOP nomination.
Friday, June 15
President Barack Obama announces an immigration policy change without consulting with Congress. Under the new policy, illegal immigrants who came to the United States before the age of 16 and are currently under 30, received or are in the process of receiving a high school degree or served in the military would be granted a two-year deportation deferral as long as they have been law-abiding citizens. Romney declined to comment on whether he would reverse the order if elected president.
Thursday, June 28
The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision to uphold the individual mandate of Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Under what has become increasingly known as Obamacare, individuals would be required to either have health insurance by 2014 or be taxed. Republicans lashed out at Chief Justice John Roberts, a traditionally conservative judge who sided with the liberals on this issue. Romney immediately vowed to repeal the bill if elected president.
Friday, July 20
Both the Obama and Romney campaigns pull political advertisements from Aurora, Colorado, in the wake of the deadly massacre at the premiere of the summer blockbuster film “The Dark Knight Rises.”
July 2012
The Romney campaign outraises the Obama campaign $101 million to $75 million, marking the third consecutive month that it raised more money than the incumbent president.
Saturday, Aug. 11
Romney ends months of speculation by announcing that Paul Ryan, a congressman from Wisconsin who garnered national attention with his federal budget plan, would be his vice president. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan has a budget plan that includes reductions in spending, as well as decreasing the corporate tax rate to 25 percent.
Wednesday, Aug. 15
A judge in Pennsylvania upholds a law that requires voters to present government-issued IDs at the polls, thus becoming a microcosm of other voter ID-related battles raging in various states. Democrats argue that these strict laws target and restrict minority and low-income voting, as those eligible voters are less likely to have the required identification. Republicans argue that the laws protect the integrity of voting.
A version of this story appeared in the Aug. 26 print edition. Tony Chau is city/state editor. Email him at [email protected]
