Sen. Kelly Ayotte, one of the Republicans harshly critical of Ambassador Susan Rice, described Rice's initial characterization of the September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya as misleading, but stopped short of calling the remarks intentionally so. "Certainly she misled the American public," Ayotte said in an interview Tuesday on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." "I think that she would say that. She'd have to say that because she began our meeting today admitting that the representations about the video and the protests were wrong, and the impression left [for] the American people was misleading."
POL-susan-rice-profile
At one time, Susan Rice seemed to be on a trajectory that would take her to the secretary of state's office in President Barack Obama's second term. But the confusing timeline that she and the Obama administration have offered around the deadly September attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, might have altered that political course, begun years ago with the help of a powerful family friend.
POL-Fast-and-Furious
Attorneys for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and for the Justice Department told a federal judge in Washington Tuesday they have begun settlement talks on the lawsuit which seeks to force Attorney General Eric Holder to give the committee certain documents related to the "Fast and Furious" gun trafficking operation.
POL-Sen-Hagan-2014
Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina said she plans to seek a second term in 2014, her office confirmed Tuesday. Known as a centrist, Hagan is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats who'll be defending a Senate seat in two years.
POL-ONeill-Tribute
It was Tip O'Neill who coined the phrase "all politics is local." So it's somehow fitting that Congress is looking to commemorate the 34-year congressional career of the former House speaker by making an office building on the edge of Capitol Hill his namesake.
POL-GOP-Ames-Straw-Poll
The Iowa Republican Party is standing behind the Ames straw poll despite growing party discontent including the conservative National Review magazine calling for a quick end to the event.
POL-Rand-Paul-GOP
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who's known for his libertarian leanings, cautioned Tuesday that the Republican Party could meet the same fate as animals that went extinct millions of years ago.
POL-NRCC-Deputy-Director
The National Republican Congressional Committee has selected Rep. Lynn Westmoreland as their deputy chairman, chairman Rep. Greg Walden announced Tuesday.
POL-RNC-Winter-Meeting
Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, announced Tuesday the party will holds its annual winter meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, the same city where Democrats gathered for their national convention in September.
POL-Trump-Romney-Immigration
The now-infamous 'self-deportation' policy proposal from Mitt Romney was "crazy" and "maniacal," real estate magnate Donald Trump said in an interview published online Tuesday.
POL-Chris-Christie-Polls
Three straight surveys over the past 24 hours indicate Chris Christie's poll numbers as governor of New Jersey are skyrocketing, thanks to his job responding to the devastating superstorm Sandy.
MONEY
MONEY-Powerball-500-Million
Wednesday's Powerball drawing could be one for the history books, with the jackpot rising to a record $500 million.
MONEY-powerball-lottery-sales
