A map of the 2012 presidential election results created by Chris Howard, a fantasy and science fiction author and illustrator, takes into account vote percentages and population density to show a more nuanced understanding of the election results.

Looking at the election results by county (map #2), as a CP blogger recently did, may lead one to wonder how President Barack Obama won. The map is mostly red because Mitt Romney won most of the nation's counties.

The reason this happened is that most rural areas vote Republican and most urban areas vote Democratic. So while Obama won fewer counties, the counties he did win are densely populated. more >>

Inside sources close to Rick Santorum are saying the former Pennsylvania senator and 2012 GOP contender is already organizing for a run in 2016. On the other side of the aisle, investor Warren Buffett is already touting his choice to succeed President Obama in the White House.

A leading evangelical leader who is close to Santorum and asked not to be identified, told The Christian Post on Wednesday that Santorum is "organizing and making all the necessary preparations" for another run in the 2016 Republican primary.

"Rick's getting ready organized and is not going to be behind the eight-ball when it comes to fundraising and building a grassroots organization," the anonymous source said. "I think you'll see and hear a lot from Rick in the next 12 months." more >>

Late last year when a presidential primary candidate was asked how he was going to reach women voters, he responded that he was polling well with women. Oh, oh. He seemed clueless about what most women really want. Once again, women were being taken for granted and once again we could lose – big time. And lose, we did.

Reaching women is not a new concept. The importance of our vote should be well-known, as women have registered and voted at a higher rate than men since the 1980.

One would think every campaign would have a proven strategy by now. But, while I don't claim to speak for all American women, no doubt many of us rolled our eyes and sighed or cringed at some of the conservative candidates' messaging. We may not relish the haranguing and rudeness, but we are willing to ignore it if our candidate can clearly articulate how their positions and plans will improve life for us and our families. more >>

While Latinos are concerned about immigration, jobs and education rank higher among their concerns, according to a study of Hispanic Americans conducted by Barna Group in partnership with American Bible Society, National Hispanic Leadership Conference and OneHope.

Like most Americans, Latinos are concerned about the current high rate of unemployment. But what distinguishes Latinos from most Americans is that they also rank education as their main concern along with jobs, according to David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, in a Tuesday conference call with reporters.

When asked to identify the "single most pressing challenge" for the Latino community, 27 percent answered employment, 24 percent said education, and 22 percent said the break-up of Latino families (which is related to immigration for many Latinos). more >>

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will remain leaders of their caucuses despite the fact that neither has been able to recapture majority control of their respective bodies.

After some speculation on what her future might hold, the 72-year old Pelosi announced Wednesday morning that she felt compelled to remain in charge of House Democrats in order to help President Obama resolve the nation's fiscal crisis, a goal she was unable to achieve when Democrats controlled both chambers from 2009 to 2011.

"I have made the decision to submit my name to my colleagues to once again serve as the House Democratic Leader," Pelosi said with many of her female Democratic colleagues at her side. more >>

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), who has been AWOL from Congress since June of this year, left the Mayo Clinic Tuesday where he was being treated for a bipolar disorder. Sources are now reporting that Jackson will resign his seat and accept a plea deal from federal authorities for what appears to be disuse of campaign funds.

The son of a noted civil rights leader and activist, Jackson entered Mayo shortly after spending time at Sierra Tucson in Arizona where he was beginning his leave of absence. He left Mayo in September to return to his Washington, D.C., home and the re-entered in October.

Jackson won re-election to his 9th term in Congress while a patient at Mayo last week. more >>