Obama heartache: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared victory after a tight national election

Against all odds:a great victory for the Likud. A major victory for the people of Israel!
— בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 17, 2015

Shocker: Mitt Romney wins the Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll

Unexpected support for Romney from Conservatives...

(Washington Times) — Mitt Romney won The Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll on Saturday, and also nipped Rick Santorum as the top choice of conservatives nationwide, according to a new version of the poll conducted for the first time this year that suggests Mr. Romney retains strong support among self-identified conservatives.

Mr. Romney won 38 percent of the straw poll, which counted the votes of 3,408 activists gathered for the Conservative Political Action Conference, which ran from Thursday through Saturday at a hotel in Washington.

Mr. Santorum was second with 31 percent, Newt Gingrich was third with 15 percent and Rep. Ron Paul was fourth with 12 percent — far below his showing the last two years, when he won with 31 in 2010 and 30 percent in 2011.

In the national survey, meanwhile, Mr. Romney barely topped Mr. Santorum 27 percent to 25 percent, with Mr. Gingrich in third place at 20 percent and Mr. Paul again trailing at 8 percent.

$17 million purchases a big win in Florida for Mitt Romney

$17 million purchases a big win in Florida for Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney has won the Florida Republican presidential primary, Fox News projects.

The victory, in the GOP contest's biggest state to date, is likely to give the former Massachusetts governor a burst of momentum as he and Newt Gingrich battle for the lead in what has become an increasingly negative race.

With 61 percent of precincts reporting, Romney is leading with 47 percent. Gingrich has 31 percent, followed by Rick Santorum with 13 percent and Ron Paul with 7 percent.

Blanche Lincoln Still Politically Alive, But On Life Support

In a blow to unions and progressives, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln survived yesterday's democratic primary and will face GOP Nominee John Boozman. Lincoln will need a miracle to defeat Boozman this November. The RCP polling average has Boozman up by 25 points in a head-to-head match-up against Lincoln.

The Politico reported:

Blanche Lincoln just beat Bill Halter in the Arkansas Democratic primary, according to the AP, also dealing a substantial blow to Washington’s conventional wisdom and to the labor unions who went all out to defeat her. The defeat is a real rebuke to a united progressive left, whose silver lining is having pushed Lincoln to the left on the financial reform bill.

The winner, aside from Lincoln: Bill Clinton, who stumped hard for her against what he portrayed as outside forces, and who seems to carry some real sway in his home state. . . .

Republican's Brought Their "A" Team Obama's Health Care Summit

Power Line has excerpted some of the media's reaction to Republican participation in President Obama's Health Care Summit. Surprisingly, the reaction has been very positive. It looks like the Republican's health care 'A' Team can hold their own against Obama.

From Power Line:

CNN's David Gergen:

The folks in the White House just must be kicking themselves right now. They thought that coming out of Baltimore when the President went in and was mesmerizing and commanding in front of the House Republicans that he could do that again here today. That would revive health care and would change the public opinion about their health care bill and they can go on to victory. Just the opposite has happened

CNN's Gloria Borger:

The Republicans have been very effective today. They really did come to play. They were very smart.

They took on the substance of a very complex issue. ... But they really stuck to the substance of this issue and tried to get to the heart of it and I think did a very good job.

They came in with a plan. They mapped it out.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer:

It looks like the Republicans certainly showed up ready to play.

The Hill's A.B. Stoddard:

I think we need to start out by acknowledging Republicans brought their 'A Team.' They had doctors knowledgeable about the system, they brought substance to the table, and they, I thought, expressed interest in the reform. I thought in the lecture from Senator John McCain and on the issue of transparency, I thought today the Democrats were pretty much on their knees.

Could it be true? Republicans could win Obama and Biden Senate seats?

Winning both Barack Obama's and Joe Biden's Senate seats would be a Republican dream come true. Is it possible? Both seats are up for grabs in 2010 and the races are now either tied or leaning Republican.

The Washington Times reported:

President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. won't be on the midterm ballot next year, but their former Senate seats will be, and both races are now either tossups or leaning Republican in high-visibility contests.