On the campaign trail: Feb. 22

Associated Press

Updated: Feb 22, 2012 3:36 PM

(AP) - The latest news from the campaign trail.

Romney calls for 20 percent income tax cuts

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is calling for 20 percent across-the-board cuts in personal income tax rates as part of a program to help the economy grow.

Under the proposal, the top personal income tax rate would fall to 28 percent, according to a summary provided by Romney's campaign.

The current maximum is 35 percent.

Romney outlined parts of his plan in a campaign appearance Wednesday in Arizona, one of two states holding a primary next Tuesday. Michigan is the other.

Gingrich to air energy infomercial in key states

Republican Newt Gingrich is taking his campaign's recent focus on reducing energy costs and boosting domestic production to the airwaves with a 30-minute infomercial-style address.

His presidential campaign said Wednesday it would buy half-hour blocks of time in key cities that vote on Super Tuesday, March 6. The cities and times are to be announced later.

The former House speaker has been trying to draw new attention to his campaign by focusing on rising gasoline prices.

His standing in the GOP nomination race has slipped dramatically since his lone win in South Carolina at the end of January.

In the ad, Gingrich ties the price and availability of cheaper energy to American economic vitality. The ad can also be seen on Gingrich's campaign website.

Santorum mocks Romney ahead of Arizona GOP debate

Rick Santorum is mocking Mitt Romney as a "Johnny come lately to the conservative cause."

Ahead of Wednesday night's GOP presidential debate in Arizona, Santorum told a tea party gathering in Tucson that Romney proposed a lower corporate tax rate only after Santorum had done so.

The crowd of 400 laughed and clapped when Santorum said America doesn't need a leader who has been "a well-oiled weather vane."

The former Pennsylvania senator urged Arizonans to support a courageous conservative rather than politicians who tell voters what they want to hear.

Santorum aimed his sharpest barbs at President Barack Obama. He said the president's economic plan is "more food stamps and government dependence."

Arizona's presidential primary is Tuesday.

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