With the withdrawal of Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich from the race, the Republican Party all but has its presidential nominee. That means our country’s major issues will be faced by former Gov, Mitt Romney or President Barack Obama after the ballots are counted on Nov. 6. But before the ballots are cast, voters must first address two critical challenges.

Valley Forge, Pa., is no stranger to heroes. The area is steeped in tales of valor and sacrifice. Look for more this weekend.

It will be interesting to see whether President Obama can use an economic-success argument more successfully state by state, instead of nationally. Consider that there’s been a lot of mixed economic news recently. The automobile industry is booming, as are parts of the farm economy. Both are major pluses for Obama.

Few controversies divide Americans as much as how to deal with illegal immigration — although our policies covering legal immigration have their own difficulties as well.

Alzheimer’s disease takes a tremendous personal and economic toll on both the individual and the family.

History is in the making in Wisconsin, as the state vies to be the third one ever to recall a governor.

There are two ways to defend gay marriage. Argument A is empathy: One is influenced by gay friends in committed relationships yearning for the fulfillment and acceptance that marriage conveys upon heterosexuals. That’s essentially the case President Barack Obama made when he first announced his change of views.

John Boehner thinks it’s kind of funny. “It struck me as somewhat comical,” he told reporters Thursday morning, “that, you know, people are looking to me like I’m the guy carrying a sword around town, I’m going to bludgeon someone.”

Should higher education be a right, not a privilege?