In the Nation

WASHINGTON - President Obama's chief political adviser said he doesn't believe the president will face a primary challenge in 2012.

David Axelrod told CNN's State of the Union that there was "strong support" for Obama among Democrats. He said Democrats realize that Obama is "fighting hard, trying hard" to move the country forward and that his administration already had accomplished a lot.

Axelrod said that until the economy recovers and the unemployment rate goes down, "you're going to have static out there politically."

- AP

NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Sunday revisited the subject of his possible aspirations for higher office, saying "no way, no how" when asked if he will run for president of the United States in 2012.

Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, Bloomberg said he would stick with the elected office he holds. He told host David Gregory: "I've got a great job, and I'm going to stay with it."

A Democrat-turned-Republican before he turned independent, he explored running as a third-party candidate in 2008 before deciding against it. But his denials come along with actions that keep him in the spotlight. On Monday, he is to speak to a group looking to court people from both major parties to find common solutions to problems. - AP

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Boehner, the Ohio Republican who will become House Speaker next month, said he will cut the budgets of his office and House committees to save up to $30 million.

"I'm going to cut every committee's budget by 5 percent," Boehner said in an interview for CBS's 60 Minutes program. "Every member is going to see a 5 percent reduction in their allowance. Altogether that's $25-$30 million, and it likely would be one of the first votes we cast."

Boehner, minority leader since 2007, was nominated to become speaker after Republicans won control of the chamber by gaining 61 seats Nov. 2.

Asked about his perpetually tanned appearance, Boehner said "I've never been in a tanning salon in my life. I've never used a tanning product in my life." - Bloomberg News

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., the grocer whose brands include SuperFresh and Pathmark, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it struggles with enormous debt and increased competition from low-priced peers.