Spokesmanreview.com: Elections 2008

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Nov08	Election prompts surge in gun sales RALEIGH, N.C. – Barack Obama said he would improve the economy. Turns out he already has, at least in one retail niche: gun sales.
Nov05	Obama Rolls WASHINGTON – Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, swept to victory by an anxious country eager to change course at home and abroad.
Nov03	McCain, Obama campaigns press ahead COLUMBUS, Ohio – Barack Obama and John McCain uncorked massive get-out-the-vote operations in more than a dozen battleground states Sunday, millions of telephone calls, mailings and door-knockings in a frenzied, fitting climax to a record-shattering $1 billion campaign. Together, they'll spend about $8 per presidential vote.
Nov02	Polls give Democrats sizeable lead WASHINGTON – Barack Obama and the Democrats hold a commanding position two days before Tuesday's election, with the senator from Illinois leading in states with a total of nearly 300 electoral votes and his party counting on significantly expanded majorities in the House and Senate.
Nov02	Prank puts Palin on phone with Canadian comedian TORONTO – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin unwittingly took a prank call Saturday from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and telling her she would make a good president someday.
Nov02	Obama aunt illegally in U.S.; candidate say it's news to him CHICAGO – Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said Saturday he didn't know an aunt was living in the United States illegally and believes that laws covering the situation should be followed.
Nov01	Candidates kick off final weekend DES MOINES, Iowa – As the presidential campaign entered its final weekend, Barack Obama returned to Iowa, the state one adviser described as "hallowed ground" because of the role it played in launching his candidacy, while John McCain spent his second straight day in Ohio, a state he almost certainly must win to reach the White House.
Oct30	Palin says she's not leaving national scene TOLEDO, Ohio – Facing the unhappy prospect of defeat, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin indicated Wednesday that she will not disappear from the national political scene if the GOP ticket loses on Tuesday.
Oct30	Analysts divided over accuracy of election polls WASHINGTON – Could the polls be wrong?Sen. John McCain and his allies say that they are. The country, they say, could be headed to a 2008 version of the famous 1948 upset election, with McCain in the role of Harry S. Truman and Sen. Barack Obama as Thomas E. Dewey, lulled into overconfidence by inaccurate polls.
Oct29	Obama's edge on economy dwindling WASHINGTON – "Joe the Plumber" may be paying off for Sen. John McCain. The Arizona senator scored sharp gains on the pivotal issue of jobs and the economy in the past week, helping him gain a bit on front-runner Sen. Barack Obama and narrow the presidential race as it heads into the final week, according to an Ipsos-McClatchy Poll released Tuesday.
Oct29	Obama assails McCain's health care tax credit plan HARRISONBURG, Va. – Sen. Barack Obama seized upon comments by a top aide to Sen. John McCain about the Republican's health care plan, saying that they amounted to an "October surprise" at a boisterous rally in this Shenandoah Valley town.
Oct28	Candidates' contrasts showing PITTSBURGH – The presidential candidates pursued votes in the same Midwestern states Monday but entered their final week of persuasion with messages that could scarcely be more different in tone and substance.
Oct27	Campaign rhetoric more positive FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Barack Obama and John McCain began to ease back their slashing attacks on one another Sunday, a sign that both presidential candidates will seek to end the long, bitter race on a positive note.
Oct26	Military prepares for presidential transition WASHINGTON – The U.S. military, bracing for the first wartime presidential transition in 40 years, is preparing for potential crises during the vulnerable handover period, including possible attacks by al-Qaida and destabilizing developments in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to senior military officials.
Oct26	McCain, Obama campaigns swing through Southwest ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – John McCain and Barack Obama brought their dueling presidential campaigns to the mesas and mountains of New Mexico on Saturday, trading mocking jibes and sharp new attacks in the hotly contested state.
Oct25	Palin testifies in ethics investigation ST. LOUIS – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin testified for two hours Friday in an abuse-of-power investigation that has been a distraction to her Republican vice presidential campaign.
Oct25	Turnout heavy in early voting WASHINGTON – Record numbers of voters across the nation are casting ballots before Election Day, including high proportions of Democrats and blacks in some of the battleground states in what appears to be a promising sign for Barack Obama.
Oct22	Nader hits Obama, McCain; calls for tax on derivatives BOISE – Consumer advocate Ralph Nader brought his independent presidential campaign to Idaho on Tuesday, sharply criticizing both major party candidates as beholden to corporate interests and calling for a tax on some financial transactions to pay for the financial bailout.
Oct21	Candidates trade criticism COLUMBIA, Mo. – John McCain's campaign ramped up efforts Monday to portray Barack Obama as dangerously untested on foreign affairs, while Obama attacked McCain's mortgage-rescue plan as a risky scheme that rewards Wall Street.
Oct20	Obama pulls in record funds FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Democrat Barack Obama raised a staggering $150 million in September, shattering all previous fundraising records and dwarfing the amount raised by Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Oct20	Palin in New Mexico; Biden in Tacoma ROSWELL, N.M. – Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke to about 10,000 supporters Sunday in a Roswell airplane hangar, not only making a reference to Joe the Plumber, but alluding several times to "Ed the Dairyman" after seeing someone in the crowd holding a sign identifying himself that way.
Oct20	Palins to meet with investigator ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband will meet this week with an investigator determining whether she violated state ethics law when firing her public safety director.
Oct19	Health care tough to dodge No matter who wins the White House and control of Congress in November, one aspect of 2009 could have a familiar feel.
Oct18	ACORN hit with vandalism, threats WASHINGTON – The furor over the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now's national voter registration drive exploded with new controversies Friday, including a call by Barack Obama for an independent prosecutor, a Supreme Court ruling over voter access and the disclosure of a death threat against an ACORN worker.
Oct15	Economic proposals will be at center stage in final debate NEW YORK – On the eve of the final presidential debate, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama have issued a last-minute flurry of proposals meant to show expertise and focus on kitchen table worries and ailing markets.
Oct15	ACORN defends vote practices WASHINGTON – An activist organization on Tuesday defended its voter registration practices amid new allegations of voter fraud and a call from Republican lawmakers to investigate irregularities.
Oct15	Poll shows Obama's lead over McCain growing With fear about the economy driving voters his way, Barack Obama has broadened his lead over John McCain and strengthened his hold on key groups both candidates are courting, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.
Oct14	Candidates focus on the economy TOLEDO, Ohio – Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain battled long-distance over the economy Monday as Obama offered new proposals to aid middle-class voters, including a moratorium on mortgage foreclosures, while McCain presented himself as a fighter with a plan to restore the nation's finances to good health.
Oct12	Probe hits hardest at Palin's husband ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A month after she became governor, Sarah Palin's staff ushered Alaska's public safety commissioner into her private office.
Oct11	Report: Palin abused power WASHINGTON – An Alaska state legislative investigator found Friday that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her executive power when she and her husband engaged in a campaign to oust her former brother-in-law from the state police force.
Oct09	Poll favors Obama WASHINGTON – Barack Obama beat John McCain in Tuesday's debate in the eyes of undecided voters by 61 to 39 percent, according to a new online Ipsos/McClatchy poll.
Oct09	The question of trust - McCain, Obama talk economics WASHINGTON – With the deepening U.S. economic crisis rippling around the globe, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain seem to agree the question facing voters is: Who do you trust?
Oct07	Candidates face risks in debate WASHINGTON – Running short on time, John McCain has the most riding on the second presidential debate, though Barack Obama will be out of his scripted comfort zone in the town hall-style confrontation. It could be ugly if Monday's tussling is any indication.
Oct07	Palin, staff split on response to investigation of trooper firing ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says she's an open book regarding an abuse-of-power investigation. Apparently her staff doesn't feel the same way.
Oct05	Polls, economy pressure McCain WASHINGTON – A month before Election Day, Barack Obama sits atop battleground polls in a shrinking playing field and the economic crisis is breaking his way.
Oct05	Palin attacks Obama over ties to radical SEDONA, Ariz. – GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin opened a new assault on Barack Obama on Saturday, accusing the Democratic presidential nominee of being "someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists."
Oct05	Springsteen rocks Obama rally Bruce Springsteen called the Bush presidency "a disaster" and said many Americans have "justifiably lost faith" in the American dream.
Oct05	Obama assails McCain's health plan NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Democrat Barack Obama sharply criticized Republican John McCain's health care proposals Saturday, saying they could force millions of Americans to struggle to buy medical insurance.
Oct05	Campaign war talk a point of frustration With her son and her husband both called up for Iraq with the Washington National Guard's 81st Combat Brigade, Cindy Ashworth used to listen when the candidates talked about their stances on the war. These days, she's not hearing any answers.
Oct05	Fundamental differences, start to finish Sometimes John McCain and Barack Obama don't seem to be talking about the same war when they talk about Iraq. The key difference lies in where they start their dialogue.
Oct04	V.P. debate viewership soars past McCain-Obama NEW YORK – Who's running for president, anyway?More than 70 million people watched Thursday's vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin on television, far more than the audience for the first contest featuring the top of the tickets.
Oct04	Biden's son leaves Sunday DOVER, Del. – A day after the vice presidential candidates' debate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware took a break from the campaign Friday to bid farewell to a son leaving for military duty in Iraq.
Oct03	Candidates vie for middle class ST. LOUIS – Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden sought to cast themselves as the "kitchen table" candidate Thursday night in the first and only debate between the major-party vice presidential candidates, each making the claim that their running mates better understand the concerns of middle-class Americans worried about the nation's faltering economy.
Oct03	Debate plays well in Spokane On a night when all eyes were on vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, local viewers say the Alaska governor rebounded from a series of media interviews that raised doubts about her competence and delivered a solid performance.
Oct01	Palin candidacy helps Planned Parenthood fundraising WASHINGTON – Planned Parenthood loves Sarah Palin.Not for her stance on abortion – she's strongly opposed – but because her presence on the Republican ticket is helping the group raise money.
Sep28	Focus on nation's economy puts pressure on McCain WASHINGTON – In the two weeks the Wall Street financial crisis has dominated the political debate, the presidential race has shifted from what had been essentially a dead heat to one in which Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has opened up a narrow but perceptible advantage nationally, as well as in a number of key battleground states.
Sep27	Candidates tangle on Iraq policy OXFORD, Miss. – Sen. Barack Obama sharply criticized Sen. John McCain's judgment on the war in Iraq, repeatedly telling his presidential rival "you were wrong" to rush the nation into battle, directly challenging the Republican nominee on foreign policy as the two met in their first debate of the general-election season.
Sep27	Highlights of the debate Four key points of the debate:Stamping the passport 1. McCain made it abundantly clear that he has a suitcase and will travel. "I've been to Waziristan," he said. "I can see how tough that terrain is. It's ruled by a handful of tribes." Obama couldn't match that itinerary but noted that there was more to foreign policy than conducting a travelogue; it was important for America to restore its standing in the world after eight years of the current Republican administration's policies.
Sep24	Biden hits trail in Virginia WOODBRIDGE, Va. â€“ Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden sought to persuade Virginia voters Tuesday that his party has the right approach to fixing the economy.
Sep24	Candidates offer economic plans CLEARWATER, Fla. â€“ Barack Obama and John McCain offered more details Tuesday about what they would do to bail out the nation's struggling financial institutions, with both men demanding remedies that provide greater oversight and taxpayer protections.
Sep22	Kids engaged in campaign "Cindy McCain has 29 pets," says Danielle Soibelman."The McCains have paid servants to take care of the pets, and the Obamas know what it is like to take care of the pets themselves," retorts Ariel Hyman, snapping her fingers in her opponent's face.
Sep21	Economic crisis spurs political attacks DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Barack Obama made the calamity on Wall Street the central theme of his case against John McCain on Saturday, invoking the crisis to pound his rival on Social Security, health care and government reform.
Sep20	Analysis: Candidates' styles on display amid crises WASHINGTON – One is hot; the other cool. One is a man of quick action; the other a man of abiding caution. One claims the role of national maverick; the other hopes to play the role of national mediator.
Sep19	Candidates call for action to stem Wall Street crisis CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - John McCain and Barack Obama moved aggressively Thursday to seize the mantle of reform amid Wall Street's maelstrom, with McCain saying he would fire the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission and create an agency to overhaul weakened financial firms, and Obama proposing to inject more money into the battered financial system.
Sep17	State employees to resist subpoenas in Palin case JUNEAU, Alaska â€“ Alaska's investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power, a potentially damaging distraction for John McCain's presidential campaign, ran into intensified resistance Tuesday when the attorney general said state employees would refuse to honor subpoenas in the case.
Sep17	Cal Thomas: As the left rages, Palin stays cool One question ABC's Charles Gibson neglected to ask Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during his interview last week was this: You are young enough to be John McCain's daughter. Twenty-eight years separate you. Will you be able to walk into the Oval Office and say, "Mr. President, you are wrong about this and here is what you should do instead"?
Sep16	Palin 'unlikely to cooperate' in inquiry ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin is unlikely to speak with an independent counsel hired by Alaska lawmakers to review the firing of her public safety commissioner, a spokesman for Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday.
Sep16	Economy likely to define stretch run WASHINGTON – Monday's meltdown on Wall Street brought the economy roaring back to the center of the presidential campaign, and the question for the final seven weeks of the general-election campaign is whether Barack Obama or John McCain can convince voters that he is capable of leading the country out of the morass.
Sep16	No VP debate and no regrets, WSU officials say When Washington State University passed on a chance to host the 2008 vice presidential debate in Spokane, the forum was mostly a concept.
Sep15	Biden criticizes McCain comments as 'malarky' CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A fiery Joe Biden ridiculed Republican John McCain's comments on the economy Sunday and refuted attacks on Barack Obama's positions as "a bunch of malarky."
Sep14	Palin sticks to the familiar in first solo campaign stop CARSON CITY, Nev. – Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin made her first solo campaign appearance outside her home state Saturday, sticking largely to a speech that has boosted her popularity among Republican faithful but drawn criticism for having misstatements.
Sep13	Feeling heat, Obama campaign sharpens message WASHINGTON – Thrown off stride by a hard-charging campaign from Republican rivals John McCain and Sarah Palin, Barack Obama moved Friday to reclaim the spotlight and assure worried supporters that he can and will fight back.
Sep13	McCain errs in comment on Palin earmarks NEW YORK – John McCain got it wrong Friday when he asserted that his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, had not requested any earmarks, the spending directives lawmakers insert in spending bills that McCain has vowed to eliminate.
Sep12	Palin falters on policy in first TV interview FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – John McCain running mate Sarah Palin sought Thursday to defend her qualifications but struggled with foreign policy, unable to describe President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes against threatening nations and acknowledging she's never met a foreign head of state.
Sep11	'Lipstick' quip a common jab employed by both sides WASHINGTON – From folksy Texans to today's presidential candidates, the line about putting "lipstick on a pig" has been a time-honored and bipartisan weapon in the political arsenal.
Sep11	Palin gets rousing welcome home FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin arrived home to a chanting, cheering crowd, a blur of smiling supporters eager to embrace her after a whirlwind of national scrutiny since she was named Republican presidential nominee John McCain's running mate.
Sep11	What they've said ("Lipstick on a pig" quotes) Phrase has wide appeal
Sep09	Presidential race deadlocked, poll says WASHINGTON – Both Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain solidified support among party loyalists during the conventions, but it was the Republican nominee who entered the presidential campaign's final stretch with newfound momentum, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Sep09	Democratic legislator to retain oversight of Palin inquiry ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Republican effort failed Monday to unseat the Alaska state senator overseeing the ethics investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she dismissed the state's public safety commissioner.
Sep07	Candidates hear takeover plans WASHINGTON – The widening housing crisis took center stage on the presidential campaign trail Saturday after the Treasury Department confirmed to the candidates it was preparing a historic seizure of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Sep04	Palin lashes out at critics, Obama ST. PAUL, Minn. – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin electrified the Republican convention Wednesday night, pitching herself as a champion of government reform, mocking Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as an elitist and belittling media criticism of her experience.
Sep04	Palin's involvement with Guard limited ANCHORAGE, Alaska – When Republican presidential nominee John McCain introduced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate last Friday, the Arizona senator emphasized her role as the commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard.
Sep03	Palin takes spotlight tonight in St. Paul ST. PAUL, Minn. – Now the American people get a chance to screen Sarah Palin for themselves.
Sep03	Daughter's boyfriend to join the Palins in St. Paul WASILLA, Alaska – The boyfriend of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's unwed, pregnant daughter will join the family of the Republican vice presidential candidate at the GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Sep02	Federal funds flowed to town while Palin mayor ST. PAUL, Minn. – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog.
Aug31	Ron Paul devotees gather for convention of their own WASHINGTON – There's no room at the Xcel Energy Center for maverick Ron Paul, so his acolytes have packed their cars, hitched rides on "Ronvoys" and will pitch tents at Ronstock '08 in defiance of this week's GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Aug29	Obama: 'We cannot turn back' DENVER – Sen. Barack Obama, the first African-American to lead a major-party ticket, accepted the Democratic nomination for president Thursday night, sharply criticizing Republican John McCain and casting the election as "our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive."
Aug25	Denver primed to show off in convention spotlight DENVER – To the uninformed visitor, it has become difficult to tell whether Denver is preparing for the Democratic National Convention or institution of martial law. Helicopters filled with armed commandos swooped over downtown in a training exercise earlier this summer. A warehouse was converted into a temporary jail with chain-link fences and signs threatening the use of electric stun devices. Travel agents sold getaway packages to locals, with one company imploring residents to "escape town while you still can."
Aug25	Campaign roundup: Michigan, Florida regain delegate power DENVER – On Sunday, the Democratic Party's rules committee agreed to restore full voting privileges to delegates from Michigan and Florida – ending a rancorous debate over when states can schedule their primaries.
Aug24	Obama banks on Biden as elder statesman, insider WASHINGTON – Joe Biden is an archetypical veteran Washington politician: fiercely partisan, combative and glib, but also a senator who's carefully built a reputation as a consensus-builder on tough issues.
Aug24	Candidates' Web sites have their pros, cons A Web analysis of the sites of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain found that the "look" of Obama's site was preferred to his Republican rival's site, but most users thought that McCain's site overall was easier to use.
Aug21	Lieberman to speak at GOP convention WASHINGTON – Socially moderate former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph Lieberman will have featured speaking roles at next month's Republican National Convention, party officials announced Wednesday.
Aug20	Obama takes offensive with McCain on Iraq ORLANDO, Fla. – Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain escalated their debate over foreign policy Tuesday, as the Democrat struck back against charges that his views on the situation in Iraq are based on political calculation.
Aug20	Survey shows presidential race in a virtual tie John McCain has begun rallying dispirited Republicans behind him, while Democratic rival Barack Obama has made scant progress building new support, leaving the presidential race closer than before, with Obama leading 45 percent to 43 percent, according to a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll.
Aug17	Obama, McCain speak at California megachurch LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain differed on abortion Saturday, with McCain saying a baby's human rights begin "at conception," while Obama restated his support for legalized abortion.
Aug10	Democrats vote on party platform PITTSBURGH – Hillary Rodham Clinton loyalists tried Saturday to kill off the caucus system that proved so damaging to her presidential bid, but were beaten back by a Democratic Party leadership firmly under the command of Barack Obama.
Aug09	Edwards admits to affair in 2006 RALEIGH, N.C. – Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards acknowledged Friday that he had an extramarital affair with a campaign filmmaker while running for president, ending months of denials of what he had dismissed as "tabloid trash."
Aug09	Elizabeth Edwards asks for privacy in her latest ordeal There were many questions to ask about John Edwards on Friday after he admitted he'd had an affair. But the most poignant ones weren't really about him.
Aug07	Nader gets on ballot in California, vows more WASHINGTON – Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is quietly making headway in his third bid for president.
Aug06	Six GOP senators will skip convention WASHINGTON – Will he or won't he? Vice President Dick Cheney is one of the nation's most prominent Republicans, but there are doubts about whether he will attend the GOP convention.
Aug05	Candidates focus on quick relief from high gas prices LANSING, Mich. – With the politics of energy shifting as rapidly as gasoline prices, Democrats, led by presidential candidate Barack Obama, are retreating from long-held positions and scrambling to offer distressed voters more immediate relief from spiraling costs.
Aug01	Race moves to center stage in campaign CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Sen. John McCain's campaign accused Sen. Barack Obama of playing the "race card" on Thursday, a day after the Democrat said his opponent and other Republicans would try to scare voters by pointing to Obama's "funny name" and the fact that "he doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills."
Jul26	McCain, Obama to appear at faith forum John McCain and Barack Obama will participate in a forum on religious faith at a California mega-church shortly before they accept their parties' presidential nominations.
Jul16	Obama, McCain pledge troops, aid to Afghanistan WASHINGTON – Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain shifted their foreign policy focus Tuesday from the future of U.S. military involvement in Iraq to the deteriorating war in Afghanistan, with both White House hopefuls pledging thousands of additional troops and a large-scale infusion of aid for the Afghan conflict.
Jul14	McCain and Obama's energy plans diverge WASHINGTON – John McCain and Barack Obama are offering voters very different views of America's energy future.
Jul11	Michael Tackett: The high road not taken The Republican consultant had it all figured out.His candidate: The hero. Wounded in war, stand-up guy, the real face of a generation. His opponent: No military service. Suspicious activity in his past.
Jul08	Plans differ, but candidates agree Social Security needs drastic work WASHINGTON – Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are both proposing dramatic changes to Social Security, taking on the financially fragile "third rail" of American politics that Congress and recent presidents have been unable to repair.
Jul04	Hopefuls differ on Latin America MEXICO CITY – Sen. John McCain's trip to Colombia and Mexico this week made one thing clear: The shape of the United States' relationship with Latin America will hinge on the outcome of the 2008 election.
Jun29	McCain, Obama promise to revamp immigration WASHINGTON – Courting the increasingly influential Hispanic vote, the rival presidential candidates each pledged Saturday to make overhauling the nation's immigration policies a top priority.
Jun22	Campaign rhetoric, fiscal reality at odds WASHINGTON – On the presidential campaign trail, Democrat Barack Obama promises to "completely eliminate" income taxes for millions of Americans, from low-income working families to senior citizens who earn less than $50,000 a year.
Jun11	Candidates clash on economy ST. LOUIS – Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain on Tuesday outlined sharply different approaches on how to revive the nation's economy and provide aid to struggling workers, providing a clear choice for voters on the issue that Americans say they are most concerned about.
Jun10	Obama, McCain talk about economy With recession in the air and gasoline surpassing $4 a gallon, presumptive presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama focused on the economy Monday, each accusing the other of not understanding how it works.
Jun10	Poll sees Clinton's strong negatives WASHINGTON – Lots of Democrats love Hillary Rodham Clinton. Yet plenty of Republicans, conservatives and all-important independents can't stand her, suggesting possible pitfalls for Barack Obama should he make her his vice presidential running mate.
Jun08	Clinton endorses Obama WASHINGTON – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton suspended her historic presidential campaign Saturday, endorsing former rival Barack Obama and urging her 18 million primary voters to finish the work they set out to do, by sending Obama to the White House.
Jun08	Despite sexism, run cleared way for next woman PHILADELPHIA – Two hecklers interrupted Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's January campaign event in a high-school auditorium in Salem, N.H., demanding, "Iron my shirt! Iron my shirt!"
Jun07	Feinstein brokered meeting WASHINGTON – Sen. Dianne Feinstein ended a very personal campaign when she welcomed Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to her home Thursday for their first meeting since Obama wrapped up the Democratic presidential nomination.
Jun06	Obama visits Clinton, aims to unite party WASHINGTON – Sen. Barack Obama moved quickly Thursday to unite his party around his candidacy, paying an unexpected house call to his soon-to-be-former Democratic rival, while dispatching one of his top field operatives to help run the Democratic National Committee.
Jun03	Primaries' end begins new phase WASHINGTON – On the eve of the last two Democratic primaries, aides for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared Monday to be making plans to scale down her campaign, giving her time to decide in the coming days whether to end it or to stage a comeback.
Jun01	Democrats' deal is blow to Clinton WASHINGTON – In a setback for Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential hopes, Democratic Party officials on Saturday cut by more than half the delegate support she was hoping to receive from disputed primary elections in Florida and Michigan.
Jun01	Raising their loud, angry voices WASHINGTON – Leave it to the Democrats to make a hash of democracy. When the Democratic Party's Rules and Bylaws Committee met at the Marriott in Washington's Woodley Park neighborhood Saturday to decide what to do with the contested primary results in Florida and Michigan, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean kicked off the session by suggesting they avoid a "food fight."
May31	Primary season's end is in sight WASHINGTON – After what feels like forever, the end of the presidential primaries is in sight. Really.
May31	McCain, Obama spar on Iraq troop numbers MILWAUKEE – Republican John McCain's estimate of U.S. troop levels in Iraq touched off squabbling with Democrat Barack Obama on Friday, the latest turn in the presidential rivals' escalating disagreement over the war.
May31	Republicans convene in Spokane Washington Republicans may be split between John McCain and Ron Paul for president, but they appear to be united on Dino Rossi.
May27	Candidates work the West ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The top Democratic and Republican presidential contenders, Barack Obama and John McCain, brought their campaigns to the deserts of the American West Monday, kicking off what is shaping up to be a fierce contest for the region in November.
May26	Libertarians select Barr, who rejects 'spoiler' tag DENVER – The Libertarian Party on Sunday picked former Republican Rep. Bob Barr to be its presidential candidate after six rounds of balloting.
May25	Obama says Clinton gaffe due to fatigue SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Barack Obama said Saturday that he accepted presidential nomination rival Hillary Clinton's explanation that she made an innocent gaffe in citing Robert F. Kennedy's June 1968 assassination as a justification for continuing her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination into June.
May25	Clinton council leader defects to Obama's side WASHINGTON – A California congressman who is co-chair of Hillary Clinton's National Hispanic Leadership Council has defected and pledged his support to Barack Obama, Clinton's rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.
May21	McCain, Obama spar over foreign policy WASHINGTON – Sen. John McCain stepped up his assault on Sen. Barack Obama's foreign policy credentials at a rally in Miami Tuesday, criticizing Obama's willingness to talk to Cuban president Raul Castro and other hostile foreign leaders without preconditions. But McCain's argument was undercut when a 2006 video emerged of former secretary of state James Baker, a prominent McCain supporter, saying that "talking to an enemy is not in my view appeasement."
May17	Huckabee jokes of gun aimed at Obama LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Republican Mike Huckabee responded to an offstage noise during his speech Friday to the National Rifle Association by suggesting it was Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him.
May17	Obama rips Bush, McCain in foreign policy rebuttal WATERTOWN, S.D. – Sen. Barack Obama pushed back Friday against President Bush's implicit criticism of his approach to foreign policy, condemning his administration for not capturing Osama bin Laden and blaming its Iraq war policy for strengthening and emboldening Iran.
May14	Clinton dominates Obama in West Virginia primary Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton routed Sen. Barack Obama in the West Virginia primary Tuesday, scoring one of her most lopsided victories of the long campaign even as she continued to battle overwhelming odds in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
May11	McCain uses head start to try to define Obama WASHINGTON – Three months ago, Sen. John McCain made a calculated decision to begin painting a not-so-pretty picture of Sen. Barack Obama.
May07	Obama clinches N.C.; Indiana tips to Clinton Sen. Barack Obama scored a decisive victory in North Carolina's Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, moving him ever closer to locking up an insurmountable lead among pledged delegates, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton eked out a win in the hotly contested Indiana primary as she sought to keep her shaky candidacy for the nomination alive.
May05	Obama, Clinton stress differences INDIANAPOLIS – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton tried mightily Sunday to convince Indiana and North Carolina voters that there are stark differences between them on Iran, gasoline tax freezes and other key issues in the closing days before crucial Democratic presidential primaries in those states.
May04	Obama ekes out win in Guam HAGATNA, Guam – Barack Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton by seven votes in the Guam Democratic presidential caucuses Saturday. The count of more than 4,500 ballots took all night.
May04	Hard line on Iran divides Clinton from rival WASHINGTON – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., has ratcheted up her rhetoric against Iran, pledging recently to extend U.S. nuclear protection to friendly Arab nations against Iran's nuclear ambitions and asserting that if Tehran considers attacking Israel, "we would be able to totally obliterate them."
May04	David S. Broder: Clinton's winning strategy On the day last week when Hillary Clinton suffered the first of two costly defections by Indiana superdelegates, I went to see an old friend working in her national campaign. I knew he was loyal to her, but I also calculated that if he were guaranteed anonymity, he would give me an honest answer to the vexing question: Does the Clinton camp still see any realistic way she can deny Barack Obama the Democratic nomination without blowing up the party?
May03	Democrats heat up gas tax rhetoric RALEIGH, N.C. - Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama escalated their debate Friday over rolling back gasoline taxes, with Obama criticizing her plan to suspend the tax this summer as a costly "political stunt" and Clinton casting the issue as a choice between standing with consumers or the oil industry.
Apr27	Bill Clinton calls on Obama to debate HIllary on rural issues ALBANY, Ore. â€“ Former President Bill Clinton renewed his wife's call for Sen. Barack Obama to participate in debates focused on rural issues Saturday during a campaign trip through Western Oregon.
Apr24	Democrats resigned to lasting struggle WASHINGTON – Democratic leaders resigned themselves Wednesday to a prolonged and potentially damaging battle between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama for their party's presidential nomination, but said they will push for a quick conclusion to the intraparty warfare once the primaries end in early June.
Apr22	Democrats campaign on eve of primary PITTSBURGH – Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton sounded familiar themes as they crisscrossed Pennsylvania on Monday in a search for votes a day before the state's key presidential primary.
Apr21	Clinton, Obama trade attack ads JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama swapped some of the most negative attacks of the campaign two days before the Pennsylvania primary, each unleashing television ads Sunday that accused the other of maintaining ties to special interests they both claim to reject.
Apr13	County GOP rejects Iraq war policy The Spokane County Republican Party formally rejected the Iraq policy of their current president and their party's likely nominee, saying American troops shouldn't be on overseas missions for more than six months without a formal declaration of war.
Apr11	Republicans planning Spokane County convention Spokane Republicans will gather for their county convention at 9 a.m. Saturday with the presidential nomination already settled.
Apr06	In caucuses, Obama wins 73 delegates to Clinton's 42 Barack Obama picked up nearly two-thirds of the delegates from Spokane County legislative districts Saturday as Democrats held the second round of their presidential nominating process.
Mar30	No Kennedy-Obama tie, records say WASHINGTON – Addressing civil rights activists in Selma, Ala., a year ago, Sen. Barack Obama traced his "very existence" to the generosity of the Kennedy family, which he said paid for his Kenyan father to travel to America on a student scholarship and thus meet his Kansan mother.
Mar30	Clinton adamant she won't drop out NEW ALBANY, Ind. – In her most definitive comments to date on the subject, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton sought Saturday to put to rest any notion that she will drop out of the presidential race, pledging in an interview to not only compete in all the remaining primaries but also continue until there is a resolution of the disqualified results in Florida and Michigan.
Mar30	Obama leads in Texas caucuses AUSTIN, Texas – Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama scrambled to secure more Texas delegates Saturday as the state pushed to settle the outcome of the March 4 caucus.
Mar28	Presidential candidates focus on economy The deteriorating economy took center stage in the presidential election Thursday as Democrat Barack Obama called for tighter regulation of financial markets and rival Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed more retraining for displaced workers, creating a sharp contrast with Republican John McCain over how much the government should intervene.
Mar28	Cantwell says she'll keep supporting Clinton Democratic superdelegate Maria Cantwell said she's sticking with Hillary Rodham Clinton and waiting to see how the remaining states vote before discussing what – if anything – could make her switch.
Mar22	Candidates' passport files breached WASHINGTON – The passport files of all three major presidential candidates were breached by unauthorized searches by four employees, the State Department said Friday, prompting apologies from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, outrage from the candidates and calls by lawmakers for further probes.
Mar21	Michigan drops effort to schedule revote WASHINGTON – The effort to schedule a June revote for the Michigan Democratic primary collapsed Thursday, dealing a potentially serious blow to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the White House.
Mar18	Florida Democrats ditch revote plan TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Facing strong opposition, Florida Democrats on Monday abandoned plans to hold a do-over presidential primary with a mail-in vote and threw the delegate dispute into the lap of the national party.
Mar09	Superdelegates keep their options open WASHINGTON – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's trio of victories over Sen. Barack Obama last week appears to have persuaded a sizable number of uncommitted Democratic superdelegates to wait until the end of the primaries and caucuses before picking a candidate, according to a survey by the Washington Post.
Mar05	McCain clinches GOP nomination DALLAS – Eight years after his first bid for the White House ended in a painful defeat and nine months after his second appeared to have sputtered to an embarrassing end, John McCain capped a spectacular political comeback Tuesday with a four-state sweep that clinched the Republican presidential nomination.
Mar05	And the race goes on WASHINGTON – Hillary Clinton beat Barack Obama in the Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island presidential primaries Tuesday, dramatically breaking the Illinois senator's monthlong winning streak and guaranteeing that the two Democrats' tense duel will continue through Pennsylvania's April 22 primary.
Mar04	Stakes high in Ohio, Texas today BEAUMONT, Texas – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed to press on in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination after critical primary tests today in Ohio and Texas, even as advisers to Sen. Barack Obama said the latest round of voting would do little to improve her standing in a race in which she has been dealt setback after setback.
Feb26	Clinton and Obama trade blows WASHINGTON – Hillary Clinton warned Americans on Monday not to take a chance on Barack Obama's lack of experience on military and foreign affairs, while he questioned her commitment to fixing trade policies that have devastated Ohio's industrial base.
Feb25	Nader to run as independent WASHINGTON – Consumer activist Ralph Nader launched an independent campaign for the White House on Sunday, criticizing the Republican and Democratic candidates for not addressing issues "that are supported by a majority of the American people."
Feb24	Clinton blasts Obama campaign's tactics HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio – In perhaps her sharpest attack of the 2008 presidential campaign, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton accused her Democratic rival Saturday of "using tactics that are right out of Karl Rove's playbook," declaring at one point, "Shame on you, Barack Obama."
Feb24	Clinton, Obama promises sidestep budget realities HOUSTON – Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama champion fiscal responsibility on the campaign trail, but both Democratic presidential hopefuls are promising massive new spending without providing details on how they'd pay for it.
Feb21	Clinton attacks Obama as unprepared NEW YORK – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton launched a new offensive against Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday, asserting flatly that her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination is not prepared to be commander in chief.
Feb20	Obama, McCain take Wisconsin MILWAUKEE – Barack Obama swept to a double-digit victory in the Wisconsin primary Tuesday, turning aside a fierce effort by Hillary Rodham Clinton and further propelling his campaign as the Democrats head toward epic contests in Ohio and Texas.
Feb19	Democrats spar in Wisconsin DE PERE, Wis. – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton carried their rivalry Monday across this ice-crusted state, where voters are primed to give one of them a significant boost today.
Feb19	Ballot drop-off locations Spokane County voters can drop off their ballots at the following public libraries until 8 p.m.:
Feb19	Ballots need vote, party oath to count Today is the final day voters can cast ballots in Washington's presidential primary. In most of the state, that means they either have to mail a ballot so it's postmarked by this evening, or take it to a drop-off location by 8 p.m.
Feb19	Presidential prescriptions A recent Washington Post-ABC national survey showed health care ranked third (after the economy and the war in Iraq) among Democratic voters; among Republicans, health care ranks among the top 10 issues.
Feb15	Clinton's, Obama's economic plans similar WARREN, Ohio – Hillary Rodham Clinton slammed Barack Obama during an appearance at a General Motors plant here on Thursday for what she charged was a lack of a record of achievement on the economy.
Feb12	'Potomac Primary' seems settled early COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Barack Obama appeared poised Monday to win today's "Potomac Primary," as polls showed him with huge leads over Hillary Clinton in Maryland and Virginia.
Feb12	Huckabee challenges caucus result Spokane residents who thought they were done with presidential politics after Saturday's caucuses – or at least due for a brief hiatus until a bit closer to next week's primary – will have to think again.
Feb11	Clinton still No. 1 among insiders WASHINGTON – Hillary Rodham Clinton retains her lead among suddenly critical Democratic Party insiders even as Barack Obama builds up his delegate margin with primary and caucus victories across the country, according to an Associated Press survey.
Feb10	Democrats uneasy about super delegates WASHINGTON – In a year that has seen Democratic voters flock to the polls but produce two evenly matched candidates, some party leaders are becoming alarmed that the process for deciding an eventual winner is in disarray, and that the decision may come down not to ordinary voters but to the group of 796 insiders known as "super delegates."
Feb09	Bush says GOP will have conservative nominee WASHINGTON – In the same hotel ballroom where conservative activists greeted John McCain with a mix of cheers and boos just 16 hours earlier, President Bush tried to calm his party's base Friday. Without naming McCain, Bush assured the group that the eventual Republican nominee will "carry a conservative banner" to the White House.
Feb09	Tale of the tape
Feb09	Emotions, hopes high at rallies After her rally Friday at the West Central Community Center, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton dropped by the Girl Scouts Inland Empire Council, where about 300 people who couldn't fit into the center had been watching the Democratic candidate on a large screen.
Feb09	Close Democratic race giving Spokane moment in sun Enjoy it while it lasts, Spokane.The Democratic campaigns came calling Friday, and the country is awaiting the results of today's caucuses. But the fickle, intense light of presidential politics won't shine on us for long.
Feb09	Clinton says she's the one to go 'toe-to-toe' with McCain Breast-feeding her 5-month-old son while keeping a watchful eye on her 3-year-old daughter from a chair near the back of a crowded auditorium, Sara Habein said it was worth a long drive and a 1 1/2-hour wait outside on a cold, windy afternoon for a chance to see the woman who could be the next president.
Feb08	Campaigns swing through town Spokane becomes a battleground in the Democratic presidential race today as the two leading candidates' campaigns stage major – and slightly overlapping – events within a few miles of each other.
Feb08	Technology helps draw teens to politics Katie Reichard isn't old enough to vote, but the 17-year-old Lewis and Clark High School senior has skipped a few classes this week to volunteer for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
Feb08	Snow biggest challenge to West Central venue The West Central Community Center in Spokane has hosted big-name political candidates and large crowds before. But never with this much snow on the ground.
Feb07	Clinton, Michelle Obama here Friday The tight Democratic race coming out of Super Tuesday will bring Sen. Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, the wife of her rival for the nomination, to Spokane on Friday for campaign events.
Feb05	Millions to cast ballots in closest thing to national primary CHICAGO – The drama of the most intensive presidential nominating campaign in memory will play out on the largest stage ever today when millions of Americans, from Connecticut to California with American Samoa thrown in, cast ballots in the closest thing to a national primary that the country has seen.
Feb05	Some early voters regret picks for lost candidates LOS ANGELES – Virginia and Libero Daniel made up their minds more than two weeks ago on whom they would be supporting in California's presidential primary. So they marked their absentee ballots and mailed them in early.
Feb05	Don't count Bloomberg out yet NEW YORK – Michael Bloomberg may soon begin a massive operation to get on the ballot in up to 15 states even though the billionaire mayor may not decide until May whether to run for president, according to associates.
Feb04	Where the presidential candidates stand WASHINGTON — The stands of these 2008 presidential candidates on a selection of issues: New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, Democrats; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Republicans.
Feb04	Candidates, backers tackle Super Tuesday states WILMINGTON, Del. – A flurry of campaigning that included celebrity endorsements, pointed criticisms and even Super Bowl ads played out Sunday in advance of what will be the single biggest day of voting in presidential primary history.
Feb04	Idaho Democrats prepare to caucus Idaho Democrats have a chance to be part of the nation's biggest presidential nominee selection event Tuesday, but they'll have to do something more than mark a ballot. They'll have to go somewhere and talk politics with other Democrats from their county.
Feb04	Washington primary, caucus at later dates Washington state's major political parties took a few steps back from the Super Tuesday scrum and will hold their precinct caucuses on Saturday afternoon.
Feb03	Super Tuesday won't end race for Democrats LOS ANGELES – Ever since the presidential campaign started, much of the focus has been on Super Tuesday, just days away. The idea was that any day when nearly half the country voted would have to be decisive.
Feb03	Primaries by state A state-by-state look at Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses with the number of delegates in parentheses. All are primaries unless otherwise indicated. WTA indicates winner take all.
Feb03	Democrats even; McCain leads Republicans WASHINGTON – Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, of New York, and Barack Obama, of Illinois, are running roughly even nationally as the battle for the Democratic nomination heads into Tuesday's big round of primaries and caucuses. Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, has jumped to a dominating lead over his remaining rivals in the Republican race, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Feb01	Bipartisan group wants more focus on issues WASHINGTON – Presidential candidates from both parties should tell voters what they plan to do about the threat of nuclear terrorism, global climate change and other crucial threats that have received too little attention in the campaign so far, a bipartisan group of foreign-policy heavyweights said Thursday.
Feb01	Obama, Clinton hold cordial L.A. debate LOS ANGELES – Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama set aside personal hostilities here Thursday night but sharply disagreed on who has the better combination of leadership and experience to defeat Republicans in November and lead the country as president.
Feb01	Coming up As Republican Ron Paul's supporters prepared for a rally Thursday evening in Spokane, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton dueled for attention from voters in Idaho and the Puget Sound area.
Jan31	Clinton, Obama vie for Edwards supporters WASHINGTON – He launched his campaign in the hurricane-ravaged quarters of New Orleans and traveled through Appalachia, talking about poverty and railing against corporate greed and financial disparities. But something strange happened as John Edwards built his campaign for president: He drew votes from an economically diverse bloc of voters, mostly white men, who were just as likely to be rich as they were to be poor.
Jan31	Romney, McCain trade barbs in debate SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Republican Mitt Romney accused John McCain of using dirty tricks by suggesting the former Massachusetts governor wanted a deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, in a spirited debate Wednesday night that underscored the intensity of their presidential rivalry.
Jan30	McCain surges to No. 1 in Florida GOP primary MIAMI – Sen. John McCain won a breakthrough triumph in the Florida primary Tuesday night, seizing the upper hand in the Republican presidential race ahead of next week's coast-to-coast contests and lining up a quick endorsement from soon-to-be dropout Rudy Giuliani.
Jan30	Brownback got debt help after endorsing McCain Some of John McCain's largest political donors sent checks to failed Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback to help him pay off his campaign debt in the days after the Kansas senator endorsed McCain.
Jan30	Obama attacks Clinton as calculating and divisive DENVER — Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama on Wednesday said rival Hillary Rodham Clinton is too polarizing to win the presidency and she has taken positions shared by President Bush and Republican candidate John McCain for political expediency.
Jan28	Romney, McCain trade charges of being liberal WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Mitt Romney and John McCain accused each other Monday of harboring liberal tendencies, a charge bordering on blasphemy in the increasingly caustic campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
Jan27	Obama wins big in S.C. primary CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, won the South Carolina primary in a landslide Saturday, attracting a biracial coalition and giving his candidacy a much-needed boost as the Democratic presidential race moves toward a 22-state showdown Feb. 5.
Jan26	S.C. Democrats set to vote CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton raced through a final day of campaigning in advance of today's South Carolina primary, after a week of angry bickering and with the electorate here polarized along racial lines.
Jan25	Obama resurrects Clinton's war vote BEAUFORT, S.C. — Democrat Barack Obama suggested Thursday that Hillary Rodham Clinton cannot be trusted to make good judgments on national security and military matters, citing her Iraq war vote.
Jan25	Republican candidates find it harder to win Cuban-American vote MIAMI — Republican presidential candidates descending on Little Havana are finding they must work harder than ever to win Cuban-American support and need to go beyond anti-Castro sloganeering and swigging cafe con leche.
Jan24	Precinct caucus, primary Q&A Republican presidential candidates are focusing on Florida this week and Democratic candidates on South Carolina, but elections officials in Washington on Wednesday were trying to remind voters about the Feb. 19 primary here.
Jan22	Polls show Giuliani trails McCain in New York JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In one of the most ominous signals to date of a campaign on the ropes, Republican presidential hopeful Rudolph W. Giuliani saw a one-time commanding lead in his home state of New York vanish in the face of a resurgent Sen. John McCain, according to two polls released Monday.
Jan22	Obama, Clinton get testy at debate MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama accused each other of repeatedly and deliberately distorting the truth for political gain Monday night in a highly personal, finger-wagging debate that ranged from the war in Iraq to Bill Clinton's role in the campaign.
Jan21	Democratic hopefuls invoke MLK COLUMBIA, S.C. – Racial politics, complaints and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy dominated discourse in the Democratic presidential contest Sunday as Nevada caucus winner Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama sought to shore up their bases for the South Carolina primary on Saturday.
Jan20	In the running Here are the results so far in the presidential nominating contests, with candidates listed in order of how they finished:
Jan17	Voter registration deadline looms for Washington presidential primary Washington residents who aren't registered to vote but are hoping to cast a ballot in the state's Feb. 19 presidential primary have until Saturday to sign up one of three easy ways.
Jan15	Clinton, Obama step back on race debate Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama stepped back from a controversy over race Monday night, agreeing that a prolonged clash over civil rights could harm their party's overall drive to win the White House.
Jan15	Economy drives GOP in Michigan primary TAYLOR, Mich. – Michigan's Republican presidential primary today is this election year's first clear referendum on who voters think can best manage – and revive – the slumping economy, which has hit this state harder than most.
Jan14	Republicans fight for Michigan HOWELL, Mich. – Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain dueled Sunday over who could better lead a restoration of Michigan's battered economy amid charges from each that the presidential campaign has descended into unnecessary pessimism and negativity that will do little to inspire voters.
Jan13	U.S. elections pique global fascination LONDON – John Mbugua, 56, a taxi driver in Mombasa, Kenya, woke himself at 3 a.m. the day of the Iowa caucuses and flipped on CNN. He said he watched for hours, not understanding precisely what or where Iowa was but thrilled about the victory of Barack Obama, the first U.S. presidential contender with Kenyan roots.
Jan13	Obama, Clinton books see increase in sales Demand is high for books by Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama.The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, has ordered an additional 50,000 copies of the Illinois senator's million-selling policy book, "The Audacity of Hope," and another 10,000 for his million-selling memoir, "Dreams From My Father."
Jan11	Campaigns shift to address economy WASHINGTON – As the presidential campaign got under way a year ago, the candidates faced a volatile political environment dominated by the Iraq war, illegal immigration and terrorism. A year later, the campaigns are rewriting their scripts as it looks like the race may actually be shaped once more by the economy, stupid.
Jan09	Results mean GOP race still 'completely wide open' MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, the early Republican front-runner whose campaign imploded last summer, handily won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, dealing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney his second loss in the GOP nomination contest.
Jan09	Clinton, McCain bounce back with big wins in New Hampshire MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton narrowly won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night, a surprise victory for the one-time Democratic front-runner that revived her sagging fortunes and reshaped yet again the fight for the party's presidential nomination.
Jan08	Candidates take last plunge before New Hampshire MANCHESTER, N.H. – Hillary Rodham Clinton choked up. Barack Obama flubbed his lines. Even Chuck Norris, Mike Huckabee's action-star sidekick, was laid low.
Jan07	Clinton, Romney take on rivals NASHUA, N.H. – Knocked from their perches atop state polls and facing potentially damaging losses in Tuesday's primary, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Mitt Romney urged New Hampshire crowds on Sunday to vote with their heads, not their hearts.
Jan06	Romney goes on offensive against McCain, Huckabee MANCHESTER, N.H. – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney clashed with Mike Huckabee on foreign policy and John McCain on immigration Saturday night in a high-stakes presidential campaign debate three days before the New Hampshire primary.
Jan06	Clinton, Obama clash during debate in N.H. MANCHESTER, N.H. – Under mounting pressure to shift the dynamic of the Democratic race, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton accused Sen. Barack Obama of being inconsistent on the issue of health care during a high-stakes debate among the top four contenders here Saturday night.
Jan04	Obama, Huckabee victors DES MOINES, Iowa – Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee rearranged the landscape of the presidential race Thursday with stunning victories in the Iowa caucuses.
Jan03	Race's Round 1 begins in Iowa DES MOINES, Iowa – The end of the beginning of an exhaustive, expensive and so far inconclusive race for the White House will take shape tonight when Iowans vote in their caucuses in the most wide-open presidential contest since 1952.
Jan02	Republicans' paths to nomination Here's what's remarkable about the Republican presidential race: With days to go before the voting actually begins, it is quite possible for any of four candidates – and even a fifth – to win the nomination.
Dec31	Candidates to ring in new year on the trail DES MOINES, Iowa – A bit of bubbly, a few verses of Auld Lang Syne and candidates, candidates and more candidates.
Dec30	Iowans counting down to caucuses DES MOINES, Iowa – For America's next president, it's game time. The television campaign ads come one after another. First Joe Biden, then Chris Dodd, then maybe Barack Obama.
Dec30	Edwards, Romney on rise before caucuses DES MOINES, Iowa – John Edwards has clawed his way into contention to win Iowa's caucuses on Thursday in the first vote for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Dec27	Rhetoric heats up as vote nears MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa – The wide-open presidential race pushed into a decisive new phase Wednesday, the rhetoric a bit more pointed and the appeals more urgent.
Dec26	Campaigning hot as caucuses near DES MOINES, Iowa – After a pause for Christmas, presidential contenders today resume their blitz across Iowa, scraping and scuffling in contests that have grown tighter.
Dec26	Campaign threatening GOP solidarity DES MOINES, Iowa – For three decades, the Republican presidential nominating contest has served to unify the national party's coalition of conservatives.
Dec26	Groups prepare attack ads WASHINGTON – The upbeat pre-Christmas tone of the 2008 presidential campaign is about to shift.
Dec14	Democrats hold final pre-caucus debate JOHNSTON, Iowa – The Democratic presidential candidates made nice for the television cameras during a polite debate Thursday.
Dec10	GOP debate targets Spanish speakers CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Republican presidential candidates sought to embrace Hispanics in a Spanish language debate Sunday, striving to mark common ground with a growing voter bloc while softening the anti-illegal immigration rhetoric that has marked their past encounters.
Dec08	Huckabee advancing at Thompson's expense WASHINGTON – Mike Huckabee has vaulted from nowhere into second place in the Republican presidential race, riding a burst of support from evangelicals, Southerners and conservatives, a nationwide poll showed Friday.
Nov29	Viewer questions spark spirited GOP debate WASHINGTON – In a debate Republican presidential hopefuls sparred over illegal immigration, torture, gun control, abortion – and even whether the Bible should be taken literally.
Nov28	Blacks leaning to Clinton over Obama WASHINGTON – Black voters may be over Barack Obama because they're dubious that America is ready to elect a black president,
Nov26	Giuliani, Romney remove gloves CONCORD, N.H. – With Rudy Giuliani looking to spring a surprise against Mitt Romney in the state hosting the nation's first primary, the race for the Republican presidential nomination took a sharply negative turn here Sunday as the two candidates traded accusations about taxes, crime, immigration, abortion and ethical standards.
Nov25	Huckabee shaves Romney's Iowa lead DES MOINES, Iowa – For six months, ex-Gov. Mitt Romney has owned Iowa. He spent millions on TV and unleashed his extended family to blanket the state.
Nov21	Obama unveils education blueprint MANCHESTER, N.H. – Presidential contender Barack Obama on Tuesday called for an $18 billion education plan.
Nov21	Iowa poll shows Huckabee nearly even with Romney WASHINGTON – Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, buoyed by strong support from Christian conservatives, has surged past three of his better-known presidential rivals.
Nov21	WSU turns down VP debate Washington State University's push to host a national political debate in Spokane wasn't snuffed out Monday by a search committee. The snub was self-inflicted.
Nov17	Mysterious 'push poll' targets Romney WASHINGTON – Rose Kramer was at her Dubuque, Iowa, home, waiting for the TV show "House" to start at 8 p.m. Tuesday when a pollster called and started asking her about John McCain. After a few polite questions, the caller started saying unflattering things about Mitt Romney.
Nov16	Democrats take off gloves in debate LAS VEGAS – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton stepped down from her front-runner's pedestal and swiped back at her Democratic rivals Thursday night in a feisty presidential debate that drew out differences over immigration, foreign policy and the proper tone of an increasingly harsh campaign.
Nov16	Judge hears arguments on closing GOP primary BOISE – A federal judge appeared dubious Thursday of a group of dissident Idaho Republicans' attempt to force the closure of the state's GOP primary elections to anyone but registered Republicans.
Nov10	McCain negotiates loan for campaign WASHINGTON – Republican John McCain, climbing in polls but lagging in money, is negotiating a $3 million loan while some of his backers launch an independent advertising effort seemingly at odds with his years of fighting outside influence in campaigns.
Nov10	Kerik case likely to cast shadow on Giuliani WASHINGTON – Being a top aide to New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani allegedly brought a lot of perks to Bernard Kerik, many of them paid for by people who had business with the city: a new Jacuzzi, a "marble entrance rotunda" installed in a Bronx apartment, $9,000 a month in rent payments for a flat on the Upper East Side.
Nov02	Children's health bill passes Senate WASHINGTON – A Democrat-controlled Congress voted Thursday to provide health insurance to an additional 4 million lower-income children, and President Bush vowed to veto it.
Nov01	Immigrant licenses emerge as '08 issue PHILADELPHIA – The tempest generated by Hillary Rodham Clinton's handling of the issue of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants refused to go away.
Oct31	Rivals home in on Clinton during Democratic debate PHILADELPHIA – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's Democratic rivals aggressively challenged their party's front-runner here Tuesday night.
Oct28	Obama says Clinton is dodging Social Security DES MOINES, Iowa – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Saturday accused Hillary Clinton of dodging tough questions about Social Security.
Oct24	Donors as young as 2 emerge in 2008 race WASHINGTON – Elrick Williams' niece Carlyn may be one of the youngest contributors to a presidential campaign. The 2-year-old gave $2,300 to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Oct24	Candidates' spouses discuss life on the trail LONG BEACH, Calif. – When their husbands take the stage together to debate, they tend to argue about the war in Iraq or who's the toughest on international terrorism.
Oct22	GOP hopefuls take debate to Florida ORLANDO, Fla. – Bashing each other's conservative credentials, eight Republican presidential candidates met for the first time on a Florida stage in a prime-time Sunday debate that gave them a launching pad for crowd-pleasing shots at Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Oct21	Clinton's rivals cite electability WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. – Steve Valdez, a retired high school history teacher, is keeping an eye on the presidential campaign and wondering about Sen. Hillary Clinton's chances.
Oct20	Nation in brief: Brownback quits presidential race Republican Sen. Sam Brownback abandoned his 2008 presidential bid Friday, his White House aspirations dashed by a lack of support and money.
Oct19	Evangelicals upset over GOP field WASHINGTON – For months, Republican presidential candidates such as Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and John McCain have courted evangelical Christians, attending church services and meeting with religious leaders.
Oct17	Iowa GOP moves caucuses to Jan. 3 DES MOINES, Iowa – Ready for some presidential politics in the middle of Christmas? Some campaign volunteers elbowing carolers off the front porch? Some really nasty brochures in the mailbox alongside the Christmas cards?
Oct17	Cheney, Obama related WASHINGTON – Though they may spar across the political aisle, Vice President Dick Cheney is close enough to Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama to call him "cousin."
Oct06	Romney putting personal millions into campaign WASHINGTON – Mitt Romney once said financing his own campaign would be a "nightmare." Writing checks, he said this week, is "painful." It doesn't seem to be stopping him.
Oct06	Thompson sees benefit limit WASHINGTON – Former Sen. Fred Thompson promised fiscal conservatives Friday that he'd trim the cost of government by slowing the growth of Social Security benefits.
Sep29	College fund comment met with quick criticism WASHINGTON – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday proposed giving every newborn a $5,000 bond for college or a new home when they grow up – a gift for critics looking for new ways to slam her as a big spender.
Sep22	Giuliani gives it a shot for NRA WASHINGTON – Rudy Giuliani on Friday asked the NRA to look past his lengthy record of pushing for tougher gun control by saying that his views on this issue had been changed by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Sep01	Three Democratic candidates draw line on early primaries WASHINGTON – Democrats Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden on Friday pledged not to campaign in states that hold early nominating contests in violation of party rules, drawing a sharp rebuke from Florida officials who are challenging the system.
Aug25	Romney's health plan leaves out universal care WASHINGTON – GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Friday released his national health care reform, but he left out the linchpin of the Massachusetts plan: a requirement that individuals get coverage.
Aug12	Iowa straw poll could reshape Republican race AMES, Iowa – Officially, it's meaningless. No delegates were won or lost, but a straw poll of Iowa Republicans on Saturday threatened to shake up the nomination campaign as it enters the fall run-up to the caucus and primary voting in January.
Aug11	Obama talks race with black journalists LAS VEGAS – Barack Obama was 20 minutes late for a speech to thousands of black journalists gathered in Las Vegas.
Jul14	McCain continues run despite staffing stumble CONCORD, N.H. – Sen. John McCain of Arizona vowed Friday not to let a dramatic staff shake-up or shortage of funds deter his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Jul07	Lobby work may hurt Thompson Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator campaigning for president as a "pro-life" Republican, accepted a lobbying assignment from a family-planning group.
Jun09	Nation in brief: Poll shows Romney leading in N.H. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the Republican presidential field by double digits in New Hampshire, site of the nation's first primary.
May12	Giuliani supports civil unions, abortion rights HOUSTON – In a shift of tactics, Republican presidential contender Rudolph Giuliani called a woman's right to choose an abortion one of his "core beliefs."
May12	Romney wealthiest candidate WASHINGTON – Republican Mitt Romney is expected to report financial assets between $190 million and $250 million.
May06	Democrats are returning to faith's fold WASHINGTON – This time it may be the Democrats who are getting religion. Former Sen. John Edwards invoked "My Lord" when asked about moral influences on his life.
Apr05	Obama has raised $25 million A strong fundraising performance by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, whose $25 million total nearly matched that of Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, of New York, came as welcome news Wednesday for a campaign beginning to face criticism as lacking substance.
Apr05	Democrats assailed on Syria, Iraq DES MOINES, Iowa – GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney assailed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday for visiting Syria's president and accused Democrats in Washington of playing politics with Iraq.
Apr05	Edwards says she neglected tests DAVENPORT, Iowa – Elizabeth Edwards said Wednesday she feels she let down her family and the country by neglecting to get mammograms that could have caught her cancer earlier.
Feb28	Obama leads Clinton among black voters WASHINGTON – The opening stages of the campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination have produced a shift in sentiment among African American voters.
Feb24	Low on money, Vilsack leaves race for president WASHINGTON – Out of cash and barely a blip in the early polls, Tom Vilsack quit the Democratic presidential contest Friday, a move that ultimately might prove more influential than his ill-fated decision to run, party strategists said.
Feb24	In Seattle, McCain stands by war SEATTLE – Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Friday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair has sacrificed his career to support the Iraq war, and acknowledged he could face the same fate.
Feb17	Jeb Bush steers advisers toward Romney TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Former Gov. Jeb Bush has no plans to get publicly involved in the Republican presidential primary. Behind the scenes, though, he is steering some of his closest advisers Mitt Romney's way.
Jan27	Biden will toss hat into '08 ring NEW YORK – Democratic Sen. Joe Biden, who has made no secret of his plans to run for president in 2008, says he'll make it official next Wednesday.
Jan27	Arkansas governor to join race LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Republican Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and a favorite of conservatives, will take the first step in a 2008 presidential bid.
Jan26	Obama joins Democrats backing universal coverage WASHINGTON – Leading Democratic presidential candidates are showing a passion for ambitious plans to provide health care coverage to all Americans.