GOP Senate candidate blasts NY trial for Mohammed
Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown wants President Barack Obama to overrule the attorney general on trying the accused Sept. 11 mastermind in New York City.

Resignation hitch freezes some political ambitions
It's premature to know whether Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will succeed in her run for governor, but she's already upset ambitious politicians having to delay or rethink plans for moving up the political ranks.

Ethics committee: No punishment for Burris
The Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee didn't recommend any punishment.

Senate Dems moving ahead on crucial health vote
Senate Democratic leaders are looking ahead to a crucial test vote on health care amid indications the rank-and-file will stand together Saturday to give them the support they need.

Obama drops by daughter Sasha's school for event
Fresh from his weeklong trip through Asia, President Barack Obama is taking time to catch up on dad duty.

Govt wants speedy screening at more airports
The Homeland Security Department wants to expand speedy screening of pre-approved, low-risk air travelers arriving in the United States.

White House at odds with bishops over abortion
The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

GOP senator backs off threat to read health bill
Republican Sen. Tom Coburn is backing off his threat to require that the Senate read the 2,074-page health care bill because some GOP colleagues aren't supporting the effort.

Health bill helps wavering Louisiana senator
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care bill has millions of dollars to help Louisiana finance Medicaid at a time when he is hoping that state's wavering Democratic senator will support overhaul legislation.

Sen. Lugar's wife charged with DWI and hit-and-run
The wife of U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar has been charged with drunken driving and hit-and-run after police said she hit a parked car in northern Virginia.

Army fears anti-Obama politics at Palin event
Officials at Fort Bragg in North Carolina say they don't want Monday's book-signing there by Sarah Palin to turn into an opportunity for political grandstanding against President Barack Obama.

Reid: Congress closer than ever to health overhaul
The Senate Democratic leader says Congress is closer than ever to overhauling the nation's health care system.

Unclear if Giuliani is running for New York governor
Will Rudy Giuliani run for governor of New York and help the faltering Republican Party?

GOP governors assail health care plans
GOP governors are blistering Democratic health care plans in Congress. They say the legislation will result in crippling costs to states already grappling with huge budget deficits in a recession.

Senate confirms controversial judge
The Senate has confirmed David Hamilton for the Chicago-based federal appeals court after Democrats stopped a Republican filibuster.

Official says Sanford reporting trips
A South Carolina ethics official says Gov. Mark Sanford wants to report previously unrecorded flights he took on planes owned by friends and campaign donors.

Senate Dems to make government plan widely available
Congressional budget experts say the new Senate health care bill would make a government health plan widely available.

Feinstein seeks national energy standards for TVs
Sen. Dianne Feinstein is encouraging the Obama administration to adopt new energy efficiency standards for televisions, similar to those just approved in her home state of California.

Jury begins deliberations in Baltimore mayor trial
The jury is deliberating in the theft and misconduct trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.

Sen. Kerry's daughter arrested in LA on DUI
The daughter of Sen. John Kerry has been arrested in Hollywood for allegedly driving drunk.

Hearing on Fort Hood shootings today
The first Capitol Hill hearing on the Fort Hood shootings is set for this morning.

GOP promises big health care fight
An early showdown over health care reform is expected on the Senate floor by week's end now that Majority Leader Harry Reid has unveiled the Democrats' bill.

GAO: Fraud in government contracts for disabled vets
A $4 billion government program is designed to help disabled military veterans who run small businesses. But congressional investigators charge that in some instances, the money is going to companies that aren't small businesses, or even run by veterans.

Convicted ex-congressman to remain free on appeal
A former Louisiana congressman who was sentenced to 13 years in prison on bribery charges will be allowed to remain free on bond while he appeals his conviction.

Reid unveils new health bill
Senate Democrats have rolled out health care reform legislation they say will save lives, save money and protect Medicare.

Ethics panel weighing Sanford charges
South Carolina's State Ethics Commission has begun hearing details on a three-month investigation to decide if there's evidence that Gov. Mark Sanford broke state ethics laws.

Obama 'probably won't' read Palin's book
Sarah Palin's new book may already be a best-seller, but President Barack Obama says he probably won't read it.

Vote expected Thursday
The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on a bill that could have an impact on seniors enrolled in Medicare.

Big crowds as Palin kicks off book tour
Hundreds of people are lining up at a Michigan bookstore for a chance to meet Sarah Palin as she kicks off her national book tour.

More than $98 billion in improper government payments
A government financial report says government waste in fiscal 2009 is up $26 billion over the previous year.

Senators blast Web sites for scamming shoppers
A Senate panel has condemned the confusing and aggressive sales tactics of three online companies.

Congressman defends 'savage religion' comment
An Illinois congressman says his comment that suspected terrorists detained at Guantanamo Bay follow a "savage religion" has been misinterpreted.

GOP says zero support for Senate financial reform bill
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says there is no support within his party for the financial overhaul plan outlined last week by Democrats.

Palin says presidential run in 2012 "not on my radar screen"
In her latest broadcast interview, Sarah Palin tells Barbara Walters that running for president in 2012 is "not on my radar screen."

Conservative 'unconcedes' in New York U.S. House race
Democrat Bill Owens was sworn into Congress after he was declared the winner but now a Conservative Party candidate has withdrawn his concession in the close special election.

Fiorina has balancing act in California Senate race
In the weeks since Carly Fiorina announced her run for a California Senate seat, the former Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive has been working to convince conservatives that she is one of them.

Capuano says electing Coakley senator would be mistake
Rep. Michael Capuano says Massachusetts voters would make a mistake if they sent Martha Coakley to the U.S. Senate instead of him.

Towns says government didn't force deal
A senior House Democrat says the government didn't force Bank of America to take over Merrill Lynch and bank executives knew they had little chance of legally being able to back out of the deal.

Cheney to endorse Hutchison
Former Vice President Dick Cheney is stepping to the side of Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Feds to crack down on phony flu products
Sen. Charles Schumer says the federal government is notifying 10 companies in a crackdown on phony remedies to the swine flu now on the market.

South Carolina lawmaker says affair not enough to impeach Sanford
The state's House speaker says the embattled governor should not face impeachment simply because he left to see his Argentine lover over the summer.

Fox's Major Garrett gets Obama interview
President Barack Obama will give an interview to Fox News Channel's Major Garrett, perhaps signaling a thaw in relations between the network and administration.

Byrd becomes longest-serving Congress member
Sen. Robert Byrd says he's looking forward to the next 56 years and 320 days.

Democrats end GOP court filibuster
Democrats ended a Senate filibuster against a controversial appeals court nominee and showed Republicans they can't stop President Barack Obama from turning the federal judiciary to the left.

Ad in Florida Senate race mimics Obama ad
Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who criticizes Gov. Charlie Crist for being a fan of President Barack Obama's stimulus package, is himself a fan of one of Obama's campaign ads.

Palin tells Winfrey she prays for Levi Johnston
Sarah Palin says it's "a bit heartbreaking" to see the road the father of her grandson has taken.

Biden to help Dodd raise campaign cash
Campaign officials for Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd say Vice President Joe Biden will visit Hartford on Dec. 11 for a fundraiser for the senator, who is trailing in the polls in his 2010 re-election bid.

Group urges gov't to invest in electric cars
A group of automakers, utilities and battery makers is urging the federal government to make a major investment in electric transportation.

US court rejects case about Redskins name
The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from a group of Native Americans who think the name of the Washington Redskins professional football team is offensive.

Dems, GOP split on NY trials of alleged terrorists
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and other Republicans said Sunday that putting suspected terrorists on trial in New York created unnecessary security issues and indicated the Obama administration's skewed take on the "war on terrorism."

Clinton says she's not running for NY governor
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is waving off rumors that she is considering a run for governor of New York. And former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says he hasn't decided whether he'll run.

Milwaukee mayor hailed as hero to run for governor
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who was hailed as a hero this summer for confronting a metal-bar wielding man, is running for governor.

Clinton: Would look forward to coffee with Palin
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she would be happy to talk to Sarah Palin over coffee.

Gates blocks release of detainee abuse photos
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has blocked the public release of any more pictures of foreign detainees abused by their U.S. captors, using authority given to him by Congress.

Lawmakers brush off Obama calls to delay Fort Hood hearings
President Barack Obama's plea for Congress to hold off on investigations into the Fort Hood shooting isn't deterring lawmakers.

Govt: Medicare paid $47 billion in suspect claims
The government paid more than $47 billion in questionable Medicare claims including medical treatment showing little relation to a patient's condition, wasting taxpayer dollars at a rate nearly three times the previous year.

Republican bashes Dems over health care proposals
A Republican lawmaker says House Democrats missed opportunities to improve the House-passed health care bill by not listening to GOP suggestions.

Obama urges Congress to put off Fort Hood probe
President Barack Obama is urging Congress to hold off on any investigation into the Fort Hood rampage.

Holder says 9/11 cases on firm legal footing
Attorney General Eric Holder insists the case against self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged henchmen is on solid legal ground, after announcing the men will be tried in a civilian court in lower Manhattan.

Pelosi says health bill would limit abortion access
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is agreeing with critics who say an amendment included in the health care bill passed by the House would additionally limit access to abortion.

Jefferson sentenced for bribery
The former Louisiana congressman found to have $90,000 in his freezer more than four years ago has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Hutchison won't resign seat before Texas primary
Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is challenging Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his job, is planning to keep her U.S. Senate seat until after the state's March gubernatorial primary.

Etheridge declines to challenge Burr
North Carolina Rep. Bob Etheridge says he will not to run for the U.S. Senate next year.

Leahy supports bringing Mohammed to New York for trial
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says the decision to take Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantamao detainees to New York to put them on trial in a federal civilian court is the right one.

Palin book goes after McCain camp but not Levi
When her memoir Going Rogue comes out next week, Sarah Palin will embark on a book tour that will take her to many of the same spots she visited as the Republican vice presidential candidate last year.

Mrs. Obama says health overhaul will help older women
First lady Michelle Obama is assuring older women they won't be lose Medicare benefits through a health care overhaul and the legislation is designed to bring down their health care costs.

Patrick says no quid pro quo in Kraft donations
Gov. Deval Patrick says there's no connection between big donations to him from the Kraft family and the state's support for development across the road from Gillette Stadium.

FDA questions safety of alcoholic energy drinks
The Food and Drug Administration is challenging makers of alcohol-infused energy drinks to prove their beverages are safe, citing complaints that the products can cause dangerous behavior and injury.

Obama eyes domestic spending freeze
The White House has told domestic agencies to assume their budgets will be frozen or even cut by 5 percent as it signals a big push to take on the deficit next year.

Napolitano pronounces U.S. border more secure now
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says many of the benchmarks Congress set in 2007 for border security have been met.

RNC health insurance plan covers abortions
The Republican National Committee's health insurance plan covers elective abortions for its employees -- an option Republicans strongly oppose including in the health care overhaul.

Winning margin in upstate New York U.S. House race shrinks
It turns out that the special election in New York for a U.S. House seat may not be over after all.

Pelosi endorsing Capuano in Massachusetts Senate race
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is backing U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano in the special election for the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy.

Palin confirms tension with McCain aides
Sarah Palin says rumors that the McCain-Palin campaign was not a happy family are true.

Kaine out of town for DNC as his state floods
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine headed to Arkansas for a Democratic fundraiser while his state is under an emergency declaration because of heavy rain and floods.

Patrick Kennedy clashes with outspoken bishop
A feud between Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Rhode Island's Roman Catholic bishop threatens to spiritually exile the son of the nation's most famous Catholic family.

ACORN says U.S. funding cut was unconstitutional
ACORN has filed a lawsuit claiming that Congress violated the Constitution when it passed a law cutting off federal funding to the organization.

Bloomberg shakes hands with terrorism associate
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he would not have shaken the hand of a character witness for a convicted terrorist if he had known about his history.

Ex-Pennsylvania House speaker among 10 charged in probe
John Perzel is among 10 people connected to the House Republican caucus who are being charged in a new phase of a legislative corruption probe.

Obama announces summit in December on finding jobs
President Barack Obama says he's organizing a wide-ranging White House jobs summit to "talk about how we can work together" to create jobs.

Ex-lineman says he might run for Congress
Former Philadelphia Eagles lineman Jon Runyan says he's considering running for Congress.

Reid eyes payroll tax hike on wealthy
Democratic officials say Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering higher payroll taxes on the wealthy as part of a bill to overhaul the health care system.

Marine hopes to unseat Filner
A decorated Marine veteran famously photographed smoking a cigar after the fall of Baghdad is running for Congress in California's most southern district.

Kirk says Palin memo not sign of shifting to the right
Senate candidate Mark Kirk says reaching out to Sarah Palin was not a sign that he's shifting to the right in an effort to win over conservative Republicans.

Ron Paul's son borrows tactics for Senate bid
Former presidential candidate Ron Paul's son is borrowing a page from his father's playbook for his U.S. Senate bid in Kentucky.

Husband of retired Justice O'Connor dies
John J. O'Connor III, the husband of retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, has died.

State representative to challenge John Salazar
State Rep. Scott Tipton is getting into the race to represent Colorado's 3rd Congressional District.

Biden hosts luncheon for military and veterans
Vice President Joe Biden says it is "sacred duty" of the United States to provide for active duty members of the military as well as care for their families.

Sen. Lindsey Graham censured by SC county GOP
Republican leaders in a South Carolina county have censured their own U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham for working with Democrats on a climate bill and other legislation.

UN chief prods Senate to tackle climate change
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is pressing the Senate to take action on climate change, but key senators are making it clear that is unlikely to happen this year.

Capuano: I'll oppose health bill over abortion
A day after criticizing Attorney General Martha Coakley for saying she would have voted against a health care reform bill because it contained an anti-abortion amendment, Rep. Michael Capuano said through an aide that he'll oppose a final version of the bill unless the amendment is eliminated.

Kennedy says he's troubled by bishop's comments
U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy says recent comments by Rhode Island's Roman Catholic bishop questioning the congressman's faith because of his stance on abortion and health care reform were "very disconcerting."

Cantor: No retaliation against Cao
The Republican leader responsible for rounding up GOP House votes says he strongly disagrees with Louisiana Rep. Ahn "Joseph" Cao's decision to break party ranks on health care reform.

Police arrest six protesters at Lieberman's office
U.S. Capitol Police say six protesters have been arrested at Sen. Joseph Lieberman's office in Washington.

White House communications chief to step down
The White House's top communications aide is stepping down at the end of the month and will be replaced by her deputy.

Dodd circulates financial overhaul bill
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd is circulating legislation that would give the government sweeping new powers to prevent another economic collapse, including the ability to dismantle failing institutions and increased oversight of lenders to consumers.

Bill Clinton to meet with Senate Dems on health care
Former President Bill Clinton knows just how high the political stakes are in the fight to overhaul America's health care system.

Palin says she back on Twitter
Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says she's back on Twitter.

Obama willing to go to Copenhagen for climate deal
President Barack Obama said Monday that he'd be willing to attend an international climate summit in Copenhagen next month if it appears a deal is in the offing and his presence there would help clinch it.

Conn. governor decides not to seek another term
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says she will not seek re-election next year.

Abortion foes seek curbs in Senate health bill
Abortion opponents in the Senate want tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, similar to the limits passed by the House this past weekend.

Clinton, Bush cancel LA, NY appearances
Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have canceled February appearances in Los Angeles and New York because a promoter wrongly billed the events as debates.

House health bill unacceptable to many in Senate
As the focus on health care reform shifts to the Senate, analysts aren't expecting the chamber to pass an overhaul bill any time soon.

Lawmaker wants probe of E. coli and school lunches
A California congressman is asking for an investigation into the risk of E. coli bacteria getting into school lunches.

Obama will meet Netanyahu at White House
The White House announced Sunday that President Barack Obama would be meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israeli prime minister's trip to Washington to address Jewish groups, ending days of uncertainty.

GOP lawmaker says Dems put agenda ahead of country
A top House Republican says passage of the health care bill shows that Democrats didn't get the message from voters last week and in summer town-hall meetings.

Voter anger opens a door for GOP's Lazio
The wave of voter anger aimed at incumbents in last Tuesday's off-year elections is just what an against-all-odds campaign in New York's governor's race needed.

Senator: Senate will investigate Army shootings
The chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee says he plans to begin a congressional investigation of the shootings at Fort Hood.

Casey: Shootings leading to a hard look at Army
The Army's chief of staff says the Army is taking a hard look at itself to make certain that something like the Fort Hood rampage doesn't happen again.

Obama says it's now Senate's turn on health care
President Barack Obama says it's now up to the Senate to take the baton from the House and pass a bill aimed at overhauling the nation's health care system.

High court to look at life in prison for juveniles
A cruel and unusual punishment question is before the Supreme Court, which has never before overruled a sentence on that basis, except when it involved the death penalty.

Abortion coverage out of health overhaul
The House has voted not to let the government run health care plan provide coverage for abortion, except for cases of rape, incest, or where the woman's life is in danger.

Utah Democrat opposes House health care plan
Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah's lone Democratic congressman, says he will vote against his party's sweeping health care overhaul package.

Iran, North Korea top Clinton's overseas agenda
Nuclear impasses with Iran and North Korea are the dominant issues for Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on her trip to Europe and Asia, which begins with a stopover in Germany to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall.

Pelosi: Obama visit inspired Democrats
House Democratic leaders say President Barack Obama, who made a quick trip to Capitol Hill, inspired their party to pass health care legislation.

2010 elections: Democratic fears, Republican hopes
Nervous Democrats are on defense and emboldened Republicans sense opportunity heading into 2010 and the midterm elections.

Gift card scandal could sink Baltimore mayor
Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon is about to put her political future in the hands of a jury.

GOP: Democratic health care plan should be "withdrawn and reworked"
Republicans say Democrats should scrap their ambitious health care legislation in favor of more modest changes.

Frank takes dig at colleague in health care debate
Democratic Rep. Barney Frank took a dig Friday at the Republican lawmaker who organized a protest by conservatives against health care legislation.

House Dems say Sat. vote on health care may slip
The White House says President Barack Obama regrets a delay in plans for a House vote on sweeping health care legislation and that he'll visit Capitol Hill Saturday to personally lobby for it.

Ex-Trail Blazer eyes Oregon governor's race
Chris Dudley is in a new arena taking aim at a governor's chair and Oregon's Republicans think he can score.

Obama signs homebuyer, jobless bill assistance
President Barack Obama signed into law a $24 billion economic stimulus bill providing tax incentives to prospective homebuyers and extending unemployment benefits to the longtime jobless who have been left behind as the economy veers toward recovery.

Paterson launches statewide campaign ads
Democratic Gov. David Paterson has launched a multimillion dollar, statewide TV ad campaign — the first in the 2010 governor's race.

Quinn says he wouldn't opt out of health plan
Gov. Pat Quinn says Illinois should not try to opt out of a national health care plan if one passes in Washington.

GOP senators back Fiorina's Senate bid
Carly Fiorina has collected the endorsement of eight GOP senators, a day after announcing a run for the U.S. Senate in California.

Southern Dems cast wary eye at election results
Southern Democrats who watched the trouncing of their party's gubernatorial nominee in Virginia this week are starting to worry that a rising anti-Democratic tide in the South may reverse their hard-fought gains from the last two national elections.

Anti-abortion activists arrested at Pelosi's suite
U.S. Capitol Police have arrested a dozen anti-abortion activists outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office after a massive protest against the Democrats' health care bill.

Senate Democrats advance climate bill without GOP
Senate Democrats sidestepped a Republican boycott pushing a climate bill out of committee in an early step on a long and contentious road to passage.

Chris Christie back on Democrats' turf
New Jersey's Republican governor-elect is making traditional Democratic strongholds the focus of his first post-election appearances.

Feinstein still pondering gubernatorial bid
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she will base a decision on whether to run for California governor next year largely on the solutions the announced candidates put forward to deal with the state's fiscal problems.

Congress votes for more aid to jobless and homebuyers
Congress took further steps to right the staggering economy by expanding a popular tax credit for homebuyers and extending unemployment checks for the growing legions of people running out of benefits.

Majority leader: House will pass health bill
The second-ranking House Democrat predicted that historic health care legislation will be passed Saturday as the AARP, the nation's premier lobbying group for the elderly, announced it was signing on to the bill.

Thousands rally to protest health care bill
Thousands of conservatives are rallying at the Capitol against the Democrats' health care overhaul plan.

South Carolina high court says Sanford's ethics probe is public
South Carolina's Supreme Court says the ethics investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford's travel can't be kept secret.

House Dem health care bill gets big boost
President Barack Obama is trumpeting an endorsement from the AARP and support from the American Medical Association for House Democrats' health care legislation.

Brewer running for full term as Arizona governor
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is running for a full term in next year's elections.

Senate blocks census US-citizenship question
Senate Democrats have blocked a GOP attempt to require next year's census forms to ask people whether they are a U.S. citizen.

House Democrats aim for Saturday vote
The House is pushing toward a historic vote this weekend on President Barack Obama's proposed 10-year, $1.2 trillion health care overhaul.

AP sources: Obama plans trip to Capitol on Friday
President Barack Obama plans a trip to Capitol Hill this week to meet with lawmakers as his push for health care legislation moves forward.

Voters to pols: Give us jobs, results, not spats
Voters' memo to politicians: We're angry and fearful, mostly about jobs and the economy. We want tangible solutions, not partisan bickering or intraparty spats. And we'll vote either party out of office if we don't think you're listening.

Democrats say elections won't stop health care
Far from chastened by off-year election setbacks, congressional Democrats vowed no let-up in the drive to pass controversial health care.

Illinois Senate candidate sought Palin support
Senate candidate Mark Kirk sought support from Sarah Palin as he faces criticism from more conservative Republicans in Illinois.

Texas governor says election showed discontent
Rick Perry says the elections of Republican governors in New Jersey and Virginia this week signal a dissatisfaction with policies in Washington.

Former surgeon general's letter prompts scare
An unstamped letter from former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop turned into a security scare Wednesday as U.S. Capitol Police closed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office for about 45 minutes.

GOP victory in New Jersey ensures focus on gay marriage
Republican Chris Christie's win in New Jersey's governor's race puts more pressure on gay rights advocates to get a same-sex marriage law enacted quickly.

House Dem attacks Obama on immigrants
A House Democrat is accusing President Barack Obama of dehumanizing illegal immigrants with his hard-line stance against allowing them to benefit from pending health overhaul legislation.

AARP to endorse House health care bill
In a coup for House Democrats, officials say AARP will endorse sweeping health care overhaul legislation headed for a history-making floor vote.

Three senators join forces to rescue climate bill
A trio of senators — each with differing politics — is launching a rescue effort for troubled climate legislation.

Kaine downplays link between GOP sweep, Obama
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine says Democratic losses in Virginia and New Jersey had more to do with local issues than the first-year performance of President Barack Obama.

Dems agonize over why party didn't do more in NYC
Democrats are agonizing over what might have happened if the national party had not abandoned the challenger who came close to unseating New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

White House: Tuesday's GOP wins not about Obama
The White House says that Republican wins in two governors' races were not referendums on the president.

Analysis: Nervous voters send message to Obama
Voters nervous about the economy and fed up with the political establishment dominated the off-year elections, sending a strong message to President Barack Obama, who won the White House as a change agent but has himself become the face of political power and incumbency.

Fiorina announces U.S. Senate run
Former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina has announced her bid for the U.S. Senate seat held by liberal stalwart Barbara Boxer of California.

Steele: Election returns show 'transcendent' GOP
Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele is asserting that GOP victories in governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia demonstrate "a transcendent party" on the move again.

Lamont forms exploratory committee
Ned Lamont, the Greenwich businessman who defeated Joseph Lieberman in a Democratic primary in the 2006 U.S. Senate race, has formed an exploratory committee for statewide office.

Palin book tour to start Nov. 18
Oprah Winfrey is only the beginning for Sarah Palin's book tour.

A year later, being president harder than it looks
It's been a year since President Barack Obama was elected and it hasn't been an easy one.

House holds hearing on shortage of H1N1 vaccine
A House committee looks into the federal response to the H1N1 virus at a hearing today on Capitol Hill.

House to accelerate credit card rules
House Democrats want tougher rules for credit card companies to go into effect by Dec. 1, accelerating by two months the enactment date of legislation previously passed by Congress.

Defeat in Maine a harsh blow to same-sex marriage drive
The stars seemed aligned for supporters of same-sex marriage. They had Maine's governor, legislative leaders and major newspapers on their side, plus a huge edge in campaign funding. So losing a landmark referendum was a devastating blow, for activists in Maine and nationwide.

McDonnell elected Virginia governor
Republican Bob McDonnell wooed Virginia's independent voters to win a landslide election just a year after the state bucked tradition and voted for Barack Obama.

Christie wins New Jersey governor's race
Republican Chris Christie has been elected the state's next leader over Democrat Gov. Jon Corzine.

Lawmaker wants sick pay for workers with swine flu
A senior House lawmaker is asking Congress to guarantee paid sick leave to workers if their employer asks them to stay home with swine flu or a similar contagious illness.

Bloomberg wins third term
Voters in New York City have decided to keep the billionaire in office for another four years.

Pittsburgh's young mayor wins first full-term
Pittsburgh's 29-year-old mayor beat two independent candidates to win his first full term in office.

Obama budget director pledges deficit action next year
President Barack Obama's top budget official promised Tuesday that the administration will try next year to wrestle the skyrocketing budget deficit under control to avoid higher interest rates and putting the health of the economy in jeopardy.

Waxman: Decisions threaten progress on steroids
A key lawmaker says recent court decisions blocking suspensions of two NFL players threaten to undermine progress made in reducing performance-enhancing drug use among athletes at all levels.

Merkel addressing U.S. lawmakers
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is making the case for a global deal on climate change to a skeptical audience: members of the U.S. Congress.

Tapes show Kennedy was conflicted over Saigon coup
Newly released White House tapes from the Vietnam War era portray President John F. Kennedy wrestling over the fate of South Vietnam's strongman in a situation that appears to mirror President Barack Obama's quandary today in dealing with Afghanistan's shaky government.

Democrats favored in Northern Calif. House race
While a hotly contested congressional seat in upstate New York has generated national attention, a similar special election in Northern California has drawn little outside interest.

Colorado voters weigh pot, driving rules in elections
It's election day for many Colorado municipalities, and this year's ballots include questions on legalizing marijuana and taking away cars from people driving without licenses.

Lincoln to meet with Obama on health overhaul
U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln is meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss proposals to overhaul the nation's health care system.

Lawmakers seek ban on laptops in airliner cockpits
Lawmakers are moving to ban the use of computer laptops and other personal electronic devices in airline cockpits to prevent another incident like the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles.

Gore expects Obama to attend December climate talks
Former Vice President Al Gore says he believes President Barack Obama will attend the December climate talks in Copenhagen to emphasize his administration's commitment to safeguarding the environment.

GOP senators balk on votes on climate change
Republican senators on Monday demanded additional studies on the cost and job impact of a climate bill before it is voted on by a key committee, exposing the sharp partisan divide in Congress over legislation aimed at addressing global warming.

Boehner regrets backing Scozzafava in NY race
The House Republican leader says he regrets that he and other members of his party spent time and money supporting the GOP nominee in a special House election in upstate New York.

New business coalition opposes House health bill
Eleven of the nation's largest business groups are airing a multimillion-dollar TV ad campaign that says the health overhaul legislation in the House would raise taxes and worsen the economy without curbing medical expenses.

Senate nears vote on jobless aid, housing credit
The Senate is moving toward approving a major economic relief bill that extends benefits to the jobless and expands a first-time home buyer tax credit.

Middle class would pay thousands for health care
Government experts say some middle-class families would still face a big budget hit for health care, even with the new help that Democrats want to provide.

Bloomberg, lead shrinking, makes final pitch
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his Democratic challenger spent the final day of the campaign shoring up support and readying their get-out-the-vote forces.

Obama to Afghan president: Time for a new chapter
President Barack Obama says he spoke to Afghan President Hamid Karzai to congratulate him on his second-term victory and to call for a "new chapter" of better governance after the tumultuous and fraud-ridden election.

Congress extends benefits to military spouses
Congress is sending to the president a bill that allows military spouses to claim residency in the same state as their wives or husbands.

Biden lends hand in upstate NY congressional race
Vice President Joe Biden is helping out a Democratic congressional candidate in the final hours of an upstate New York campaign that has become a referendum on the Republican Party.

Romney: Obama economic stimulus plan is a failure
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney says the time has come to stop the economic stimulus program, contending that it has not worked as the Obama administration planned.

Cheney FBI interview: 72 instances of can't recall
Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald famously declared in the Valerie Plame affair that "there is a cloud over the vice president." Last week's release of an FBI interview summary of Dick Cheney's answers in the criminal investigation underscores why Fitzgerald felt that way.

Conn. Democrats file complaint against McMahon
The head of the Connecticut Democrats has filed a federal elections complaint against Republican Linda McMahon, claiming the former wrestling executive received corporate help for her U.S. Senate race.

Future of GOP and moderates in party uncertain
If moderate Republicans had any fears about their future within a party riven by factional infighting, the surprise exit of the Republican in the race for a rock-solid Republican congressional seat has to leave them wondering if they're welcome at all in today's GOP.

Maine voters to pass judgment on gay marriage
Gay marriage has lost in every single state in which it has been put to a popular vote. Come Election Day, gay-rights supporters are hoping to make Maine the exception.

NYC voters consider third term for billionaire mayor
How badly does Michael Bloomberg want a third term as mayor of New York? The billionaire is spending $35,000 an hour out of his own pocket.

Newspaper reluctantly endorses Corzine
Gov. Jon Corzine has received the endorsement of The Gloucester County Times, even though the newspaper believes another candidate is the best choice.

Limbaugh: Obama wants to take big chunk of economy
Rush Limbaugh says President Barack Obama's bid to overhaul the health care system is a government attempt to seize control of a big chunk of the country's economy.

GOP House leader says moderates wanted in party
House Republican leader John Boehner says the GOP wants moderates in the party and calls the special election for a New York congressional seat an unusual situation.

Obama goes to NJ for final pitch of '09 elections
President Barack Obama is making a last-minute campaign appearance for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election bid.