National politics from inRich.com

Inaugural tickets will be few

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Talk about political long shots. Tens of thousands of Virginians are asking congressional offices for tickets to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration Jan. 20.

Pelosi says House will aid U.S. automakers

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:09:51 -0500

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that the House would provide aid to the ailing U.S. auto industry, requiring that automakers meet new fuel-efficiency standards, produce advanced vehicles and restructure "to ensure their long-term economic viability." Pelosi, D-Calif., did not disclose the amount of funding House leaders intend to seek for the industry -- automakers have been seeking $25 billion in loans to stabilize their sinking companies. But she said the funding should come from the $700 billion financial bailout approved by Congress in October.

Clinton may be in line to run State Dept.

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:09:55 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama is considering Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his secretary of state, Democrats said yesterday. Such an appointment would transform the former first lady, his fierce campaign foe, into one of his top Cabinet officials and the nation's chief diplomatic voice.

GOP governors' chief

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:09:52 -0500

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is the new chairman of the Republican Governors Association. The association has been meeting this week in Miami, and some discussions have revolved around what went wrong for the party on Election Day. Sanford said in an interview that Republicans have lost their way. He said they campaigned as conservatives and governed in a different way and there were electoral consequences.

Boehner challenged for House GOP leadership

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:09:46 -0500

A conservative lawmaker challenged House GOP Leader John A. Boehner for his job yesterday after Republicans lost at least 20 seats in last week's elections. In entering the race, California Rep. Dan Lungren said Republicans in the House can't go back to business as usual by rubber-stamping the Ohio lawmaker for another two-year term as leader. Lungren says next week's election for leader will say volumes about how House Republicans are reacting to the American people's verdict on Election Day.

Nations look for financial answers at summit

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:08:52 -0500

World leaders began extraordinary talks yesterday on the economic crisis gripping the globe -- searching for ways to limit the carnage and prevent future calamities.

Inaugural braces for 1 million

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., is asking inaugural officials for a little help after receiving more than 26,000 calls and e-mails from constituents asking for tickets to President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in.

Palin rallies governors

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:09:53 -0500

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called on fellow Republican governors to keep the new president and his strengthened Democratic majority in check on issues from taxes to health care as she signaled she'll take a leadership role in a party searching for a new standard-bearer.

Obama to quit seat Sunday

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:09:53 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama said yesterday that he will resign from the Senate effective Sunday. Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich will name Obama's replacement for the remaining two years of his term. Blagojevich has said he expects to make a decision by year's end and has ruled out appointing himself. Obama's resignation reduces the Democratic majority to a bare minimum for the post-election session that begins next week.

McCain stumps for Chambliss

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:09:53 -0500

Republican John McCain implored Georgia voters yesterday to back Sen. Saxby Chambliss in next month's runoff, warning that Democrats will increase taxes and cut defense spending and the GOP needs to strengthen its ranks. "I didn't think I'd be back on the campaign trail quite this early," McCain told 1,500 people in his first political appearance since losing the presidency to Barack Obama last week.

Clinton Cabinet rumor returns

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:09:53 -0500

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is among the candidates President-elect Barack Obama is considering for secretary of state, according to two Democratic officials in contact with the transition team.

No rite for Obama voters, priest says

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:09:52 -0500

A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama.

Obama to pioneer Internet outreach

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Transition officials call it Obama 2.0 -- an ambitious effort to transform the president-elect's vast Web operation and database of supporters into a new tool to accomplish his goals in the White House. If it works, President-elect Barack Obama could have an unprecedented ability to appeal for help from millions of Americans.

U.S. shifts bailout strategy

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Urgently shifting course, the Bush administration is abandoning the centerpiece of its massive $700 billion economic-rescue plan and exploring new ways to shore up not only banks but also credit-card, auto-loan and other huge nonbank businesses.

The 'What If' scenarios of the Presidency

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:23:31 -0500

Among his firsts, Barack Obama on Jan. 20 will become the first new president sworn in since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Inauguration a hot ticket

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Virginians scramble to be part of the history of Obama's swearing-in.

Bushes, Obamas talk of dollars, kids

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

The president and Barack Obama talked of war and the financial crisis. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama talked about raising daughters in the nation's most famous house.

4th Circuit Court could be reshaped

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

As president, Barack Obama's picks could swing the Richmond-based court to one with a majority named by Democratic presidents.

Thousands rally for Obama in Richmond

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told a crowd of almost 20,000 that 'the change we need won't come easy.'

Inheriting crises, Obama may look to predecessors

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 00:09:54 -0500

All presidents are tested. Few walk into the Oval Office when the nation is in the throes of multiple crises. Like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President-elect Obama is facing a banking emergency. Like Abraham Lincoln, Obama is trying to patch up national divisions. And like Richard Nixon, George W. Bush and others, Obama will be commander in chief over U.S. troops in combat.

Obama prepares to lead

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 00:09:54 -0500

Barack Obama, in his first radio address as president-elect, said political adversaries must work together to help the nation overcome an economic crisis. "Here in America we can compete vigorously in elections and challenge each other's ideas, yet come together in service of a common purpose once the voting is done," Obama said in the Democrats' weekly radio address yesterday. "And that is particularly important at a moment when we face the most serious challenges of our lifetime."

Democrats press Bush for auto aid

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 00:09:52 -0500

Democratic leaders in Congress asked the Bush administration yesterday to provide more aid to the struggling auto industry, which is bleeding cash and jobs as sales have dropped to their lowest level in a quarter-century. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. that the administration should consider expanding the $700 billion bailout to include car companies.

Stakes in war on terror remain high, Cheney says

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 00:08:58 -0500

Vice President Dick Cheney said yesterday that terrorists remain a strategic threat to this country, more than seven years after they struck the United States.

Obama vows quick action on economy

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Even Barack Obama can't change the calendar. The president-elect said yesterday that he wanted to act urgently and deal "head on" with the nation's economic crisis. But he recognized that his power was limited by the fact that George Bush will be running things until Jan. 20.

Obama's win suggests region desires change

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 00:08:58 -0500

You'd think that Barack Obama's pitch for change would be a hard-sell for central Virginia. Beyond partisan politics, status quo is hardwired into our DNA. In state and national elections, that usually leaves the city of Richmond as an island of liberalism surrounded by a sea of conservatism.

Cantor may take No. 2 House GOP leader post

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri is stepping down as the No. 2 Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, apparently clearing the way for Virginia Rep. Eric I. Cantor.

Bush paving way for Obama to take over

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

President Bush and Barack Obama on Monday will hold their first substantive talks about the nation's daunting priorities as the transition to a Democratic administration accelerates.

Obama's picks show shift

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:09:53 -0500

Barack Obama is signaling a shift in tactics and temperament, as he moves from candidate to president-elect, by picking sharp-elbowed Washington insiders for top posts.

Message boards for Obama set up

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:09:53 -0500

The notes come from young and old and in many languages. "We love you!" "I came to vote for the first time because of you." "The U.S. should be proud." Between the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool, message boards have been set up for people to write messages to President-elect Barack Obama. The boards were put up Wednesday afternoon by Avaaz.org -- avaaz means voice in many languages. The liberal global advocacy group received permission from the National Park Service, said Brett Solomon, campaign director for the New York-based Avaaz.org.

Merkley ousts incumbent in Ore.

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:09:52 -0500

Democrat Jeff Merkley has ousted Republican Sen. Gordon Smith in Oregon, a victory once considered unlikely against an incumbent who had highlighted his efforts to work across the aisle in hopes of surviving a wave of anti-GOP sentiment. Three other Senate races remained undecided yesterday. Smith's loss -- the first for an incumbent Oregon senator in 40 years -- means Democrats are poised to have at least 57 votes in the Senate next year.

Palin role in GOP rebuilding discussed

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:09:52 -0500

Is Sarah Palin the answer for defeated Republicans? After a rebuke at the polls, the party has no certain leader in sight, and its membership is divided over what it means to be a Republican. Palin, the 44-year-old Alaska governor, was the star of the GOP ticket after her selection in late August as John McCain's running mate, though views of her vary wildly across the political spectrum. Now, she could be one of many people competing to influence Republican ideas in the postBush era, maybe even as the party's leader.

Richmond-area Kenyans rejoice in Obama's win

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:08:58 -0500

Lucy Njuguna knows Barack Obama's heritage by his hands. Select physical attributes are telltale signs of the Kenyan Luo community, of which Obama's father belonged, she said. So is political work. "It's in his blood," shrugged Njuguna, a Kenyan native of a rival ethnic group. Tempered by humility, Njuguna and other Kenyans living in the Richmond area are now sharing their pride that the United States elected not just an African-American president, but a man with roots in East Africa.

Bush will meet with Obama on Monday

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 19:18:20 -0500

President Bush and Barack Obama on Monday will hold their first substantive talks about the nation's daunting priorities as the transition to a Democratic administration accelerates. Bush, soon to return to Texas after two terms in office, ordered employees today to ensure a smooth transfer of power to Obama.

Emanuel accepts job as White House chief of staff

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 14:40:17 -0500

Barack Obama's fellow Chicagoan Rahm Emanuel, the hard-charging No. 4 Democrat in the House, has accepted the job of White House chief of staff, Democratic officials said Thursday.

Economy as an issue - McCain gaffe opened door

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

"No, he didn't!" the worker shouted, as the television showed Sen. John McCain on the stump in Florida. Dan Pfeiffer, Obama's communications director, was walking past a bank of TV sets at Obama's national headquarters. There was the Republican nominee, talking about the unfolding financial crisis. "The fundamentals of our economy are strong," McCain was saying.

Obama begins transition

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama pivoted quickly to begin filling his new administration yesterday, selecting Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff. Several Democrats confirmed that Emanuel had been offered the job.

Obama plot indictments

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:57 -0500

A federal grand jury in Memphis has indicted two white supremacists accused of plotting to kill Democrat Barack Obama and dozens of other black people. Daniel Cowart, 21, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, were arrested last month. They are being held without bond. They were indicted yesterday. Authorities say they plotted a rampage that would end with them attacking Obama. Court records indicate their plot fell apart quickly.

Publishers: Bush should wait

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:57 -0500

a closer look NEW YORK In less than three months, President-elect Barack Obama will take office and the Bush administration will belong to history. With the president reportedly interested in writing about his White House years, publishers have a suggestion: Take your time. "If I were advising President Bush, given how the public feels about him right now, I think patience would probably be something that I would encourage," said Paul Bogaards, executive director of publicity for Alfred A. Knopf, which in 2004 released Bill Clinton's million-selling "My Life."

Voter turnout likely to exceed 60 percent

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:51 -0500

Voters cast their ballots in numbers not seen in at least 40 years. It looks like about 133.3 million people voted for president, based on preliminary results from the country's precincts tallied and projections for absentee ballots, said Michael McDonald of George Mason University. That would be a turnout of 62.5 percent of eligible voters, he said.

4 Senate Republicans' races still undecided

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:48 -0500

A day after the polls closed, four U.S. Senate seats remained undecided and planning was under way for a recount, a runoff and a possible two-week wait for a decision. A slugfest for nearly two years, Minnesota's U.S. Senate race headed for an automatic statewide recount to determine whether Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's bare lead over Democratic challenger Al Franken would stand.

Calif. OKs amendment to ban same-sex marriage

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:46 -0500

Voters put a stop to same-sex marriage in California, dealing a defeat to gay-rights activists in a state they hoped would be a vanguard of their movement. The state's rejection of same-sex unions puts in doubt as many as 18,000 marriages conducted since a court ruling made them legal this year. The gay-rights movement had a rough election elsewhere as well Tuesday. Amendments to ban gay marriage were approved in Arizona and Florida, and Arkansas voters approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents. Supporters made clear that gays and lesbians were the focus of the measure.

Mediator role is urged for McCain

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:46 -0500

Before resting from the presidential race, John McCain began discussing with senior aides what role he will play in the Senate now that he has promised to work with the man who defeated him for president. Democrats have a suggestion: McCain can mediate solutions to partisan standoffs as he did to help avert a constitutional meltdown over judicial confirmations in 2005.

Dominant role once envisioned for GOP gone

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:46 -0500

The Republican Party nationally is essentially in tatters, eight years after President Bush's 2000 election spurred talk of enduring GOP dominance. John McCain's shellacking, along with recent congressional losses, leaves the party searching for a new leader and identity. "It's time for the losing to stop. And my commitment to you is that it will," House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio told his rank and file after the party lost at least 19 congressional seats Tuesday -- on his watch.

36 governorships coming into play

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:09:46 -0500

Their majority of gubernatorial seats larger by one, Democrats are taking aim at key states in 2010, including California, Minnesota and Connecticut. Republicans, who successfully re-elected four incumbents on an election night of big GOP losses elsewhere, want to win back Kansas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, among others. At stake is control over the redrawing of legislative and congressional maps and the chance to influence the 2012 presidential election through governors' bully pulpits and fundraising machines.

VIDEO: Barack Obama's acceptance speech

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 01:44:23 -0500

Full text of Barack Obama's acceptance speech

Joy in D.C. after quadrennial identity check

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 01:40:07 -0500

WASHINGTON - Car and truck horns blared and shouts of joy filled the air in the nation's capital Tuesday night as the TV networks proclaimed Barack Obama the next president.

Obama makes history

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:09:51 -0500

Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States, opening a new chapter in the country's history as the first African-American to lead the nation.

Obama in a cupslide

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:08:52 -0500

The people have spoken. In overwhelming fashion, they have voted for the young senator from Illinois over the Arizona maverick. Of course, votes cast at 7-Eleven don't count.

Throng blocks off Broad Street to celebrate Obama victory

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:02:25 -0500

Students filled the sidewalks in the Fan District and politicians fought back tears.

Obama wins presidency; victory in Virginia is key

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 22:55:39 -0500

Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States Tuesday night, opening a new chapter in the country’s history as the first African-American to hold the world’s most important job.

Color Ohio blue

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 21:39:38 -0500

With Obama’s projected win in Ohio, 10-year-old Camryn and her sister Rayna, 8, colored in one more key state for the man they want to see president.

Blacks, youth among those new to polls this year

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 19:35:03 -0500

Barack Obama was the overwhelming choice of the one in 10 voters who went to the polls for their first time Tuesday — a racially diverse group of mostly twentysomethings, half of whom call themselves Democrats.

McCain campaign complains about ballots in Va.

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 15:12:43 -0500

A senior adviser for John McCain's campaign said in a conference call with reporters this afternoon that they have received a "troubling report" that some electronic voting machines are set up with a two-page ballot but on the first page, the only presidential candidate that appears is Barack Obama. "Senator McCain is not on the first page, and it is causing problems for certain voters to make sure that they know all their options in this election cycle," Ed O'Callaghan said.

In Henrico, Biden greets first-time voter who has sickle-cell anemia

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 15:03:42 -0500

Wayne Phillips voted for the first time today and received a personal thank you from his vice-presidential pick, Sen. Joe Biden. Phillips, 19, voted from the back seat of his aunt and uncle's car, where his sickle-cell anemia kept him confined. Shortly after Phillips cast his ballot for the Democratic presidential ticket, Biden's motorcade rolled into the parking lot at the Montrose Elementary School precinct.

McCain casts ballot in Phoenix, gives thumbs-up

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:15:47 -0500

Republican John McCain has cast his ballot at a church near his central Phoenix home. McCain stepped out of a sport-utility vehicle Tuesday morning with wife Cindy as a small crowd cheered "Go, John, go!" and "We love you!"

Obama votes as people line up to cast ballots

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 10:10:50 -0500

Democrat Barack Obama joined the nation's earliest voters Tuesday as people around the nation began lining up to cast ballots in a historic election pitting Republican John McCain against the man seeking to become the first black president in U.S. history.

Sabato predicts big day for Democrats

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 09:04:00 -0500

Political analyst Larry Sabato predicts a big day for Democrats across the country with Barack Obama getting the nod over Republican John McCain in the White House race.

'We're going to keep Virginia red'

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

John McCain yesterday made a last pitch to Southwest Virginia voters, urging supporters to keep battleground Virginia in the Republican column.

85,000 greet him at Manassas rally

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

Sen. Barack Obama saved his biggest Virginia rally for last -- attracting more than 85,000 people to the Prince William County Fairgrounds on the eve of Election Day.

Obama draws 85,000 in Manassas, largest Va. crowd of campaign

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 22:57:20 -0500

Sen. Barack Obama saved his biggest Virginia rally for last -- bringing out more than 85,000 people to the Prince William County Fairgrounds on the eve of Election Day. The Democratic presidential nominee's final major rally before voters head to the polls brought Obama back to where he kicked off his general election race five months ago -- Northern Virginia.

2nd report clears Palin in ethics probe

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 21:00:26 -0500

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A report has cleared Gov. Sarah Palin of ethics violations in the firing of her public safety commissioner. The report, released Monday, said: "There is no probable cause to believe that the governor, or any other state official, violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in connection with these matters." It was prepared by Timothy Petumenos, an independent counsel for the Alaska Personnel Board. A separate legislative investigation recently concluded that Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, abused her office by allowing her husband and staffers to pressure the public safety commissioner to fire a state trooper who went through a nasty divorce from Palin's sister. The report did not recommend sanctions or a criminal investigation. Palin fired Walter Monegan, but denies his dismissal was related to the trooper. Alaska Personnel Board investigations are normally secret, but the three-member board decided to release this report, citing public interest in the matter given Palin's status as a candidate for national office.

Biden returning to Richmond area on Election Day

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 20:07:50 -0500

Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, will return to the Richmond area on Election Day to greet voters. Biden, joined by his wife Jill, will "meet voters in person, ask for their support, and urge them to get out and vote," according to the Obama campaign. The campaign said it will not release details of the stop beforehand "so that the Bidens can meet with voters informally and without interrupting important get-out-the-vote activities."

McCain tells Va. crowd 'the Mac is back'

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 18:00:00 -0500

Republican presidential candidate John McCain this morning made a last pitch to Southwest Virginia voters, urging several thousand supporters to keep battleground Virginia in the Republican column tomorrow. "Thank you, Virginia. Thank you, Tri-Cities," McCain said at an airport rally in Blountville, Tenn., just over the state line. "This kind of excitement is what wins elections. We're going to win this election tomorrow and we're going to keep Virginia red," he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Thompson barnstorms Va. for McCain, visits Henrico

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 17:37:40 -0500

Former presidential candidate Fred Thompson, joined by a trio of Virginia GOP heavyweights, stopped at Sen. John McCain's Henrico County headquarters this afternoon to rally campaign workers hours before Election Day. "We've passed the 2-minute drill and we've got a minute to go," said former Sen. George Allen, a former college quarterback and son of a Washington Redskins coach.

Obama's grandmother dies a day before election

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 16:52:02 -0500

Barack Obama said his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, had died peacefully after a battle with cancer.

McCain campaign seeks more time to count overseas ballots

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 16:24:37 -0500

The John McCain campaign filed a complaint today asking for 10 extra days to count the votes of late returning ballots from overseas military personnel. The complaint, along with a request for an injunction and temporary restraining order, was filed against officials with Virginia State Board of Elections in federal court on behalf of McCain-Palin 2008, Inc.

McCain, Obama swing through Va. one last time today

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 06:52:39 -0500

With just one day left until the election, both presidential candidates are making stops in Virginia -- a state that experts agree will be crucial to winning the White House. Republican John McCain appears at 11:45 a.m. at Tri-City Regional Airport near Bristol. The event is free and open to the public. Democrat Barack Obama appears at 9 p.m. tonight at the Prince Williams County Fairgrounds in Manassas. The event is free and open to the public.

Obama: 'Feeling good about' chances

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

80,000 at Cleveland rally; he'll finish up in three states, including Virginia, today.

McCain: Gaining momentum, he says at Pa. stop

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0500

He presses argument that foe is too liberal, wrong on taxes, would cut defense spending.

Huckabee, Clinton stump for ex-rivals

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 00:09:55 -0500

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Virginia yesterday to campaign for their former presidential rivals.

Huckabee, Clinton in Virginia to boost former rivals

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 20:39:06 -0500

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Virginia yesterday to campaign for their former presidential rivals. Huckabee, runner-up to McCain in Virginia's Republican presidential primary, urged worshippers at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg to vote with their values concerning abortion, marriage and a low-tax economy.

In Va. stops, McCain pushes for comeback

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0400

Republican presidential nominee John McCain yesterday urged supporters in the population centers of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to "not give up hope" in his quest for the state's 13 electoral votes.

Obama campaigns in traditional GOP states

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0400

Democrat Barack Obama made one last push yesterday through the West, looking to secure victories in traditionally Republican Nevada and Colorado. Obama held an outdoor rally in Henderson before flying to Pueblo, Colo., a heavily Hispanic city two hours south of Denver. He was to close the day with a late-night rally in Springfield, Mo.

Battle for Va. down to wire

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0400

The final Richmond Times-Dispatch Poll of the campaign shows Sen. Barack Obama at 47 percent and Sen. John McCain at 44 percent.

Obama triumphs in R-MC election

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:53 -0400

For the first time in the 40 years Randolph-Macon College has been holding mock elections, its students voted in favor of the Democratic candidate. In voting by students, faculty and staff from Wednesday through Friday, the campus selected Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama over Republican John McCain. Obama received 55.6 percent of the vote, and McCain received 39.4 percent.

Canadian prank call to Palin purports to be from Sarkozy

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:51 -0400

Sarah Palin unwittingly took a prank call yesterday from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and telling her she would make a good president someday. "Maybe in eight years," replied a laughing Palin. The Republican vice presidential nominee discusses politics, the perils of hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney, and Sarkozy's "beautiful wife," in a recording of the call released yesterday and set to air tomorrow on a Quebec radio station.

Studies affirm bias in TV election coverage

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:51 -0400

John McCain supporters who believe they haven't gotten a fair shake from the media in the race against Barack Obama have a new study to cite. Comments made by sources, voters, reporters and anchors that aired on ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts over the past two months reflected positively on Obama in 65 percent of cases, compared with 31 percent of cases with regards to McCain, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs.

Obama's aunt in U.S. illegally

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:49 -0400

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said yesterday that he didn't know his aunt was living in the United States illegally and believes that laws covering the situation should be followed. Obama's aunt had been instructed to leave the country four years ago by an immigration judge who rejected her request for asylum from her native Kenya. The woman, Zeituni Onyango, is living in public housing in Boston and is the half-sister of Obama's late father. It was unclear why her request was rejected.

Rallies in Virginia

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:48 -0400

Celebrities stump for Obama in Virginia

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:48 -0400

Pop, comedic and political royalty cruised through Virginia yesterday as rapper Jay-Z, Chris Rock and Caroline Kennedy stumped on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama. Meantime, three of Sen. John McCain's fellow former Vietnam War POWs began a threeday Virginia campaign swing on his behalf.

Palin warns of unchecked power

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:48 -0400

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, making her second trip to Virginia in a week, last night drilled for votes in Henrico County, another sign of the state's crucial importance to GOP chances on Tuesday.

In Fla., Palin criticizes Obama

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:48 -0400

Sarah Palin warned yesterday that Barack Obama is trying to exploit retirees' fears about what the Republican presidential ticket would do to Medicare and Social Security. In stops yesterday in Florida before her appearance last night in the Richmond area, the Republican vice-presidential candidate urged older voters -- a key Florida voting bloc -- not to fall for "the oldest and cheapest kind of politics around."

Bios of presidential candidates

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:42 -0400

McCain and Obama on the issues

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:09:42 -0400

Here's a look at where the presidential candidates who have qualified to be on Virginia's ballot stand on various issues. The candidates are listed in the order in which they will appear on the ballot. archives, candidates' Web sites
McCain: Opposes abortion rights. Believes abortion should be a state, not a federal, decision

Times-Dispatch poll shows tight race for president in Va.

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 22:59:55 -0400

The presidential contest in Virginia is heading toward a photo finish. The final Richmond Times-Dispatch Poll of the campaign shows Sen. Barack Obama at 47 percent and Sen. John McCain at 44 percent. Nine percent are undecided -- an unusually large slice of the electorate.

The stars come out for Obama, McCain

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 21:01:00 -0400

Pop, comedic and political royalty cruised through Virginia today as rapper Jay-Z, Chris Rock and Caroline Kennedy stumped on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama. Meantime, three of Sen. John McCain's fellow former Vietnam War POWs began a three-day Virginia campaign swing on his behalf. Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, made several stops in Virginia today, including one at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she addressed a standing-room-only crowd of more than 300.

Obama campaigns in traditional GOP states

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 19:28:01 -0400

Democrat Barack Obama made one last push yesterday through the West, looking to secure victories in traditionally Republican Nevada and Colorado.

McCain tells Newport News rally that race is tightening

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 11:34:38 -0400

NEWPORT NEWS -- Sen. John McCain told about 4,000 people at a rally this morning that the presidential race is tightening. The Republican called Virginia a critical state and said, "Let me restate the obvious again: we need to win Virginia on the 4th of November." McCain spoke to a cheering crowd at Christopher Newport University.

McCain: Obama policies left-wing

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0400

Republican presidential candidate John McCain bused through Ohio in search of votes yesterday, finishing a two-day bus tour of the state with Republican star power in tow.

Obama extends ads to Arizona

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:58 -0400

Barack Obama broadened his quest to win Republican states by buying TV ads in Republican rival John McCain's Arizona for the first time and returning to the airwaves in Georgia and North Dakota.

In Senate, ability to filibuster is at stake

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:55 -0400

WASHINGTON - A usually elusive 60-40 Senate majority is the Democrats' target in Tuesday's elections. They are certain to make gains even if they fall short of those magic numbers needed to keep Republicans from blocking their agenda. Democratic Senate candidates will benefit from any coattail effect an Obama victory might bring, as well as from the already weak economy and an unpopular war.

'Saturday Night Live' is set to feature McCain

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:55 -0400

WASHINGTON - My friends, it's John McCain, live from New York, just three days before the election. Aides to the Republican presidential nominee said yesterday that McCain will make a detour from battleground states to appear on "Saturday Night Live," the late-night show that has been a must-watch for many during the political season.

'Mamas for Obama' out in force

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:55 -0400

Ava Boyd can't vote until 2025, but she's spent the past two months knocking on doors for Sen. Barack Obama in Richmond with her mother, Rhiannon. The same goes for Ian Sexton, age 17 months, and his mother, Kelli.

Democrats poised to pick up big number of House seats

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:55 -0400

WASHINGTON - Democrats are positioned to make big gains in the House in next week's elections, adding 20 or more seats to their majority. Republican candidates face a toxic mix of antipathy for President Bush, a sour economy, a huge financial disadvantage, and a formidable Democratic campaign organization powered by presidential nominee Barack Obama. GOP retirements add to problems the Republicans face.

Richardson visits Va. for Obama

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:54 -0400

At Barack Obama's Richmond office yesterday, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson carried the message of the candidate who passed him over for running mate, while charging up volunteers for the final push. The "other side," he said, "they're sending robo calls, e-mails -- false -- especially to minority communities; they're intimidating people because they don't have the issues."

Political rallies in Virginia

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:54 -0400

Where: In Newport News at Christopher Newport University. Doors open at 7 a.m., rally begins at 8 a.m. In Springfield at Interstate Van Lines at 5801 Rolling Road. Doors open at 9 a.m. Program starts at 11 a.m. Monday at Tri-Cities Aviation at Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. Rally starts at 10:45. The airport in Blountville, Tenn., serves Southwest Virginia.

Obama spends $2.45 million in ads on Va. stations

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:09:54 -0400

If you think you've been seeing a lot of television commercials for Sen. Barack Obama, you are right. Obama spent almost four times as much money on TV in Virginia in the week between Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 than Sen. John McCain did.

Va. voters wait in long lines; NAACP seeks injunction

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:06:29 -0400

Virginians who couldn't wait until Tuesday to vote instead waited for hours today to cast absentee ballots. The long lines at the registrars' offices are expected to continue Saturday, the deadline to cast an absentee ballot in person. In Chesterfield County, the line today was so long that registrar Lawrence Haake provided a shuttle bus to take people from a satellite parking lot to the registrar's office in the county courthouse complex.

McCain targets Southwest Va. with Monday rally

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:47:57 -0400

Sen. John McCain will speak at a campaign rally Monday at the Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville, Tenn., hoping to attract voters in Southwest Virginia and in Tennessee. The rally begins at 10:45 a.m. Doors open at 9:45. Voters can get tickets to the rally by going to the McCain Virginia Web site at Virginia.JohnMcCain.com or by visiting one of McCain's offices in Abingdon, Danville, Blacksburg or Roanoke.

Obama dominates ad spending in Va.

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:13:22 -0400

If you think you have been seeing a lot of television commercials for Sen. Barack Obama, you are right. The Wisconsin Project, which monitors television advertising, said yesterday Obama had spent almost four times as much money on TV in Virginia in the week between Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 than Sen. John McCain had. That spending did not include the 30-minute infomercial that Obama paid for Wednesday night.