Politics
Where House Demo leader Pelosi has given most money
Friday, November 03, 2006
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California has given her biggest contributions ($14,000) to 19 candidates this year in some of the most competitive House races.
Nonpartisan political Web sites draw many voters
By LAUREN SMITH
Thursday, November 02, 2006
In the 11th hour before the November elections, voters are turning to non-partisan, non-profit Web sites that track political money and members of Congress to make a more informed decision on Election Day, according to political experts.
"We have been maxing out our bandwidth for the last week and I think a lot of it has to do with the election coming up," said Massie Ritsch, communication director for the Center for Responsive Politics, a research group that tracks money in politics and its effect on elections and public policy.
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Tennessee Senate race heats up
By BARTHOLOMEW SULLIVAN
Thursday, November 02, 2006
In an unscripted, unscheduled exchange in an intense campaign for the U.S. Senate, Tennessee Democrat Harold Ford Jr. confronted Republican Bob Corker on a Memphis parking lot where Corker had scheduled a press conference on lobbying reform and ethics.
Organization trying to get more single women to vote
By MARYLYNNE PITZ
Thursday, November 02, 2006
During this country's last presidential election, 20 million single women did not vote.
Women's Voices, Women Vote, a nonprofit in Washington, is trying to reach those women and persuade them to cast ballots this year and in 2008.
P. Kennedy looks to bigger role should Dems win House
By MARK ARSENAULT
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Rep. Patrick Kennedy offers this irony: his one late-night car wreck last May brought more attention to the issues of mental health than 12 years of news conferences and speeches in the House.
"This past year has given me an opportunity to raise the profile of the issue in a way that connected me with people as I haven't been before," Kennedy said.
He has joined the public fellowship of people "in recovery," acknowledging after his accident _ which he attributed to a mix of medications in his system _ that he had developed a dependency on pain pills.
Sen. Feinstein's re-election bid more coronation than campaign
By JOHN WILDERMUTH
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
While Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein might argue with the political gurus who have dubbed her the most popular politician in California, so far the former San Francisco mayor's bid for a third full term in the Senate has been more coronation than campaign.
Even with the weather-beaten "Dianne 2006" bumper strip sitting lonely on the back of her jet-black Lexus hybrid, it's nearly impossible to tell that Feinstein is in the final weeks of her re-election effort, especially when she's giving the type of nonpartisan, good-government speeches most politicians save for non-election years.
"Everything's a campaign event," the 73-year-old said with a shrug.
Indiana GOP's 'safe' seats up for grabs
By EDWARD EPSTEIN
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
When presidential election returns are reported every four years, Indiana is among the first states to reliably and resoundingly fall into the red Republican column.
But beneath the presidential level, Indiana is a fiercely competitive state between Democrats and Republicans.
Conservative in fight for political future in Pennsylvania
By MARC SANDALOW
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
There is probably no one the left would rather see defeated this November than Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
The two-term Republican is a reliable ally of President Bush on matters from Iraq to confirming judges.
Micro-marketing tactics come to political campaigns
By PATRICIA LOPEZ
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
If you've been trying to tune out the political din, hoping no one will find you, don't be surprised if you soon get a phone call, a door-knock or a glossy mailer from some political pitch artist who seems to know your deepest interests and pet peeves _ and who has just the candidate for you.
You've just been micro-targeted.
Armed with the kind of lifestyle and consumer information long used by big business to market products, Republicans, in particular, have devised a system that tells them whether you like to golf or go on cruises, drink wine or imported beer, watch cable or network TV, and prefer fancy restaurants or burger joints.
Mormon backing of Romney White House run could backfire
By THOMAS BURR and PEGGY FLETCHER STACK
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Reports that Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's political advisers consulted with the Mormon Church to boost his expected presidential bid could have a "Manchurian candidate" backlash if voters perceive Romney as a church surrogate, a prominent political scientist warns.
Although Romney, a Mormon, would be "crazy" not to tap into the church's network if he jumps into the 2008 White House race, he must be open and aboveboard to avoid fueling conspiracy theories, says Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
"If there's a Manchurian candidate being offered here, that's a problem," Sabato said.
The Boston Globe reported Thursday that supporters for Romney and church leaders had proposed building a nationwide network of Mormons, starting with alumni of Brigham Young University, to help advance his likely presidential bid.
The effort was dubbed the Mutual Values and Priorities program _ or MVP, the Globe said.
