Campaigns & Elections articles from December 2006

Campaigns & Elections archives from December 2006

Editor's note.
December 1, 2006... The election is over and the dust has settled. Democrats took back the House and the Senate, and, as of press time, there are still six House seats undecided. There are a lot of new things about this Congress: there will be a new speaker of the...

Pass graduation, collect $200.
December 1, 2006... You wouldn't invest in a stock that was going to do poorly or purchase a car you thought could be a lemon. So why would you spend more than $30,000 without knowing you were going to get a return on your investment? But many graduate programs in...

Get heard: persuading and convincing in U.S. politics.
December 1, 2006... The most successful lobbyists understand the value of building rapport with people in Congress, the executive branch and the media. Sharing common interests forms the foundation for sturdy, trusting relationships. I've spent the last 14...

Alabama.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial candidates)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Gov. Bob Riley (R) was able to hold on this election cycle; he was re-elected to serve a second term on Nov. 7th. Despite a national anti-Republican wave that swept many Republicans out of office, Riley was victorious over Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley...

Alaska.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Sarah Palin elected as governor)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Republican Sarah Palin made history this year by becoming the first female governor the state has seen. Palin defeated former Gov. Tony Knowles (D) to replace incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski (R), who she beat in the primary. Palin, a former...

Arizona.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(John McCain's political campaign)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Sen. John McCain has been quite busy the last few months. The presidential candidate visited 21 states in 30 days and was a vocal supporter of Republicans during the midterm elections. He stumped for candidates across the country, and...

Arkansas.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Quorum Court elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A boundary issue caused some confusion in the race for the District 12 seat of the Quorum Court. Mike Burdine, the Republican candidate, lost the race by 17 votes to John Graves. A mistake might have caused voters who were formerly part of...

California.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Election Day wasn't bad for all Republicans in this state. In addition to incumbent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory, moderate Republican Steve Poizner defeated Democrat Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante for insurance commissioner, Voters...

Colorado.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(congressional elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The 2006 election was one of the busiest in recent memory in Colorado, and attention now turns to a 2008 cycle that should be relatively tame by comparison. All of the state government seats were decided in November, and two of the state's...

Connecticut.(William Sullivan )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A review council has been holding hearings on the actions of former Chief Justice William Sullivan, who is accused of violating both state law and the judicial code of conduct when he withheld a controversial ruling in an attempt to help his...

Delaware.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... As they do each election year, Delaware politicians gathered at a county courthouse to listen to election results. Once the winners are known, the candidates gather together, hoist a hatchet in the air and literally bury it, as they have been...

Florida.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Gov.-elect Charlie Crist (R) has taken a position favoring the automatic restoration of voting rights through the governor's executive clemency power. The change would automatically give 700,000 felons the right to vote and, also, open the door...

Georgia.(illegal immigration)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Voters in the Peach State made their opinions heard about illegal immigration in exit polls on November 7th. Despite legislation that is some of the strictest in the nation, restricting state services to adults who can prove they are citizens...

Hawaii.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Coco Iwamoto elected to Board of Education)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The Board of Education has one new and unique member. Kim Coco Iwamoto was elected to the board this year and subsequently became a role model for transgendered people. Iwamoto did not focus on her gender during the campaign and told the...

Idaho.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... This red state gave Democrats something to look forward to on Election Night. Although Idaho hasn't voted for a Democratic candidate for president since 1964, Democrats had some promise heading into Election Day. In the governor's race...

Illinois.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Election Day in the Land of Lincoln mirrored the rest of the country for statewide races. Incumbent Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) was victorious over state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka. This leaves Republicans in the state in a pinch. They no longer...

Indiana.(democrats)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Democrats gained control of the House in the Hoosier State this Election Day. Republicans still control the Senate and Gov. Mitch Daniels is a Republican, which may lead to a bit of gridlock in the state. The state's biennial budget is up for...

Iowa.(congressional representatives)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Even in a wave of Democratic victories, one House race in Iowa stood out. Liberal Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Leach, a 30-year incumbent and the only Iowa congressman of either party to vote against the war in Iraq, lost to Democrat Dave Loebsack,...

Kansas.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... As Election Day neared, voters in Kansas were getting fed up with the phone calls. Not only were they inundated with legitimate pollsters calling to ask their opinion and robo calls supporting a candidate, but also robo calls that served as...

Kentucky.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... With the election of three new members and two recent appointees, Kentucky's Supreme Court will be very moderate. Experts in the state say that there is no longer a reliable liberal or conservative vote on the court. With no outspoken...

Louisiana.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Bobby Jindal)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal was able to withstand the Democratic tide this cycle and hold on to his seat in Congress. The former gubernatorial candidate won 88 percent of the vote in his district and was out speaking after the election....

Maine.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Pat LaMarche's Left Out in America: The State of Homelessness in the United States)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Green Independent Pat LaMarche, who competed in last month's gubernatorial campaign, has published a book about her experiences as the vice presidential candidate for the national Green Party in 2004. LaMarche, who ran on the ticket with lawyer...

Maryland.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Robert Ehrlich and Michael Steele lose Senate elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The era of Republican top officials in Maryland ended with the loss of Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R). Ehrlich lost a hard-fought battle to Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. In the race for U.S. Senate, Republican Michael Steele lost to U.S. Rep. Ben...

Massachusetts.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(New England Republican Society)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The New England Republican Society, a group of prominent Republicans, many of whom have deep family ties to the regional GOP, abruptly postponed its issues convention this fall. It was a subtle indignity for a state Republican establishment...

Michigan.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(tax regulations)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... While lawmakers focus their sights on hitting a year-end deadline to come up with a replacement for Michigan's Single Business Tax, still no one can seem to agree how to replace its revenue or how much of the nearly $2 billion in annual...

Minnesota.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(voter turnout)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Turnout in the Gopher State was lower this year despite an apparent national increase. Approximately 59 percent of eligible voters turned out this year, compared with 63.5 percent in 2002, the highest percentage of voters since 1950. The number...

Mississippi.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(John Walton vs. Forster Ruhl)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Two candidates in the Magnolia State are fighting it out in the courts. John Walton and Forster Ruhl have been fighting since 2005 over an alderman seat in Como. The case now goes to the Supreme Court.

Missouri.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(voters photo ID issue)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The Missouri Legislature is likely to tackle the issue of voter photo IDs again in the next legislative session. In October, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down a law that would have required voters to provide a photo ID when voting. The...

Montana.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Secretary of State Brad Johnson is being critiqued for troubles during the election. For the first time, Montana voters could register and vote all on Election Day. The competitive U.S. Senate race may have pushed more people to the polls and...

Nebraska.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Chuck Hagel might not make a good president)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) might have a bit of trouble at home. Exit polls conducted on Election Day showed that Nebraska voters are not that keen on a Hagel run for president. According to an Associated Press exit poll, only 37 percent believed...

Nevada.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Following suit with the rest of the country, Nevada turned a little bit more blue this election. Although Republicans were able to hold onto the governor's seat and two U.S. House seats, Democrats made gains across the board. Democrats now hold...

New Hampshire.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(placing of names on ballot boxes)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A county superior court judge sided with Democrats saying the way candidates are placed on ballots is unconstitutional because it gave a slight advantage to candidates with last names early in the alphabet and Republicans. For the past 40...

New Jersey.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(general assembly elections)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Party leaders, campaign workers and political consultants in the Garden State barely have time to catch their breath. In 2007, every seat in the state legislature will be on the ballot, and Democrats are concerned about losing some seats in the...

New Mexico.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(illegal immigrants in the US should be given citizenship)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Despite their border state status, New Mexico voters appear to be friendlier to illegal immigrants than the general population. According to an Associated Press exit poll, 63 percent of voters thought that illegal immigrants working in the...

New York.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(citizen activism is on the rise)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... While January 1 will mark a clear transition in the history of government in New York, people should not ignore strong ongoing trends--namely, the decline of the strength of the two major political parties and the increasing level of citizen...

North Carolina.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Kevin Geddings to serve prison sentence)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Political consultant and former state lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings could face several years in prison following his conviction by a federal jury on five counts of mail fraud. Geddings created the Georgia redneck "Bubba" character that...

North Dakota.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Democrats in North Dakota made gains in the state legislature but still weren't able to eclipse the Republicans' large lead. Prior to Election Day, Republicans had a 32 to 15 advantage in the Senate and a 67 to 27 advantage in the House. After...

Ohio.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(electronic voting )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The first instance of statewide electronic voting seems to have been a success for the Nov. 7th election. Like many states across the country, minor problems plagued polling places, including Cuyahoga County which had severe problems during its...

Oklahoma.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Voters in the Sooner State sent incumbent Gov. Brad Henry back to the governor's mansion for another term this year. The state House stayed relatively the same, with the Democrats picking up one seat and the state Senate, which Democrats had...

Oregon.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Voters made history in this state with this year's election. For the first time in decades, Democrats held both the House and the Governor's office. This was a sharp rebuke for Republicans who thought they had a good chance at picking up the...

Pennsylvania.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... While the Democratic wave that swept through the country knocked out incumbent Republican U.S. Reps. Melissa Hart, Curt Weldon, Michael Fitzpatrick and Don Sherwood, many local analysts were shocked that Pennsylvania's Sixth District U.S. Rep....

Rhode Island.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... This election cycle will be remembered as one of the most expensive election years in state history. To date, the proponents of the Narragansett Indians/ Harrah's casino project have spent more than $8 million on their referendum and the...

South Carolina.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The 2008 presidential sweepstakes are in full swing in South Carolina. Republican candidates U.S. Sen. John McCain, Gov. Mitt Romney, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Rudy Giuliani are the early favorites among GOP primary...

South Dakota.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Large sums of money flowed into South Dakota for campaigning on two controversial ballot initiatives, one to ban most abortions and one pertaining to video lottery. Due to the state's relatively lax campaign finance laws, citizens are unaware...

Tennessee.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) won re-election with 69 percent of the vote, compared to Republican challenger Jim Bryson's 30 percent. Bredesen won every single county in the state, including Bryson's home county.

Texas.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla (R) won 48 percent of the vote in a district that was redrawn to include areas with high concentrations of primarily Hispanic Democrats after the original gerrymandered district was declared unconstitutional by the U.S....

Utah.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R) won in a near-landslide victory when he earned a sixth term, garnering 64 percent of the vote against his Democratic challenger, Pete Ashdown.

Vermont.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders, a self-described socialist, was elected as Vermont's junior senator, replacing Independent Jim Jeffords by garnering 65 percent of the vote in a 6-way race where only one candidate from one of the two major parties ran...

Virginia.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... After defeating sitting U.S. Sen. George Allen (R) by a 1-percent margin, Democratic Senator-elect James Webb is planning a "thank you" tour around the state before the end of the year. Webb also plans to take a post-election break and take...

Washington.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D), who was elected to the Senate in 2000 by a slim margin of 2,229 votes, soundly defeated challenger Mike McGavick (R) by a margin of 57-40. Cantwell expanded her influence from beyond the Puget Sound area and won 22...

West Virginia.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Senior Senator Robert Byrd (D) was re-elected to a ninth term this cycle, winning 54 of the state's 55 counties. Byrd, the longest-serving senator currently in office, won with 64 percent of the vote, compared to Republican challenger John...

Wisconsin.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Democrats here shared in the good fortune of their comrades across the country, as a once-beleagured Democrat (Gov. Jim Doyle) easily held on to the governor's office, the state Senate flipped into Democratic hands and a 21-seat Republican...

Wyoming.(INSIDE POLITICS: ACROSS STATE LINES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Keja Whiteman, a Native American, was elected to the Fremont County Commission. Despite the Wind River Indian Reservation and a large population of Native Americans in the area, none had ever been elected to the County Commission. Whiteman has...

Rightclick Strategies.(hired Nick Schaper and Kurt Holmgren)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Rightclick Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm, hired two new account managers, Nick Schaper and Kurt Holmgren. Schaper, formerly a legislative assistant to GOP Rep. Ric Keller of Florida, will focus on business development...

Levick Strategic Communications.(appointed Aimee Steel)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Levick Strategic Communications has named Aimee Steel director, a new position within the firm. Prior to joining the D.C. public relations firm, Steel worked as communications director for Cassidy & Associates. She has also worked for...

Michigan State University.(NEW JOBS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Sen. John McCain has bulked up the staff of his Straight Talk America PAC, adding 24 grass-roots leaders in Michigan, including Michigan Republican Party vice chairs Gerry Mason and Andrew Wendt, Michigan State University Trustees Dee Cook...

Southwest Airlines.(NEW JOBS)(Thomas B. Chapman appointed)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Thomas B. Chapman is flying from one job to another. Chapman left his position as legislative counsel to Southwest Airlines to accept a position as vice president of congressional and federal affairs at US Airways. He replaces Rosemary Murray,...

Hoopes Strategies.(NEW JOBS)(Brooke McNally appointed)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... With her extensive communications experience both on and off the Hill, Brooke McNally must not have had to jump through too many hoops to land her new job. McNally, former press secretary to U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., has joined Hoopes...

The Herald Group.(NEW JOBS)(Teresa Schofield appointed)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Teresa Schofield has answered the call of the herald, joining The Herald Group, a public affairs firm in Washington. Schofield previously worked as public affairs counsel at the Mortgage Bankers Association and in the Office of Legislative...

Bill Lynch Associates.(NEW JOBS)(Kevin P. Wardally appointed)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Kevin P. Wardally has been named the director of political and governmental relations for Bill Lynch Associates, a New York-based Democratic consulting firm; he'll work on political and issue campaigns. Wardally worked as deputy chief of staff...

Commonwealth PAC.(NEW JOBS)(Mitt Romney's human resource management)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been hiring people for his Commonwealth PAC, which many believe is the precursor to a presidential run. He added Tom Rath as a senior adviser to his Commonwealth PAC as he considers a run for the...

AARP.(NEW JOBS)(Brian Marriott appointed)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... AARP has named Brian Marriott publicity director, in hopes of being a major player in policy debates, especially going into the 2008 cycle. Marriott is a former special assistant for media relations at the Federal Communications Commission and...

Citizens Trade Campaign.(FIRM CHANGES)(Citizens Trade PAC launched)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Citizens Trade Campaign, a coalition of labor unions, farmers and environmental groups against free trade agreements has launched the Citizens Trade PAC. The PAC has already sent organizers to five competitive congressional races.

California Leadership Committee.(FIRM CHANGES)
December 1, 2006... Former California gubernatorial candidate Steve Westly has formed his own PAC, California Leadership Committee to engage the state's young Democrats.

Retain Our Majority Program.(Tom DeLay)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's Retain Our Majority Program (ROMP), cleverly known by its acronym, has inspired other punchy names of organizations to maintain a Republican majority, the newest being LA ROMPA, Ladies Action to Retain Our Majority...

PoliTemps.(FIRM CHANGES)(CapitolWorks launched)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Political staffing agency PoliTemps has launched CapitolWorks, a nonpartisan executive search service that places professionals with corporate, legal, association and nonprofit clients. Chris Jones is the organization's managing partner; the...

CapitolWorks.(Bill Stokes appointed)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Bill Stokes will manage business development and lead executive searches. Before joining CapitolWorks, Stokes was managing director for EndeavorConnnect. Rounding out the team is Ryan Polich, a principal of CapitolWorks. Polich heads up the...

527 Scientists and Engineers for America.(FIRM CHANGES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A group of scientists has formed the 527 Scientists and Engineers for America, which aims to elect public officials who "respect evidence and understand the importance of using scientific and engineering advice in making public policy." The...

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took the first steps toward running for president by forming an exploratory committee that would allow him to raise money and travel the country to gauge support for his candidacy.(FIRM CHANGES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took the first steps toward running for president by forming an exploratory committee that would allow him to raise money and travel the country to gauge support for his candidacy. McCain has been very busy,...

In the same vein, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., decided against running for president.(FIRM CHANGES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... In the same vein, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., decided against running for president. He announced he would not seek the nomination, thus avoiding what would have been a hard-fought campaign for which he was a long shot. [ILLUSTRATION...

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., announced he was considering a run for the presidency.(FIRM CHANGES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., announced he was considering a run for the presidency. As of press time, he had not formed a committee to begin a run in earnest. He is said to be contemplating it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.(FIRM CHANGES)(Tommy Thompson formed political action committee)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Tommy Thompson has formed a PAC that some believe is the precursor to a presidential bid for the former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The unnamed PAC, which would not be allowed to donate to a Thompson...

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani filed the necessary papers to form a committee to run for president.(FIRM CHANGES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani filed the necessary papers to form a committee to run for president. Giuliani is best known for his leadership after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and speculation that he would run for president has...

Iowa Gov.(FIRM CHANGES)
December 1, 2006... Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) also expressed his interest in running for president by forming his own exploratory committee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

10 questions for John Green: director, Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics.(INSIDE POLITICS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)(Interview)
December 1, 2006... John Green is the director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, where he has worked for 19 years. He is also a senior fellow in religion and politics at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Green...

10 questions for Christopher Arterton: dean, Graduate School of Political Management.(INSIDE POLITICS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)(George Washington University)(Interview)
December 1, 2006... Christopher Arterton is the dean of the Graduate School of Political Management at the George Washington University. A native of Washington, D.C., Arterton is a graduate of St. Alban's. He holds a B.A. from Trinity College in Connecticut, a...

21st century rough riders: pushing American strategy and technology abroad.
December 1, 2006... In almost a decade of political work, Bill Lockhart thought that being eaten by the competition was a metaphor. But during the past year this concern became a little closer to real. He was managing the campaign for Oscar Kashala, who was...

The winners and losers of 2006: after each election cycle, Campaigns & Elections presents the win-loss records of political consultants across the nation.(The List 2006)
December 1, 2006... Before you begin your review of the consultants and their clients--winners and losers are all exhibited in stark relief--you should consider the following: SCOPE: We include political consulting firms that were identified over the past...

Election decompression: getting back to normal and avoiding withdrawal after Election Day.
December 1, 2006... For the past six months, you've been crisscrossing the country, your state or district. You've been lucky if you've slept in your own bed or done laundry more than once a week. Vacation is a foreign word, and your gym sneakers have had more...

The Obama factor.(proving ground)(Barack Obama)
December 1, 2006... DAVENPORT, IOWA -- When U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said this fall that he was considering a run for the presidency, American politics got really interesting. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The national press immediately followed him as he traveled...

Three questions for 2008.(campaignland)
December 1, 2006... The presidency of the United States and many other offices up for reelection in 2008 will be filled partly on the basis of how campaigners answer questions about bipartisanship, media appearances and voter data. Different campaigns will come up...

Election 2006: no breakdowns, but questions remain.(voting matters)
December 1, 2006... For weeks leading up to the 2006 general election, some media, advocates, voters' groups and others were worked into a froth over how badly things would go on November 7. Widespread problems were predicted; a meltdown was imminent. ...

Reinventing the wheel.(TECH BYTES)(political campaigning)
December 1, 2006... The Democratic netroots are undergoing a transformation. Those Internet-based activists who tossed stones at the party machinery in the 2004 election cycle have increasingly become part of it. The 2006 election cycle brought them into the fold;...

The rise of the GOP netroots.(TECH BYTES)(Great Old Party - Republican Party)
December 1, 2006... Republicans have spent the last two years behind their Democratic brethren in terms of online organization and activism. Having strong netroots wasn't as important for the GOP as it was for the Democrats, whose hunger to regain power reached a...