Campaigns & Elections articles from May 2007

Campaigns & Elections archives from May 2007

Editor's note.
May 1, 2007... How many people have actually worn through the sole of a shoe doing anything, let alone going door to door on a campaign? I'd imagine not many. But in our cover story, the first in our new "Early Lessons" series, we find out that John McCain...

Publisher's note.
May 1, 2007... Never one to miss the best toys in politics, I've pounded my way through no less than five Blackberries and a Palm Treo over the last several years. Regardless, I have to admit a taste for nostalgia. I miss the fresh smell of mimeographed...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
May 1, 2007... Corrections: These are corrected listings from the March 2007 Political Pages: MIKE MATHESON VOICEOVER/D 1948 N. Mohawk St. Chicago, IL. 60614 PHONE: 312-560-1226 FAX: 312-337-8906 ISDN: 312-640-9615/9617 ...

Shrewd generosity: politicians and strategic charitable giving.(INSIDE POLITICS)
May 1, 2007... Picture a politician during election season, and the image of an outstretched hand comes to mind. But some savvy pols are now digging deep in their pockets to share the wealth, rather than ask for it. The strategic philanthropic activity is...

The tortoise and the hare at a debate.(INSIDE POLITICS)(travel of presidential candidates)
May 1, 2007... Presidential candidates have already had some overlapping travel schedules as they travel to the early primary states of New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina to shore up support. But on June 3 and 5, respectively, Democrats and...

Watch your mailboxes: direct mail gurus develop new ways to be seen.(INSIDE POLITICS)
May 1, 2007... It's frustrating to have your work thrown away. Direct mail designers know a good amount of their work is probably going to end up in the trash can, so they're coming up with new ways to make sure their piece ends up on your kitchen counter...

By the numbers.(INSIDE POLITICS:)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BY THE NUMBERS DEMOCRATS SPOUSES KIDS DOGS RESIDENCES Joe Biden 2 4 0 1 Hillary Clinton 1 1 1 2 John Edwards 1 4 0 ...

Alabama.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(hate crime law)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The state's current hate crime laws are based on a victim's race, color, religion, ethnicity, country of origin and physical and mental disabilities. The state House has passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Alvin Holmes (D) that would add a victim's...

Alaska.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(same-sex law)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... A recent advisory vote in the state legislature supported an amendment to block same-sex benefits in the state. Republican state Rep. Mike Kelly is pushing to have the amendment on the ballot for the 2008 general election. The advisory vote in...

Arizona.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(AIG Auto Insurance Teen GPS Program)(Thayer Verschoor to reintroduce education bill)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Not so fast, there, Junior. AIG Auto Insurance is launching a pilot program in Arizona that lets parents track their teen drivers via GPS. Policyholders will be able to install a GPS unit in their teen's car, and then determine the car's exact...

Arkansas.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(highway construction policy)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... While Gov. Mike Beebe (D) was focused on tax breaks during this legislative session, Northwest Arkansas lawmakers wished more had been done to address allocating more funding to highways. Lawmakers are split as to whether it is a state or...

California.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Although the "Governator" can't legally run for president, that doesn't mean Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is sitting on the sidelines. The Republican moved up the date for the state's primary to Feb. 5, which will force candidates to campaign in...

Colorado.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(senatorial candidate Scott McInnis's campaign)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Former Rep. Scott McInnis (R) pulled out of the race for U.S. Senate in late March after campaigning for less than three months. McInnis had been the only announced GOP candidate and entered the race formally in late February with nearly $1...

Connecticut.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(voting age law)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Seventeen-year-olds may soon get to vote in Connecticut. Under a proposed constitutional amendment, as many as 10,000 17-year-olds could vote in the 2009 primaries as long as they turn 18 before the general election. The bill has received a...

Delaware.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(special election to fill Wayne A. Smith's House seat)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Politics observers are keeping a close eye on the state House seat vacated in March by former majority leader Wayne A. Smith, a Republican who stepped down to take a position as president and CEO of Delaware Healthcare Association. His...

Florida.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(primary)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Seeking greater influence in presidential electoral politics, Florida is gearing up to leapfrog almost all the other states and set a Jan. 29 primary election date, with an option to go even earlier. The bill to adjust the state's primary date...

Georgia.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Former Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor (D) will face an ethics court on 10 different counts concerning illegal contributions during his 2006 gubernatorial race. Taylor allegedly did not properly identify the contributions he received from PACs. But...

Hawaii.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(law to preserve agricultural farmland)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Land preservation is the priority in Hawaii. The state House and Senate are proposing bills to preserve agricultural farmland. Two agricultural business tax credits are likely to pass both chambers and would cost $120 million over the next six...

Idaho.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(baby boomers in politics)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Baby boomers are the mightiest demographic group running the establishment, with more than 55 percent of America's current governors, state lawmakers, congressional representatives and senators born between 1946 and 1964. The demographic is...

Illinois.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(midwife bill)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... A midwife bill passed in the state of Illinois and, if signed into law, it will be the first time since 1965 that midwives have been licensed in the state. Sen. William Haine (D), who had five of his seven children born at home with a midwife,...

Indiana.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(employment policy)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Indiana lost 7,400 jobs (second only to Ohio) in February. The struggling of the manufacturing and construction industry fuelled these losses, making the total loss 12,700 in the past year. Indiana relies largely on the auto industry for jobs....

Iowa.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(presidential candidate committments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... With the Iowa caucuses less than a year away, an unscientific survey of Iowa county chairs from both parties showed few committed to a presidential candidate. Of the 82 Democratic and Republican county chairs who responded to an...

Kansas.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(health care law)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Both parties have come together on the issue of health care in the state legislature. Compromises have been made on both sides to make sure the bill will pass this session, lowering the income eligibility for adults in 2009 and covering 24,000...

Kentucky.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(education reform )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... While the gubernatorial primary looms, the Kentucky legislature is busy tackling the state's education problems. Only 51 percent of schools are meeting the goal of the state's decadeold education reform plan. Public universities need massive...

Louisiana.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... State Republicans are cheering former U.S. Sen. John Breaux's decision not to run for governor. (The 32-year Senate veteran has lived in Maryland since 2005 and therefore likely isn't eligible to run.) Even without announcing a candidacy,...

Maine.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(livable wage law)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Maine Center for Economic Policy has studied the differences between minimum wage and livable wage since 2004. Only half of the state's workers met the livable wage mark of a $14.84 hourly wage. The legislature's labor panel is considering...

Maryland.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(health policy, treating sexually transmitted diseases)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... A three-year pilot program in Baltimore focused on treating STD patients and their partners with antibiotics will likely pass the state legislature. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) supports the program and aims to assist the STD/AIDS epidemic in...

Massachusetts.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Senate President Therese Murray's policies)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... "The election of the three of us demonstrates that in 2007 gender is no longer an issue when choosing government leaders," new Senate President Therese Murray (D) said to the Senate chamber after her election, referencing Attorney General...

Michigan.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(presidential elections opinion poll)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... With one out of three Republicans leaning toward a 2008 presidential candidate and nearly half of Democrats set on another, early polls this spring say the presidential matchup in Michigan will be between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary...

Minnesota.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(gas tax to be hiked)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... In a state traditionally interested in transportation issues, the gas tax, currently at 20 cents a gallon, could be raised. In November, more voters supported dedicating funds to transportation than re-elected Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R). Both houses...

Mississippi.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Insurance Commissioner George Dale may not have re-election )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Democratic Party has pulled its state's longest-serving elected official from the ballot because of his support of President George Bush. Insurance Commissioner George Dale has been in office for 32 years, but his re-election prospects look...

Missouri.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(government funding for health screening programs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Gov. Matt Blunt (R) pulled funding from two Planned Parenthood clinics as part of his proposal to increase overall funding for health screening programs. The clinics, both located in Southwest Missouri, offered breast and cervical cancer...

Montana.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(property tax law )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... State Sen. Jim Elliott (D) is the architect of a plan that would bring $150 million worth of property tax relief to the people and businesses of Montana in the next two years. This plan would offer up to a $400 annual refund for households...

Nebraska.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(senator Chuck Hagel's policy towards Iraq war)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Nebraska's two Republican U.S. senators have crossed partisan lines to vote for the bill that would force Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq. One of them, Chuck Hagel, has become one the Bush administration's fiercest critics of the war--a...

Nevada.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(budget cuts )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The legislature has focused on cutting $111.8 million from state agencies' spending in the next two fiscal years as proposed by Gibbons. Fears are mounting on whether this budget cut will affect Nevada's Department of Education, which is...

New Hampshire.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Ray Buckley elected new state Democratic Party chairman)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... After months of controversy that rocked the political establishment, New Hampshire Democrats elected Ray Buckley as their new state chairman. Buckley replaces Kathy Sullivan, who helped build the state's Democratic Party to what is now enjoying...

New Jersey.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(state senators not seeking re-election)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Retirement is the buzzword around the Statehouse in Trenton. Eleven of New Jersey's forty state senators will not seek reelection this fall, and two more Democrats may not be re-nominated. Those senators leaving voluntarily cite age, 68 on...

New Mexico.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(uranium reserves)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The increase on the price of uranium to $113 a pound has put pressure on New Mexico to tap into its reserve, which could be worth $67 billion. Opposition groups worry about pollution and cancer, which were seen as the major effects of uranium...

New York.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(campaign finance reform)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer's first year in office will reflect his ability to get campaign finance reform passed in Albany and convince the state's Republicans to support full public financing of statewide elections. Long the impediment to...

North Carolina.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(legislators' pay)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... State lawmakers have not received a pay raise since 1995 and the static pay is likely to continue in the upcoming year. The annual salary for most members has stayed at $13,951 and a $104 daily expense rate during session. State Rep. Larry...

North Dakota.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(bill on eligibility criteria for state superintendent)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Not a certified teacher? In North Dakota, you can still vie for state superintendent, at least for now. Republicans in the state House and Senate pushed through a bill to repeal a law that the state superintendent must be a certified teacher....

Ohio.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(presidential elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Even Republicans see U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt(R), as vulnerable, since she's struggled in her two campaigns in a solidly Republican district. She pulled out a win by fewer than 3,000 votes last time. Her challenger in that race, Victoria Wulsin,...

Oklahoma.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(governor Brad Henry vetoes all agency funding)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Chances for a special session were looking increasingly likely at press time, with Democratic Gov. Brad Henry wielding his veto pen against the Republican-led state legislature. After the House and Senate excluded Henry from budget negotiations...

Oregon.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(politics)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... State senators and representatives submitted their Oregon jokes to the Statesman Journal in honor of April Fools Day. Democratic Rep. Tobias Read from Beaverton joined the fun with this quip: "What do you call two straight days of rain in...

Pennsylvania.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(gun control law)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Gun control is the most important issue in Philadelphia after 110 different homicides occurred in the city this year, a 16 percent increase from this time last year. Crime is a major focus point for the 2007 mayoral race. Yet, since the state's...

Rhode Island.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Republican Party chairman Giovanni Cicione)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... After getting battered at the polls in November, the Rhode Island Republican Party was ripe for rebuilding. The party's new face is Giovanni Cicione, a 36-year-old Barrington attorney who was elected chairman in March. Cicione said his...

South Carolina.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(voting against sending troops to Iraq)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Politicos are all abuzz about Republican Rep. Bob Inglis voting with the Democrats against the troop surge in Iraq. He was only one of 17 House Republicans who opposed it. The chairman of the Spartanburg County Republican Party is quoted as...

South Dakota.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources approves loans and grants)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Low-interest loans and grants were approved by the South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources, which will fund water, sewer and landfill projects across the state. Gov. Mike Rounds (R) hopes to improve the scope of these projects and...

Tennessee.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(smoking ban)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... A legislative ban on smoking in the workplace and a ban on bestiality are the priorities of the Tennessee legislature. The First Lady of Tennessee and several legislators will tour the state to promote the smoking ban, which covers workplaces,...

Texas.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Senate campaigns)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Democrats' Senate campaign would like nothing better than to unseat Republican John Cornyn, who is running for re-election next year. He is one of the Bush administration's most loyal allies on the Hill and polls by SurveyUSA regularly show...

Utah.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(legislators planning tour to China)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... State lawmakers are planning a taxpayer-funded trip to China's industrialized Liaoning Province. An estimated $18,000 has been set aside for the trip. The purpose of the trip is vague and odd, according to many lawmakers and Utah residents....

Vermont.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(proposed oil surcharge)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Vermont legislature wants to dance on the world's stage to the global warming beat. Senate president pro tempore Peter Shumlin (D) said, "Historically, when we do bold things in Vermont, others follow. It is our moral imperative to lead...

Virginia.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(presidential elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Just a year ago, it seemed Virginia's most likely contributions to the 2008 presidential field would be former Gov. Mark Warner (D) and then-Sen. George Allen (R). But as of April, the only major entrants from the Commonwealth are somewhat...

Washington.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(presidential primaries)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Lawmakers and the leaders of the state's Democratic and Republican parties cannot agree on when to hold a presidential primary in 2008. Part of the problem is the two major political parties hold caucuses to allocate delegates to presidential...

West Virginia.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(table gambling games, gambling law)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The fight over the table games begins. Three counties in West Virginia are battling over the legitimacy of a law that would legalize table gambling games. The referendum will be voted on June 9 in Kanawha, Ohio and Hancock counties. The West...

Wisconsin.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(state Supreme Court elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... This spring saw the most expensive state Supreme Court race ever conducted in Wisconsin as Annette Ziegler soundly defeated Linda Clifford for a spot on the state's seven-member high court. The end of the race was marked by allegations that...

Wyoming.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(lawsuit for federal protection for grizzly bears )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The federal lawsuit challenging the government's plan to remove grizzly bears from federal protection is being closely watched by Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D). He is pressing the Montana lawyer who is dealing with the federal lawsuit to file the...

Carole Goeas & Associates.(Meredith Mino is appointed as political fund raiser)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Carole Goeas & Associates hired Texas native Meredith Mino as a political fund raiser. Most recently, Mino worked for the National Marine Manufacturers Association as a government affairs liaison. Prior to joining the association, Mino spent...

American Legislative Exchange Council.(Michael Correia joined as director of federal affairs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Michael Correia joined the American Legislative Exchange Council as the director of federal affairs. Correia worked on the Hill for the past nine years for the House Committee on Resources. He has handled legislation for three former committee...

Abstinence Clearinghouse.(promoted David Bloomer to director of government relations)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Abstinence Clearinghouse promoted David Bloomer from director of research to director of government relations. Prior to joining Abstinence Clearinghouse, Bloomer was a legislative assistant at the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. In...

National Association of Broadcasters.(Anne Brady joined as vice president)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Anne Brady was hired as vice president for the National Association of Broadcasters. She recently worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as the deputy Western finance director. Before the DCCC, Brady served as the director...

American Legislative Exchange Council.(Chaz Cirame joined as director of corporate services)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Chaz Cirame has joined the American Legislative Exchange Council as director of corporate services. Prior to joining ALEC, he worked as the director of development for Students for Saving Social Security. A staffer of dozens of political and...

NGP Software.(hired Stuart Trevelyan as president)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Technology firm NGP Software has named Stuart Trevelyan president. Trevelyan has been working on Internet strategies for over 12 years, previously with Carol Trevelyan Strategy Group, which he founded. CTSG helped elect several hundred...

Kenneth L. Khachigian.(joined Hatch & Parent as senior partner)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Kenneth L. Khachigian, former White House aide to three presidents, has been named senior partner at California law firm Hatch & Parent. Khachigian, who has been practicing public and government law since 1979, has expertise in industries from...

Ellen Frawley, J. Toscano and Jacquie Lawing Ebert.(new partners at strategic communications firm GMMB)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Democratic Strategic communications firm GMMB has named three new partners: Ellen Frawley, J. Toscano and Jacquie Lawing Ebert. Frawley is a veteran of the firm, having worked there 12 years ago and returning in 2003. In the interim, she headed...

The Nevada Democratic Party.(Jill Derby is elected chairwoman)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Nevada Democratic Party has elected Jill Derby as chairwoman. She replaces Tom Collins, who did not seek re-election. In 2006, Derby lost the Nevada 2nd District race to Dean Heller (R). The NDP has also hired a new executive director,...

Maryland Democratic Party.(Sue Levitan joined as finance director)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Sue Levitan has joined the Maryland Democratic Party as the new finance director. Levitan was in charge of directing field operations for the Democrats' coordinated campaign. Previously, Levitan worked for Progressive Maryland as the...

The Indiana Democratic Party.(promoted Jenny Hill Weiser to executive director)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Indiana Democratic Party has promoted Jenny Hill Weiser from finance director to executive director. The former executive director, Mike Edmondson, resigned to become finance director for gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger. Prior to...

Mike Gehrke.(PARTY LINES)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Mike Gehrke returns to his previously held position of research director at the DNC. Gehrke served as the executive director for the Senate Majority Project in the previous cycle. Before 2006, he was the research director for John Kerry's 2004...

The deputy research directors under Gehrke are Amy Wojcicki and David Schnitzer.(Mike Gehrke)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The deputy research directors under Gehrke are Amy Wojcicki and David Schnitzer. Wojcicki was the research director for Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's 2006 campaign. She worked at the DNC between 2000-2003 as well as working for Gen. Wesley Clark...

Gretchen Purser.(new finance director of Republican National Committee)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Gretchen Purser has been hired as the new finance director for the RNC. Before accepting the job, Purser was a fundraising consultant. She worked for Century Strategies before starting her own business and advised clients on communications,...

Steve Grossman.(returned to Grossman Marketing Group )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Steve Grossman, former chair of the DNC, is returning to Washington to open another Grossman Marketing Group office. The marketing company is launching in Washington to add political work to its already broad client base.

10 questions for Peter Moran COO, Winning Directions.(MOVERS AND SHAKERS)(Interview)
May 1, 2007... Peter Moran is the COO of Winning Directions, a Democratic direct mail firm whose clients include members of Congress, governors, state parties, ballot initiative campaigns, labor organizations and local candidates. A Pittsburgh native, Moran...

10 questions for Joe Warner founder, 20/10 Design.(MOVERS AND SHAKERS)(Interview)
May 1, 2007... Joe Warner is the principal of 20/10 Design, a Republican direct mail firm in Westchester, Pa. Some of his clients include the American Medical Association and the National Republican Congressional Committee. He is a graduate of the University...

Campaign consultant sign-ups.(List)
May 1, 2007... Adelstein-Liston/ D--media Bruce Lunsford, KY, Gov. '07 Allyn & Company/ D--direct mail, media Tom Leppert, TX, Dallas Mayor '07 Ambrosino, Muir & Hansen/ D--direct mail Bruce Lunsford, KY, Gov. '07 ...

Green is the new black: suddenly, it's much easier being green.(FEATURE)(carbon footprint is an issue in Presidential campaigns)
May 1, 2007... What does sexy surfer-turned-singer Jack Johnson have in common with Democrat John Edwards? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The singer and the suit-and-tie politician both share the same travel habits, long days and the side effects of forcing...

Early lessons: John McCain: from carpetbagger to presidential contender.
May 1, 2007... John McCain's first congressional campaign almost killed him. Seven years after returning to the United States as a decorated war hero, McCain set out to win a congressional seat in Phoenix, the western boomtown that his wealthy new bride...

Redistricting: will changes bring more of the same?(FEATURE)
May 1, 2007... The typically once-a-decade process of carving up the nation into districts for state and federal offices is a confounding, bitter and litigious process. But with pain comes gains: namely, a more secure hold on power for years to come. ...

Take your direct mail piece from drab to fab.
May 1, 2007... Most voters give your direct mail just five seconds before deciding if it's worth their time--which can be a tough sell if that day's mail includes a Saks catalogue and a Caribbean vacation sweepstakes. We asked some top direct mail experts how...

Burgers and blue jeans: upcoming elections in Europe are looking very American indeed.(INTERNATIONAL POLITICS)
May 1, 2007... In a Washington, D.C. speech to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy made international headlines by expressing an extraordinary position: pro-Americanism. "Beyond our...

Direct mail? Get a horse!(real politics)
May 1, 2007... Do you like silent movies? Manual typewriters? Window fans? Then you undoubtedly love direct mail. It is obsolete, useless, and a waste of time and money. E-mail, yes. Direct mail, no. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With direct mail, you have...

Slogging toward November 2008.(figuratively speaking)
May 1, 2007... Now, I am not one to normally complain about the length of presidential campaigns. To me, they're fun and I make a nice living watching them. So a part of me recoils when I hear the quadrennial complaint about how "early" it is for the...

Might the GOP convention tap a surprise nominee?(proving ground)
May 1, 2007... MANCHESTER, N.H.--Could it be possible that for the first time in 30 years at least two presidential candidates will have a shot at the nomination during the GOP convention? Brokered national conventions have been the stuff of history. So...

Trace (or send) anonymous e-mail.(TECH BYTES)
May 1, 2007... Last fall, blogger and political consultant Matt Jerzyk tracked down the source of anonymous e-mails attacking Sheldon Whitehouse, then a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Rhode Island. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jerzyk's detective...