All Politics
In a 鈥楽einfeld election,鈥� does Obamacare matter?A new Kaiser poll shows that among the fall election's most enthusiastic voters, only 3 percent list Obamacare as their motivating issue. In general, the midterms are threatening to be about nothing 鈥� just like the 鈥�90s sitcom.
Congressional leaders express 'support' for fight against Islamic StateBut members of both parties disagree on whether congressional authorization is necessary for US airstrikes to continue against the Islamic State. Congressional leaders met Tuesday with President Obama and Vice President Biden.
Ray Rice: Did the White House need to weigh in?Some argue it鈥檚 a teaching moment, and the president needs to help steer the nation. Others say it鈥檚 an incident that the president has no authority over and should not attempt to influence.
Troubling decision: Federal judge voids changes in Ohio early-voting lawIs it good to give federal courts the right to take away from the states the authority that the Constitution gives them to regulate the time, place, and manner of elections?
How Obama plans to ace his big speech on ISISPresident Obama delivers a major address Wednesday on the growing threat of Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. He needs to sell his plan to the American people and Congress 鈥� but others will be watching too.
Congress is back for 'closing arguments' before Election DayCongress has immediate problems to resolve in its last weeks before November elections, including finding a way to avoid a shutdown after Sept. 30. But getting base voters to the polls looms over all.
Democrats slam Chris Christie on 'Bridgegate'. Why now?The 'Bridgegate' scandal has hurt Chris Christie, but he's still running hard for the GOP nomination for president. Democrats are hoping to remind voters why his favorability rating has dropped.
Congress returns: Here's what's on tapWith an eye to midterm elections, look for Congress to wrap up spending bills in a stopgap measure, clash over reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, punt on immigration reform, and stage votes to distress the other side.
Obama to delay action on immigration: Should he have just gone ahead?President Obama will delay any executive actions on immigration until after the midterm elections, but it's not clear whether that will really help Democrats.
Chuck Todd (helped by Obama) launches his 鈥楳eet the Press.鈥� So how did he do?NBC鈥檚 new 鈥楳eet the Press鈥� host Chuck Todd has a big job ahead of him: Raising the struggling Sunday TV show鈥檚 third-place ratings to Tim Russert levels while attracting younger viewers through social media.
Obama immigration delay: Was it 'raw politics' or principle? Both, maybe.President Obama will not take executive action on immigration before the fall elections, leading to cries of 'playing politics.' Perhaps he needed to play politics better.
Chuck Todd kicks off 'Meet the Press' gig with Obama. Can he boost ratings?NBC鈥檚 'Meet the Press' has seen its ratings drop in recent years. Can new moderator Chuck Todd turn things around, or will be it the same old Sunday TV talking heads?
Obama's broken pledge: How election politics made 'pawns' out of illegal immigrantsPresident Obama had said he鈥檇 use executive authority to bypass Congress on immigration law 'without further delay.' Now, with some Democratic Senate seats in danger, aides say Obama will wait until after the November elections.
The Kansas Senate race is just getting weirderFirst, Democrat Chad Taylor bows out of the race, boosting prospects for independent Greg Orman. Then, the GOP secretary of state determined that Taylor's name must stay on the ballot. The outcome could swing control of the Senate.
Has Obama institutionalized Bush鈥檚 worst?Many expected that President Obama would dismantle President Bush's war on terror and the assault on civil liberties at home in its name. But the terrorist threat still loomed and public pressure to protect the homeland remained. So did the dark precedents.
What surprise can voters expect this October?The 'October surprise' has been a fixture of US campaign seasons. It's just about time for that even-year big event that will change the mood of the country or, at least, get the right voters to the polls.- Hillary Clinton says she'll decide on 2016 around January 1. Maybe.What鈥檚 she really saying with today鈥檚 'announcement' is that sometime next year she might surprise everyone and say she鈥檚 dropping out of a pre-presidential contest she鈥檚 already engaged in.
Jobs report: not necessarily a job-killer for Democrats facing votersUS job growth fell short of expectations just two months away from an election. But it's not likely to be fatal for Democrats. The economy is still a top priority for voters, but not at the previous level of intensity.
Why is Bill Clinton campaigning for Charlie Crist in Florida? Four reasons.In 1998, Charlie Crist called on President Clinton to resign. Now a Democrat, Crist needs his help to regain the Florida governorship. Clinton has plenty of reasons to oblige in Miami Friday night.
Was Bob McDonnell convicted for politics as usual?Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell accepted lavish gifts from a businessman, but it's not so clear what the businessman got in return. Politicians elsewhere may want to reconsider what has been viewed as politics as usual.
