election

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He's Not 'Post-Race,' But Barack's Coming to Dinner

Americans still getting to know man who isn't post-race after all

(Newser) - If there’s anything that the candidacy of Barack Obama proved, it’s that America isn’t “post-race,” Frank Rich writes in the New York Times. White liberals in politics and the news media trip have gotten him consistently wrong, Rich writes, in trying to compare him with...

Robo-Calls Invade, But Can They Conquer?

Automatic calls can backfire, too

(Newser) - As Election Day looms, America's phones are ringing off the hook. Voters—especially in swing states—have received hundreds of millions of robocalls this year. But voters, curious about the novelty calls 10 years ago, increasingly associate them with ugly scare tactics. "Next week Robo-Call supposed to tell black...

Alaskans Give Stevens Hero's Welcome

After corruption conviction, GOP senator begins 5-day marathon reelection bid

(Newser) - Sen. Ted Stevens returned home to Alaska to jump-start his reelection campaign yesterday, proclaiming his innocence and asking for the votes of 500 supporters at a rally. “Like most people, I'm not perfect,” said the 84-year-old Republican, who plans to appeal his conviction on federal corruption charges, the...

Voting by Mail Is 2008's Big Winner

Voters like to go at own pace, but some worry about fraud, lost ballots

(Newser) - Nearly half of California's ballots this year will be cast by mail, marking an upward trend that isn't restricted to the Golden State, the Los Angeles Times reports. Washington and Oregon are almost completely mail-in only, and voter-rights organizations across the country hail the convenience of sending in votes. But...

Death in Juror's Family Puts Stevens Trial on Hold

Jury sent home as deliberations grind closer to Election Day

(Newser) - Deliberations in the corruption trial of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens were halted again today when the judge sent the jury home following the death of a juror’s father, Politico reports. The juror flew to California, and it’s unknown whether she’ll return for deliberations. This latest delay pushes...

As Obama Feels the Love, Democrats Feel the Panic
As Obama Feels the Love,
Democrats Feel the Panic
analysis

As Obama Feels the Love, Democrats Feel the Panic

Worrywart Dems can't get used to the idea of winning

(Newser) - Democrats are so used to losing, writes Roger Simon on Politico, that even the spectacle of what looks very much like a Republican collapse can't keep them from feeling blue. Soaring poll numbers for Barack Obama, a huge war chest, a boom in registered voters—so much good news makes...

Rove Used Federal Coin to Help GOP in '06

Officials traveled, gave out grants to help incumbents: report

(Newser) - Karl Rove helped direct federal officials and funds to 99 congressional districts where Republican candidates were threatened in the 2006 elections, the Washington Post reports. Many presidents, including Bill Clinton, have briefed cabinet members before reelection efforts, but the “gross abuse” of public White House funds for at least...

Canada Returns Conservative Minority Government

Harper's party grabs more seats but still falls short of a majority

(Newser) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been re-elected to form a minority government. Harper's Conservative party boosted the size of its minority in yesterday's Canadian election but fell a dozen seats short of a majority, Reuters reports. The opposition Liberals slumped to their lowest share of the popular vote in...

Japan's Ruling Party Picks Next PM

Nationalist Taro Aso likely to call early election

(Newser) - Japanese nationalist Taro Aso won a convincing ruling-party vote to become the country’s next prime minister, Reuters reports. The Liberal Democrat and former foreign minister will become the third PM this year. Facing a troubled economy and strong opposition in Parliament’s upper house, Aso will likely call an...

Rowling Gives $1.8M to Beleaguered Labour Party

Admires Brown's efforts to fight child poverty

(Newser) - Beleaguered British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has at least one big fan: JK Rowling gave a whopping $1.8 million to the Labour party at its annual meeting today, the Guardian reports. The Harry Potter author, who is estimated to be worth a little over $1 billion, said she gave...

Swing States Will Face Voting Glitches: Report

Feds failed to notify officials of ballot machine failures

(Newser) - Little has been done to fix voting problems in some key states over the last few years, and voters in those states could have problems at the polls in November, CNN reports. Ten swing states—including Florida and Ohio—are likely to face voting day snarls, including shortages of voting...

In World First, Women Form Majority in Rwanda Assembly

Boosted by quota system, females take 44 of 80 of parliamentary seats

(Newser) - The second parliamentary election in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide has ushered in the only majority female parliament in the world, the BBC reports. Of 80 seats, 44 went to women—and that 55% could go higher after additional voting. Under the constitution drafted after the genocide, 30% of MPs...

Clintons Want McCain to Win, Says Morris

Ex-adviser argues they're shooting for another run in 2012

(Newser) - The Clintons may be campaigning for Obama, but they really want McCain to win so Hillary can run in 2012, friend-turned-foe Dick Morris tells the UK Telegraph. And if that happens, get ready for a historic Clinton-Palin showdown (Morris thinks McCain would not run again) that will shake up the...

Obama Has Lost Control of the Election
Obama Has
Lost Control
of the Election
OPINION

Obama Has Lost Control of the Election

He must skip the Palin sniping, remind voters what's at stake

(Newser) - Talk about change: John McCain is hosting celebrity rallies of his own while all the excitement has fizzled out of the Barack Obama campaign, EJ Dionne observes in the Washington Post. "It's clear that Obama has lost control of this campaign." His task, then, is "to remind...

Canada Heads for an Early Election
Canada Heads for an Early Election

Canada Heads for an Early Election

PM set to dissolve parliament; snap poll likely on Oct. 14

(Newser) - The Canadian parliament is set to be dissolved after the prime minister and opposition leader failed in their a final compromise attempt, reports the Globe and Mail. Stéphane Dion, the leader of the Liberals, told reporters PM Stephen Harper asked his party not to oppose any legislation for a...

Democracy to Avenge Bhutto's Death: Zardari

Prez nominee says no deal was cut with departing Musharraf

(Newser) - Democracy will avenge Benazir Bhutto's death and diminish rising extremism in Pakistan, Bhutto's widower tells Newsweek. Asif Ali Zardari, now a presidential nominee, says he cut no deal with departing president Pervez Musharraf and hopes he will stay to witness rule by the people. “Personally I would like him...

A Few Lessons Obama Picked Up While on Vacation
A Few Lessons Obama Picked Up While on Vacation
OPINION

A Few Lessons Obama Picked Up While on Vacation

Hawaii surely rejuvenated Dem for fall campaign ... but 3 tips just in case

(Newser) - What did Barack Obama do on vacation in Hawaii, beside body-surf and eat shaved ice? He learned three important lessons, John Dickerson writes in Slate, about how to handle the coming phase of the campaign:
  1. “Keep it big.” The Democrat has decided to push the “turning-point election”
...

Want Predictions? Bet on Markets, Not Polls
 Want Predictions? 
 Bet on Markets, Not Polls
ANALYSIS

Want Predictions? Bet on Markets, Not Polls

Mapping the future by getting investors to put their money on it is more accurate

(Newser) - Opinion polls have a spotty track record when it comes to predicting political events, Paul Parsons writes in the Telegraph. He recommends a clearer crystal ball: futures markets, such as the University of Iowa’s Electronic Market. Functionally the same as a financial market, IEM allows individuals to bet between...

Musharraf Gone, but Pakistan's Woes Remain
Musharraf Gone, but Pakistan's Woes Remain
ANALYSIS

Musharraf Gone, but Pakistan's Woes Remain

Wrangling civilian rulers no match for militants, economy

(Newser) - A “hanging out to dry” by his former colleagues in Pakistan’s army was the last straw for Pervez Musharraf, Jason Burke writes in the Guardian, but indications that the military will likely stay out of politics is one of the few hopeful signs of the president's departure. A...

Blacks Support Gay Marriage as Much as Whites
Blacks Support Gay Marriage as Much as Whites
OPINION

Blacks Support Gay Marriage as Much as Whites

Age, gender, party affiliation are more significant factors

(Newser) - Conventional wisdom hold that African-Americans are overwhelmingly against gay marriage, but recent trends in voting show blacks have more problems with homophobia than any other group, writes gay-issues scholar Timothy Stewart-Winter for the LA Times. In fact, "views on same-sex marriage are a rapidly moving target that's tough to...

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