Is Al Franken In Trouble?

As regular readers probably know, I have been skeptical of Republican Mike McFadden's chances of unseating Al Franken in this year's Senate race. This is not because Franken is invulnerable; on the contrary, Franken has never been very popular and has been a cipher during his six years in Washington.

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Cary Medical Center Celebrates 90th Anniversary

The Collins Family was honored at Cary Medical Center's 90th anniversary celebration on Sept. 24 at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center.

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Senior Republican wants Secret Service chief out

22, 2014 file photo, a member of the Secret Service Uniformed Division looks out from the North Portico of the White House in Washington. WASHINGTON - A senior Republican lawmaker called for Secret Service Director Julia Pierson to resign, and a senior Democrat said he is not comfortable with her leading the agency, as support for Pierson eroded Wednesday in the wake of her poorly received testimony about the White House break-in.

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Landrieu seeking support from college-age voters

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu speaks about her college affordability initiative on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Baton Rouge, La.

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Opinion: Rahm Hangs a 'For Sale' Sign on Chicago City Council

Actually, it's more than just one person. In reality, it's a small group of wealthy corporate executives, philanthropists and members of organized labor groups - led by the mayor - that are betting control of the Chicago City Council has a price.

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Texas appeals court upholds DeLay reversal

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay arrives in the 250th district court of Judge Pat Priest at the Travis County Courthouse for his sentencing.

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Marine vet's release from Mexican jail coming, lawmakers say

Andrew Tahmooressi was arrested by Mexican officials March 31 after driving across the California border with weapons and ammunition in his truck. Jill Tahmooressi, mother of Marine Sgt.

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Congress Debunks The ADT Short Thesis

There has been much ado about the White House intruder. Media coverage has called attention to other Secret Service failures, including an incident in 2011 wherein a bullet shattered a window on the second or third floor of the White House.

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South Carolina editorial roundup

Sen. Scott and Sen. Graham both are considered strong candidates. Both are incumbents.

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Obama salutes 2013 MLS champs, Sporting KC

President Barack Obama has saluted the 2013 Major League Soccer champions Sporting Kansas City. He credits the "dedicated fans" of Kansas City for helping the sport grow in the United States.

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Rauner, Quinn clash on Obamacare expansion ahead of president's Chicago visit

Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner acknowledged Wednesday he would have vetoed legislation expanding government-subsidized Medicaid to low-income people under President Barack Obama's signature health care law, but does not support a rollback in coverage. Rauner's remarks come as Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn trumpets the first-year results of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, in advance of a fundraising visit by the home-state president on Thursday.

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Republicans Are On The Verge Of Two Major Defeats In One Of The Reddest Of Red States

Republicans are trailing in two races with national implications in Kansas, according to a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll released Wednesday. Both US Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican senator who has been in office since 1997, and Gov. Sam Brownback, a first-term governor running for re-election, are trailing their respective challengers in the poll.

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Congressman Posts Bizarre Vine Of His Bruce Lee Impression

If the partisan bickering in Congress ever devolves into actual fisticuffs, it seems like Rep. Jim McDermott will be well prepared. The congressman displayed his impressive martial arts skills in a short Vine video posted on Tuesday where he wore a replica of the jumpsuit worn by Bruce Lee in the 1978 kung fu film "Game of Death."

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New details in Secret Service mess

President Barack Obama pauses during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Washington.

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Poll: For the GOP - What's the matter with Kansas?

Independent candidate Greg Orman leads veteran Republican Sen. Pat Roberts by 46%-41% in Kansas' surprising Senate race, a new USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll finds. GOP Gov. Sam Brownback trails Democrat Paul Davis.

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John Boehner Has Not Spoken To Ted Cruz 'Since He's Been Elected'

In a recent interview, House Speaker John Boehner said he has not spoken to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz "since he's been elected." "On Cruz, who has given Boehner heartburn by encouraging House conservatives to block moderate proposals floated by Boehner's team: 'I've not talked to him since he's been elected' to the Senate in 2012."

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'Putin greater threat to the US than ISIS'

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has revealed he believes Vladimir Putin to be a far bigger threat to the US than ISIS. He also accused the Russian leader of being 'the most dangerous man in the world'.

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Court: Democrats don't need Kansas Senate nominee

A Kansas court has ruled that Democrats can go without a U.S. Senate candidate after their nominee dropped out of the race against three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. The ruling Wednesday is a blow to the GOP in a key race in the national battle over Senate control.

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SD gets $3.6M to make college more accessible

The U.S. Department of Education announced the grant Tuesday. South Dakota State University will administer the grant.

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Rob Portman sounds a lot like a presidential candidate

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, center, speaks with reporters as he arrives for a vote on an energy bill he co-sponsored with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, May 12, 2014 Ohio Sen. Rob Portman was in Iowa on Wednesday, stumping for Senate candidate Joni Ernst while also stoking some speculation about his own interest in running for president in 2016. He called me to check in.

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President Obama, Please Stay out of California

U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he steps to the podium to deliver remarks on the economy at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College on July 24, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Mr. President, I realize such a statement may seem jarring.

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Senior Republican wants Secret Service chief out

A senior Republican lawmaker called for Secret Service Director Julia Pierson to resign, and a senior Democrat said he is not comfortable with her leading the agency, as support for Pierson eroded Wednesday in the wake of her poorly received testimony about the White House break-in. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson is questioned by Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept.

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Bill de Blasio Casts Long Shadow Over Grimm Recchia Clash

Domenic Recchia Jr., bristling at the end of a brief but acrid forum today, was forced to wonder aloud why Michael Grimm never ran for mayor. "You know, my opponent, if he wanted to run against Bill de Blasio, he should've ran for mayor last year," Mr. Recchia grumbled at the close of the first in-person clash between himself and the Republican congressman.

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From Gene Stalnaker

I see where West Virginia Public Broadcasting is sponsoring a U.S. Senate Candidates' debate on Oct. 7, but only inviting the Republican and Democrat and not the Constitution, Libertarian, or Mountain Party candidates. In 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that they were allowed to do this, but that ruling was based on Justice Anthony M. Kennedy's opinion that stations could "make a good faith assessment of a candidate's public support."

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From Jeff Becker

Here we go again. On Aug. 28 the West Virginia State Chamber of Commerce sponsored a U.S. Senate candidates' debate at the exclusive Greenbrier Resort, but only invited establishment favorites Shelley Moore Capito and Natalie Tennant.

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College Dems Host U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu October 3

The Centenary College Democrats, in conjunction with the "Campaign for Louisiana," will host U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu on the Centenary campus Friday, October 3, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Whited Room. The Centenary College Democrats, in conjunction with the "Campaign for Louisiana," will host U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu on the Centenary campus Friday, October 3, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Whited Room.

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Greg Orman holds slight lead over Pat Roberts in new poll

Independent Greg Orman leads Sen. Pat Roberts , a new poll shows, the latest sign of trouble for Senate Republicans in a key contest. The USA Today/Suffolk University poll shows Orman leading Roberts 46 percent to 41 percent among likely voters in the poll.

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Romney and Cantor's genius pollster: 60 percent of Americans want Obamcare repealed

It finally happened. A new poll shows a majority that want Obamacare repealed. Sort of.

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Voting is like wedding dress shopping? So say GOP young voter outreach ads

The newest entry in the Republican campaign to insult women voters comes from the College Republican National Committee, and boy is this one ever successful. If the goal is insulting women, specifically young women in this case.

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Republicans spending six-figures to hold onto the governorship in ... Idaho?

This is certainly unexpected. The Republican Governors Association is spending what they describe as "six-figures" in a race that hasn't been on many people's radars until now.

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