http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ en Copyright 2012 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:44:58 -0500 Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger says the state needs to decide soon what health benefits it would offer under federal health care reform.During a meeting with health care officials on Wednesday, Praeger says if Kansas doesn't pick its own plan for a health insurance exchange, the federal government will make the decision for the http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/insurance_commissioner_urges_health_reform_plans.html 400605399 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:43:54 -0500 Vice President Joe Biden will campaign this weekend in Ohio's Appalachian region, an area loaded with white, working-class voters that President Barack Obama's campaign hopes to appeal to in the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention.The Obama campaign has so far announced rallies in Zanesville in eastern Ohio and the southeastern Ohio http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/biden_will_head_to_ohio_s_appalachian_region.html 400605398 Dan Sewell The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:37:55 -0500 Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono are facing each other in the first of five general election debates in their race to replace U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.The Senate hopefuls planned to debate for about 90 minutes on Thursday at a luncheon hosted by the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce.The chamber is billing the event as a http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/lingle__hirono_meet_in_first_debate_for_us_senate.html 400605397 Oskar Garcia The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:34:55 -0500 Pine Bluff Mayor Carl Redus Jr. has filed a lawsuit that seeks to stop the November mayoral election.Redus wants to remain mayor for an additional two years to realign the city's election cycle, which needs to change because of new U.S. Census data.The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports ( http://is.gd/Y36rVi) that Pine Bluff's population dropped http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/pine_bluff_election_in_question_due_to_census_data.html 400605396 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:07:55 -0500 Actress Eva Longoria says her speech to the Democratic convention will be very different from Clint Eastwood's speech to Republicans.Longoria tells NBC's "Today" there will be no empty chairs.Eastwood gave a bizarre and rambling address last week at the Republican convention, talking to an empty chair as he pretended to converse with http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/longoria_promises__no_empty_chairs__at_convention.html 400605395 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:58:55 -0500 Actress Eva Longoria says her speech to the Democratic convention will be very different from Clint Eastwood's speech to Republicans.Longoria tells NBC's "Today" there will be no empty chairs.Eastwood gave a bizarre and rambling address last week at the GOP convention, talking to an empty chair as he pretended to converse with President http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/longoria_promises__no_empty_chairs__at_convention.html 400605394 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:01:55 -0500 Vice President Joe Biden will campaign in Ohio's Appalachian region in the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention.The Obama campaign had said earlier that Biden would spend this weekend in Ohio. So far, it has announced rallies in Zanesville in eastern Ohio and the southeastern Ohio college town of Athens.The mostly rural region has been http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/vice_president_will_head_to_appalachian_ohio.html 400605393 Dan Sewell The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:58:54 -0500 President Barack Obama is expected to lay out his vision for a second term, even as advisers say they don't anticipate a big bounce in the polls following the Democratic National Convention.White House senior adviser David Plouffe (pluhf) tells ABC's "Good Morning America" he expects the race to remain "tight as a tick" until http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/obama_advisors_don_t_expect_big_bounce_in_polls.html 400605392 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:34:55 -0500 President Barack Obama goes before the Democratic National Convention and the nation on Thursday for a capstone speech designed not just to persuade undecided voters to swing his way in a tight election but to put fire in the belly of his supporters and get them to come out on Election Day.Obama senior adviser David Plouffe promised the president http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/obama_to_sketch_path_forward_after_clinton_pitch.html 400605391 Julie Pace And Calvin Woodward The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:01:55 -0500 Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard has asked a federal judge to move his corruption trial out of New Orleans, saying extensive media coverage could prejudice jurors.The Times-Picayune (http://bit.ly/Uuc09h) reports that prosecutors have not responded to the request filed the motion Aug. 31. Trial is scheduled Oct. 1 before U.S. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/broussard_wants_corruption_trial_out_of_orleans.html 400605390 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:28:54 -0500 A Providence lobbying and consulting firm has hired the former director of Rhode Island's Economic Development Corp. who resigned over 38 Studios' financial troubles.The Providence Journal reports ( http://bit.ly/yXauJR) that the Mayforth Group said Keith W. Stokes began work Tuesday as president of strategic economic planning and http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/lobbying_firm_hires_ex_economic_development_boss.html 400605389 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:01:54 -0500 President Barack Obama takes the podium at the Democratic convention Thursday to accept the party's nomination for a second White House term, his candidacy lifted by the stirring endorsement of Bill Clinton, who warned Americans against returning the reins of government to Republicans who sent the economy crashing into a deep recession.Arguing on http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/obama_to_accept_nomination_for_re_election.html 400605388 Steven R. Hurst And Julie Pace The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:58:54 -0500 Syrian troops recaptured from rebels Thursday a border town used by refugees to cross to Jordan, activists said, an apparent bid by the regime to stem the flood of Syrians fleeing their country's civil war.Damascus meanwhile accused Cairo of stirring up violence in the country, as Syria lengthens the list of other Arab countries that it blames for http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/syrian_troops_take_town_on_refugee_flight_route.html 400605387 Bassem Mroue The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:28:54 -0500 President Vladimir Putin says Russia can work with Mitt Romney if he's elected U.S. president, even though Romney has called Russia the United States' "No. 1 geopolitical foe."In an interview broadcast Thursday by the Kremlin-funded Russia Today TV channel, Putin made his first direct comments about the Republican challenger to President http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/putin__russia_can_work_with_romney_if_elected.html 400605386 Jim Heintz The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:58:54 -0500 New York state's Board of Elections is considering regulations to make super political action committees more accountable for their often nasty campaign ads that are supposed to be run independent of a candidate's campaign.But good-government groups tell The Associated Press that the state board is eight months behind in approving the regulations. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/apnewsbreak__ny_lags_in_new_rules_for_super_pacs.html 400605385 Michael Gormley The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:34:54 -0500 If you're feeling buried by nasty political ads from your television, there's good reason.A Virginia Public Access Project analysis shows that independent groups have already bought more than $37 million in ads for this year's campaigns in swing-state Virginia.That's more than a tenfold increase in the amount of outside money that poured into http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/outside_campaign_dollars_flow_into_va__from_right.html 400605384 Bob Lewis The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:37:54 -0500 Bribery and illegal surveillance accusations against a former Chinese police chief point to malfeasance within the circle of disgraced politician Bo Xilai extending beyond the murder of a British businessman, adding further intrigue to China's biggest political scandal.Few details have been released so far about the charges against Wang Lijun, the http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/new_charges_widening_scope_of_china_scandal.html 400605383 Christopher Bodeen The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:28:54 -0500 New Britain officials have moved a step closer to ending its status as the only Connecticut municipality requiring gun owners to carry weapons openly.The New Britain Herald and The Hartford Courant report that a council committee voted unanimously Wednesday to endorse a measure letting anyone with a permit carry a concealed handgun.New Britain now http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/new_britain_seeks_end_to_concealed_weapons_ban.html 400605382 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:13:54 -0500 South Dakota Secretary of State Jason Gant says he will work with some national organizations to help people learn how to become registered voters.Gant says six million people nationally reported in the 2008 presidential election that they didn't know how to register to vote or missed registration deadlines. He says he is working with the National http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/sd_official_seeks_to_increase_voter_registration.html 400605381 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:07:54 -0500 A new poll shows President Barack Obama continues to lead Mitt Romney in New Jersey.The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday finds Obama with a 7-percentage-point lead over the Republican nominee among likely voters in the Garden State. A majority of respondents say the president will do a better job on Medicare and health care, while http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/poll__obama__menendez_on_top_in_new_jersey.html 400605380 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:01:54 -0500 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kurt Bills is campaigning in Duluth where he will speak to a meeting of the Citizens' Research Council.Bills' campaign says his Thursday speech will focus on job creation, economic growth and the national debt. The Citizens' Research Council is comprised of members of several Duluth-area Republican and http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/bills_to_speak_to_conservative_group_in_duluth.html 400605379 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:58:54 -0500 More than two years after it was signed into law, the most contentious part of Arizona's landmark immigration legislation is expected to go into effect following a federal court ruling issue late Wednesday.But the U.S. Supreme Court laid a legal minefield that Arizona now must navigate when the critical provision takes effect. The clause, one of http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/police_in_legal_minefield_on_ariz__immigration_law.html 400605377 Jacques Billeaud And Nicholas Riccardi The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:40:55 -0500 Republican congressional candidate Thomas Massie has receive an endorsement from the National Right to Life Committee, an anti-abortion group.Massie said in a statement Wednesday that he's proud to have gotten the endorsement, which carries weight in Kentucky's conservative 4th District.The group based the endorsement on Massie's pledge to support http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/national_right_to_life_endorses_massie_in_4th.html 400605376 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:37:53 -0500 Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler and Republican challenger Andy Barr are suspending TV advertising on Tuesday, the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.Chandler said he's doing so in honor of the victims, rescue workers and military service members. President Barack Obama and his Republican opponent Mitt Romney also are taking down their TV ads that http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/chandler__barr_won_t_air_tv_ads_on_sept__11.html 400605375 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:34:54 -0500 Republicans seeking to replace retiring New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch are making their appeal to the public in a televised debate.Ovide Lamontagne, Kevin Smith and Robert Tarr are competing for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the Sept. 11 primary. The winner will face the winner of a three-way contest among Democrats Maggie Hassan, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/nh_gop_gov_candidates__debate_televised.html 400605374 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:31:54 -0500 U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (sis-uh-LEE'-nee) and businessman Anthony Gemma (JEM'-ah) are scheduled to square off in another televised debate as the primary for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district approaches.The debate is scheduled to air live at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on WJAR-TV.Gemma is trying to unseat Cicilline, a freshman, in Tuesday's http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/us_rep__cicilline__foe_gemma_to_meet_in_tv_debate.html 400605373 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:28:53 -0500 It's a fact of life in Washington that what one party considers a principled stand, the opposition considers pigheadedness. Compromise? That's the other guy's problem.But when former President Bill Clinton took the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, he portrayed President Barack Obama as a pragmatic compromiser who has been http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/fact_check__clinton_claims_of_compromise_a_stretch.html 400605372 Matt Apuzzo And Tom Raum The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:22:54 -0500 A member of the Kennedy family making a first bid for elective office is among candidates on the ballot Thursday for Massachusetts voters in primary elections that will determine the November matchups in the state's redrawn congressional districts.The Secretary of State's office forecast a light turnout statewide, but more voter interest was http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/candidates_vie_in_redrawn_massachusetts_districts.html 400605371 The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:19:54 -0500 Former high school English teacher Kerry Bentivolio beat four other southeastern Michigan Republicans in a special primary Wednesday and will advance to a special general election to fill the final weeks of ex-U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's congressional term.With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Bentivolio, a tea party favorite from Milford, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/bentivolio_wins_special_mich__us_house_gop_primary.html 400605369 David N. Goodman The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:58:53 -0500 Highlights from former President Bill Clinton's speech to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.:ECONOMY: Clinton said President Barack Obama inherited a much weaker economy than he did when he took office in 1993. No president could have repaired the damage in just four years, he said. "But conditions are improving, and if http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/highlights_from_bill_clinton_s_dnc_speech.html 400605368 The Associated Press The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:52:53 -0500 Updated results from last week's primary show a ballot measure concerning property taxes passing by a slim margin.Just 284 votes separated the two sides, with 58,014, or 50.1 percent, voting for Ballot Measure 1, and 57,730, or 49.9 percent, voting against it, according to unofficial results the state released Tuesday.The measure would make it http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/updated_results_show_slight_edge_fore_measure_1.html 400605365 Becky Bohrer The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:57:13 -0500 Rhode Island's independent Gov. Lincoln Chafee used a prime-time address at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday to blast his former GOP while urging support for Democratic candidate Barack Obama.Chafee, a former Republican, said his remarks on the convention's opening night in Charlotte, N.C., were meant to convince independents and http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/ri_s_independent_gov_urges_support_for_obama.html 400605359 David Klepper The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:25:54 -0500 Democrats launched President Barack Obama on his uncertain bid for re-election as they opened their national convention Tuesday. They looked to help Obama recapture the hearts of Americans once drawn to his message of hope and change, but now weary after years of economic weakness and political squabbles.The nationally televised, three-day http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/democrats_launch_obama_on_rocky_road_to_reelection.html 400605358 Associated Press The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:01:53 -0500 Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said Tuesday that legislators could choose to expel a fellow member accused of sexually harassing young female staffers, accusations that the embattled assemblyman said were politically motivated to destroy his "credibility and election options."Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez on Tuesday broke his silence http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/ny_speaker__assembly_might_expel_accused_member.html 400605357 Michael Gormley The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:04:54 -0500 The Democratic National Convention is a watershed event for the U.S. gay rights movement, which never before has been embraced so warmly by a major political party.There's a platform endorsing same-sex marriage, a roster of speakers that includes three gay members of Congress, and a record number of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender delegates http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/at_democratic_convention__record_presence_for_gays.html 400605356 David Crary The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 01:49:55 -0500 In an impassioned speech that rocked the Democratic National Convention, former President Bill Clinton proclaimed Wednesday night, "I know we're coming back" from the worst economic mess in generations and appealed to hard-pressed Americans to stick with Barack Obama for a second term in the White House.Obama strode onstage as Clinton http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/clinton_boosts_obama_in_rousing_convention_speech.html 400605351 Associated Press The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:49:54 -0500 Bill Clinton made a passionate call for Americans to return Barack Obama with the White House, telling a television audience of millions that no U.S. president _ not even he _ could have repaired in one presidential term all the economic damage inherited from Republicans almost four years ago.Clinton's address, the highlight of the second day of http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/bill_clinton_urges_americans_to_stick_with_obama.html 400605345 Associated Press The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:04:54 -0500 A transcript of former President Bill Clinton's remarks Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, as provided by the Democratic Party:___We're here to nominate a president, and I've got one in mind.I want to nominate a man whose own life has known its fair share of adversity and uncertainty. A man who ran for president to change the http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/transcript_of_bill_clinton_s_remarks.html 400605344 The Associated Press The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:10:56 -0500 Needled by Mitt Romney and other Republicans, Democrats hurriedly rewrote their convention platform Wednesday to add a mention of God and declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel after President Barack Obama intervened to order the changes.The embarrassing reversal was compounded by chaos and uncertainty on the convention floor. Three times Los http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/democrats_change_platform_to_add_god__jerusalem.html 400605343 Julie Pace And Josh Lederman The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:09:34 -0500 Needled by Mitt Romney and other Republicans, Democrats hurriedly rewrote their convention platform Wednesday to add a mention of God and declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel after President Barack Obama intervened to order the changes.The embarrassing reversal was compounded by chaos and uncertainty on the convention floor. Three times Los http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Sep/06/democrats_change_platform_to_add_god__jerusalem.html 400605342 Julie Pace And Josh Lederman The Associated Press Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:09:34 -0500