President Barack Obama really likes to say, "Let me be clear," before he speaks pontifically about nothing specific nor in any way particularly informative. But now it's my turn to speak clearly — perhaps even with enough logic and fact to engage inquiring minds. ...more

February 20, 2009

Now that the presidential election is over, here's another tally: what the candidates' visits cost taxpayers. ...more

November 9, 2008

12:51 p.m. By mid- to late-morning, some voters who live in the sprawling Meadow Pointe community in south central Pasco County had to wait up to an hour to vote, but those exiting the polls didn't seem upset about the lines. ...more

November 4, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama's transition team recently held a large organizational meeting as part of an accelerated effort to plan for a possible new administration, Democratic officials said Friday, as the nominee embarked on a late-campaign tour of traditional Republican states with a fresh attack on Sen. John McCain. ...more

October 18, 2008

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama opened the final leg of the presidential campaign by returning to a familiar strategy on Thursday: Linking Republican opponent John McCain to the unpopular incumbent. ...more

October 17, 2008

Barack Obama and John McCain clashed repeatedly over the causes and cures for the worst economic crisis in 80 years Tuesday night in a debate in which Republican McCain called for a sweeping $300 billion program to shield homeowners from mortgage foreclosure. ...more

October 7, 2008

At a tumultuous meeting of anti-Vietnam War militants at the Chicago Coliseum in 1969, Bill Ayers helped found the radical Weathermen, launching a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol. ...more

October 4, 2008

Now that he's finally fired up on the soup-line economy, Barack Obama knows he can't fade out again. He was eager to talk privately to a Democratic ex-president who could offer more fatherly wisdom - not to mention a surreptitious smoke - and less fraternal rivalry. I called the "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin (yes, truly) to get a read-out of the meeting. This is his account: ...more

September 23, 2008

Belittling John McCain as a relic of the disco age, Democrat Barack Obama pushed his campaign Friday to a new level of counterpunching "on the issues that matter" and directed his running mate to be tougher on their Republican opponents. ...more

September 13, 2008

In an effort to cast himself as independent of the influence of money on politics, Sen. Barack Obama often highlights the campaign contributions of $200 or less that have amounted to fully half of the $340 million he has collected so far. ...more

August 6, 2008