National Elections

Florida's Crist may be front runner in Senate race, but it doesn't feel like

It's hard to feel sorry for someone who has all of the powers of incumbency, a small fortune in campaign donations and a double-digit lead in the polls over his Senate rival, former House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami. But Crist's problems are definitely piling up.

Congress takes up expansion of Troops to Teachers

Frank McBryde says there are plenty of parallels between serving in the U.S. military and teaching. "You're not going to become rich, you need loyalty and you need to be dedicated to a task," said McBryde, 54.

North Carolina's Blue Dogs and health bill: It's complicated

It's a given that Republicans in the House of Representatives are solidly against the health care bill that's before them, but for moderate-to-conservative House Democrats — including four from North Carolina — it's not quite so simple.

Texas Republicans unlikely to vote yes on health care

The outlook for a House vote on health care reform is shaky at best — even Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, continues to be undecided — and the Texas Republicans who represent portions of Tarrant County are solidly against the bill.

Idaho congressmen to vote against health care bill

Like most — if not all — Republicans, Rep. Mike Simpson said Thursday he will vote against the legislation. Rep. Walt Minnick, a Democrat whose vote is highly sought by top House leaders in his party, said Friday that he, too, will vote "no" on the bill.

Many House Democrats still resist health care bill

Democrats in the House of Representatives struggled Friday to find enough votes to pass sweeping health care legislation, as lawmakers prepared for an all-day debate and perhaps a final vote on the bill Saturday. President Barack Obama was scheduled to visit Capitol Hill early Saturday to give the House's 258 Democrats a pep talk.

Opponents say they have votes to block U.S. tourism to Cuba

Opponents of opening Cuba to American tourists are touting a letter signed by 53 Democrats in the House of Representatives, saying it shows that they have the votes to derail an effort to lift the ban on travel to the island.

Senate rejects effort to block civilian trials for 9/11 suspects

The Senate's 54-45 vote to reject the measure by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., opens the door for President Barack Obama to bring Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-professed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, to trial in federal court, rather than the military commissions Graham helped create.

DeMint says Obama has changed Honduras policy

An outspoken critic of the Obama administration's handling of the crisis in Honduras late Thursday dropped his opposition to two State Department nominees, saying that the administration has reversed course. South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint said on the Senate floor that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had told him the U.S. would recognize Honduras' Nov. 29 election "regardless of whether former President Manuel Zelaya is returned to office."

Feeling heat from right, Crist shifts position on stimulus

Ever since his support of the $787 billion economic stimulus outraged conservatives, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has tried to steer a middle course. Now his explanations are becoming extremely nuanced as his U.S. Senate opponent, Marco Rubio, has accused him of being a lackey of President Barack Obama.