Politics

Why Obama Shouldn't Worry About His Lousy Poll Numbers

11:06am November 07, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

It seems obvious to say that a high approval rating helps a president, while a low approval rating hurts him. But there are reasons to think Obama's weak standing in the polls isn't as troublesome as it sounds.

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Obama To Visit Dallas To Smooth Bumps In Health Care Sign-Up

9:47am November 07, 2013

by Scott Horsley

President Obama travels to Dallas on Wednesday to meet with volunteers who've been working to educate consumers about the government's new health insurance marketplace. That task has been made more difficult by persistent technical problems plaguing the website.

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Insurance Firms Forced To Cancel Many Individual Policies

5:08am November 05, 2013

by Richard Knox

More than 12 million Americans buy health insurance on their own, and many are getting cancellation notices because their individual coverage does not meet the standards of the Affordable Care Act. This is causing anxiety and anger — especially since most of these people can't get onto the healthcare.gov website to figure out their options for 2014.

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Politics & Government

Senate Advances Employment Non-Discrimination Act

5:08am November 05, 2013

by David Welna

With a vote of 61-30, the Senate voted to move forward on legislation that would prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Monday's vote opens the floor to debate on the bill and the Senate is expected to schedule a full vote by week's end.

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Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announces Monday in St. Petersburg that he will run for governor as a Democrat.

Politics & Government

Now A Democrat, Ex-Florida Gov. Crist Tries To Get Old Job Back

7:42pm November 04, 2013

by Greg Allen

Charlie Crist left the Republican Party during a failed bid for Senate and later became a Democrat. Now he's running against Florida's current Republican governor, Rick Scott, a conservative elected with strong Tea Party support.

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NYC Race Focuses On Income Gap, But How Much Can A Mayor Do?

7:42pm November 04, 2013

by Joel Rose

Democrat Bill de Blasio is poised to become the next mayor of New York, in part because he made income inequality the central issue of his campaign. His "tale of two cities" narrative has resonated with voters. But there's debate about what he could do as mayor to narrow the income gap.

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Politics & Government

Va. Governor's Race May Be Proxy For Broader National Debate

5:28pm November 04, 2013

by Scott Horsley

The partial government shutdown could deliver its first political victim in Tuesday's elections. Republican Ken Cuccinelli is trailing in the Virginia governor's race. Opponents have tried to tar Cuccinelli with the shutdown and other unpopular Tea Party policies. Cuccinelli is linking Democratic opponent Terry McAuliffe to the troubled rollout of Obamacare.

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Veteran Pennsylvania Congressman Can't Escape GOP Civil War

5:28pm November 04, 2013

by Don Gonyea

Bill Shuster, a seven-term Republican congressman from rural, central Pennsylvania, has long been considered a social and fiscal conservative. But his vote to end the government shutdown and close alliance with Speaker John Boehner has put him on the list of GOP incumbents facing Tea Party-backed primary challenges next year.

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Newark Considers What Life Will Be Like After Cory Booker

11:22am November 04, 2013

by Sarah Gonzalez

As mayor, Booker brought lots of attention and investment to the New Jersey city. But now that he's a U.S. senator, will the trend continue? Booker helped change Newark's perception, but the city still faces persistent crime. Mayoral candidates are taking that issue — and their ideas for solving it — to voters.

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Politics & Government

Vaughan, Perkins Square Off in Greensboro Mayor's Race

11:03pm November 03, 2013

Robbie Perkins is running for re-election as mayor of Greensboro for the first time since he defeated former one-term mayor Bill Knight two years ago. But his campaign has been plagued by reports of his own personal financial struggles. His challenger, long-time council-member Nancy Barakat Vaughan, finished ten points ahead of Perkins in the Oct. 8 primary. A third candidate, George Hartzman, was eliminated in that primary.

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