Capitol Briefing - News and Analysis From the Hill - August 24, 2008

Alaska Races, Post-Palin

The news that John McCain has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to serve as his running mate may only be a few hours old, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to November. The Alaska political world was already a confusing jumble before today's big announcement, so let's...

By Ben Pershing | August 29, 2008; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (40)
Categories: 2008 Campaign
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Palin and McCain Share Enemies, Reformist Bent

If the old adage is true that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," then John McCain and Sarah Palin may have been friends long before the Arizona senator picked the Alaska governor to be his running mate. Three years ago next month, McCain joined with a few conservative...

By Ben Pershing | August 29, 2008; 11:05 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (666)
Categories: 2008 Campaign , Ethics and Rules
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Cantor Chosen for VP! (By a Blog)

Three news items: 1) John McCain has picked a running mate and may announce/leak the choice tonight. 2) McCain has admitted he is computer "illiterate." Both of which make it unlikely that he will be much swayed by ... 3) "The Directors" of the conservative site Red State have endorsed...

By Ben Pershing | August 28, 2008; 2:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: 2008 Campaign , GOP Leaders , House
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Fossella's Drunk-Driving Trial Delayed

Retiring Rep. Vito Fossella's (R-N.Y.) defense team believes he will be able to beat the rap on charges stemming from his drunk-driving arrest back in May, but it needs just a wee bit more time to prove their case. Fossella's trial was scheduled to begin this morning in Alexandria General...

By Ben Pershing | August 28, 2008; 12:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Ethics and Rules , House
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Tight Alaska Race Could Take Weeks To Settle

With Rep. Don Young leading Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell by just 145 votes after Tuesday's Alaska GOP primary contest, both candidates may now have to wait at least three weeks before the winner is crowned. Nine precincts out of a total of 438 in the state still have to report,...

By Ben Pershing | August 27, 2008; 5:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: 2008 Campaign
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Florida Rep. Keller Gets Primary Scare

Alaska wasn't the only site of a close primary Tuesday, as GOP Rep. Ric Keller got a surprising scare in Florida's Orlando-based 8th district. Keller beat radio talk show host Todd Long, 53 percent to 47 percent, in a contest that was unexpectedly tight and raised questions about how vulnerable...

By Ben Pershing | August 27, 2008; 9:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: 2008 Campaign
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Stevens Wins Alaska Primary, Young in Dead Heat

UPDATE 8:30 AM EST: With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Young now leads Parnell by 145 votes. ORIGINAL POST: The two longest-serving -- and now, scandal-plagued -- pillars in Alaska politics faced the state's Repubican primary voters Tuesday, as Rep. Don Young was locked in a battle that was still...

By Ben Pershing | August 27, 2008; 7:40 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (63)
Categories: 2008 Campaign , Ethics and Rules
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Biden: Both a Rider and 'Champion' of Amtrak

By now you've probably heard that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), Barack Obama's vice-presidential pick, is such a homebody and all-around anti-D.C. guy that he rides Amtrak back and forth to Delaware every day when Congress is in session. But Biden isn't just one of the passenger rail system's most famous...

By Ben Pershing | August 26, 2008; 1:24 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: 2008 Campaign , Senate
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Polls Favor Democrat in Colo. Senate Race

With the eyes of the political world focused on Denver, Democrats are touting two new polls as evidence that the Colorado senate race is trending their way. A Suffolk University poll conducted in the state Aug. 21-24 showed Barack Obama leading John McCain in the presidential race, 44 percent to...

By Ben Pershing | August 25, 2008; 2:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: 2008 Campaign
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Capitol Briefing: August 24, 2008 - August 30, 2008