WRAL.com Politics

State lawmaker calls for gas tax holiday

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:48:38 -0400

Presidential candidates have debated temporarily suspending the federal gas tax. Now, state lawmakers are looking at a gas tax holiday this summer.

Lawmakers debate prison spending, budget concerns

Fri, 16 May 2008 17:57:19 -0400

North Carolina's growing prison population is fast outstripping prison capacity, and state lawmakers are seeking solutions as they craft a budget.

Clinton unveils new ads in Oregon, Kentucky

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:23:52 -0400

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton unveiled three new ads Friday in the upcoming primary states of Oregon and Kentucky, including one that pokes fun at Washington pundits fixated on the presidential horse race.

Bush fails to win Saudi help on gas prices

Fri, 16 May 2008 21:11:13 -0400

President Bush failed to win the help he sought from Saudi Arabia to relieve skyrocketing American gas prices Friday, a setback for the former Texas oilman who took office predicting he would jawbone oil-producing nations to help the U.S.

McCain asks staff to disclose lobbying ties

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:23:53 -0400

John McCain's campaign is asking staff members to disclose all previous lobbying ties following the resignation of two officials linked to a firm that worked for Myanmar's military junta.

Outside groups plot out fall political campaign

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:56:14 -0400

For all the money and competitive zeal of this year's presidential contest, Democrats and Republicans are having difficulty financing and organizing the independent groups that supplied so much outside muscle in recent presidential campaigns.

Buoyed by recent wins, Democrats eye Southern seats

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:40:13 -0400

The political fortunes of Democrats down South once were so bad that people openly joked even Jesus Christ would lose by a double-digit margin if he ran for office on the party's ticket.

McCain courts NRA, makes gun shop visit

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:30:17 -0400

Courting his sometime critics within the gun lobby, John McCain told the National Rifle Association on Friday that Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton would both undermine the rights of gun owners.

Florida, Michigan cannot save Clinton

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:07:14 -0400

Michigan and Florida alone can't save Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign.

Obama criticizes McCain, Bush on appeasement talk

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:52:13 -0400

Barack Obama rebuked Republican rival John McCain and President Bush for "dishonest, divisive" attacks in hinting that the Democratic presidential candidate would appease terrorists, staunchly defending his national security credentials for the general election campaign.

Fiorina's new role with McCain campaign trades on time at HP

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:22:21 -0400

After running one of Silicon Valley's powerhouse companies for six years, Carly Fiorina now has her sights set on the White House.

Political expert: Edwards not a likely VP candidate

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:13:42 -0400

Political experts say John Edwards’ endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has benefitted both men.

Lawmakers want to repeal transfer tax

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:31:10 -0400

Some call the move pandering because sponsors of the revocation bill supported the controversial tax's approval last year.

E-mail panel proposes longer storage, better training

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:34:50 -0400

A panel reviewing state government e-mail storage policies says messages should be kept longer and state employees should be better trained about public records law.

Analysis: Gay marriage back as campaign issue

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:48:14 -0400

A California Supreme Court decision clearing the way for gay marriages in the state injects an element of uncertainty into a presidential race in which the Iraq war and the sputtering economy have largely overshadowed social issues.

Candidates in N.C. primary run-off

Fri, 16 May 2008 11:49:47 -0400

Six primary races were close enough to allow for a run-off election June 24.

Union tide turning for Obama

Thu, 15 May 2008 19:10:14 -0400

The union tide is turning toward Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama, but cracks are showing inside the labor movement as its leaders grapple with internal and external strife as the nomination race drags on.

Rep. Sue Myrick leaves hospital after flu-like symptoms

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:16:12 -0400

Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., has checked out of a Charlotte hospital after spending one night there with what a spokesman described as "flu-like symptoms."

Libertarians turn in signatures

Thu, 15 May 2008 17:59:25 -0400

The Libertarian Party of North Carolina believes it has enough signatures to get on the ballot in November.

McCain outlines vision of Iraq victory

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:43:18 -0400

Republican John McCain declared for the first time Thursday he believes the Iraq war can be won by 2013, although he rejected suggestions that his talk of a timetable put him on the same side as Democrats clamoring for full-scale troop withdrawals.

Obama says Bush falsely accused him of appeasement

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:09:18 -0400

Barack Obama accused President Bush of "a false political attack" Thursday after Bush warned in Israel against appeasing terrorists - early salvos in a general election campaign that's already blazing even as the Democratic front-runner tries to sew up his party's nomination.

Reports: Cheney's assets nearly triple Bush's

Thu, 15 May 2008 19:04:22 -0400

The millions of dollars in assets reported by Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynn, nearly triple those held by President Bush and the first lady, Laura Bush, according to newly released financial disclosure forms.

Old friends recall Obama's years in LA, NY

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:19:16 -0400

The way Sohale Siddiqi remembers it, he and his old roommate were walking his pug Charlie on Broadway when a large, scary bum approached them, stomping on the ground near the dog's head.

Third House loss shakes GOP, raises fears for fall

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:14:21 -0400

Stunned House Republicans vowed campaign changes Wednesday and debated the wisdom of attacking Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama in congressional races after their third straight election defeat in once-friendly territory.

Obama says Bush falsely accuses him of appeasement

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:19:09 -0400

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama accused President Bush on Thursday of launching a "false political attack" with a comment about appeasing terrorists and radicals.

Edwards makes his choice: Obama

Thu, 15 May 2008 06:16:27 -0400

John Edwards endorsed former rival Barack Obama on Wednesday, a move designed to help solidify support for the party's likely presidential nominee even as Hillary Clinton refuses to give up her candidacy.

Clinton vows to stay in race, regrets tension

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:15:45 -0400

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed to remain in the presidential race until the last primaries next month, but she hinted that the protracted contest with rival Barack Obama would end shortly thereafter.

N.C. lawmakers differ on business tax burden

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:15:45 -0400

North Carolina's legislative leaders have little appetite for new taxes this year, but their view of the state's tax burden - particularly for businesses - appears to fall along party lines.

Stung in W.Va., Obama appeals to working whites in Michigan

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:15:45 -0400

One day after an embarrassing rejection by West Virginia's blue-collar voters, Barack Obama on Wednesday plunged into the task of convincing working-class whites that he understands them and will do more to help them hold their jobs and pay their bills than Republican John McCain.

Cindy McCain sells Sudan-related investments

Thu, 15 May 2008 02:01:14 -0400

Cindy McCain, whose husband has been a critic of the violence in Sudan, sold off more than $2 million in mutual funds whose holdings include companies that do business in the African nation.

Lawmakers looking at fine print in Easley's budget

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:10:56 -0400

The General Assembly is still trying to get a handle on Gov. Mike Easley's budget plan for the coming fiscal year.

Kentucky demographics favor Clinton

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:21:14 -0400

Add a shot of whiskey and a pinch of tobacco and, politically, Kentucky is a lot like neighboring West Virginia - Clinton country.

Analysis: Maybe Obama should worry

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:10:56 -0400

Barack Obama is in hot pursuit of general election voters, hoping America won't notice he got his head handed to him in West Virginia.

Goodwin juggles lawmaking, newborn in N.C. House

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:05:12 -0400

Rep. Melanie Goodwin is taking the role of working mother to a new level at this year's session of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Clinton's W.Va. victory does little to slow Obama

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:59:03 -0400

Hours after being routed by Hillary Rodham Clinton in West Virginia, Barack Obama picked up two more superdelegates, offering fresh recognition from Democratic leaders of his inevitable nomination.