Obama, Clinton Collect Biggest War Chests

Remember, that was his deal in '08 campaign

(NEWSER) - If there’s one person to thank for the health-reform measure that passed the House yesterday, it’s John Edwards … really. It was Edwards, Chris Good points out, who was on stump talking about health care in 2007, even when it wasn’t a huge issue for voters, and well before Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama—and Edwards had an actual plan well before either of his Democratic primary competitors. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is wielding his clout to try to win the Summer Olympics for Chicago in 2016, which, if you follow the bouncing political ball, could be great news for Hillary Clinton or another lucky Democrat, writes Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com. Here's the logic: The Olympics create a groundswell of patriotism that usually pays off for the president in office. In fact, three of four incumbents won re-election in a landslide when the US hosted the summer Games, notes Silver. More»

'Unbelievable' sum of money fuels runoff for Senate seat

(NEWSER) - With Democrats just two seats away from mounting a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, GOP donors are injecting millions into Georgia’s runoff election, USA Today reports. Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss raised $1.6 million in large contributions in about a week, compared to $462,000 for Democrat Jim Martin. Chambliss also has pulled in $2.5 million the last few weeks from groups such as the NRA, about double Martin's haul from outside groups. More»

Senator calls on New Yorkers to support her former rival

(NEWSER) - It’s time to make a clean break from the "disastrous policies" of the past eight years, and the man to “chart a new course” is Barack Obama, writes Hillary Clinton of her one-time rival in a column in the New York Daily News. “We find ourselves in an economic crisis born and bred by the failed policies of Washington Republicans. And the fact is, President Bush has practiced what John McCain has preached," she notes. More»

Party faithful split on politics but united in distrust

(NEWSER) - Vastly different crowds appear at the rallies of the candidates who started their campaigns calling for bipartisan unity, a roving New York Times reporter finds. Republican rallygoers shout to a country-pop soundtrack; the Democratic faithful dance to folk and Motown. Flag pins, pompoms, and patriotic songs define GOP gatherings, while Dems favor buttons and the word "change." More»