WRAL.com Politics

Edwards praises Obama, but doesn't endorse

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:01:36 -0400

Former presidential candidate John Edwards told NBC's "Today" show that Barack Obama can unite the Democratic party, bring in new voters and get people excited about change.

Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement

Fri, 09 May 2008 17:49:15 -0400

Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Military adds armor to Iraq vehicles as roadside bombs surge

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:24:34 -0400

The U.S. military is reinforcing the sides of its topline mine-resistant vehicles to shore up what could be weak points as troops see a spike in armor-piercing roadside bombings across Iraq, The Associated Press has learned.

In Oregon, Clinton hits Obama while he targets McCain

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:24:34 -0400

Campaigning a few miles from each other Friday, Barack Obama trained his eye on November and the GOP, while Hillary Rodham Clinton battled for her political life, trying to hang on a bit longer in hopes of denying him the Democratic presidential nomination.

McCain says he voted for Bush

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:24:34 -0400

Republican John McCain on Friday disputed blogger Arianna Huffington's contention that she heard him say he voted against President Bush in 2000.

Cary proposes smaller budget

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:57:25 -0400

Town Manager Bill Coleman's budget plan for next year would cut property taxes while adding personnel to maintain local services.

Beat the Press: High-flying Obama plays to win

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:06:49 -0400

Perhaps Barack Obama's competitive juices need new outlets now that he has expanded his lead over Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Unions focus against McCain as Democrats still battling

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:18:00 -0400

Organized labor is paying more attention to Republican John McCain as Democrat Barack Obama solidifies his status as the front-runner in the Democratic contest against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

House approves housing rescue plan, defying veto threat

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:49:37 -0400

The House on Thursday passed a massive homeowner rescue plan to provide cheaper, government-backed mortgages to half a million debt-ridden borrowers and bolster an economy crippled by the housing crisis.

Easley: Community colleges should admit illegal immigrants

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:11:02 -0400

Gov. Mike Easley said Thursday the state's community colleges should stick to a policy of admitting all eligible illegal immigrants.

Congressman Miller endorses Obama

Thu, 08 May 2008 18:04:13 -0400

Rep. Brad Miller endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday, becoming the third North Carolina superdelegate to pledge support to the Illinois senator since his convincing win in the state's primary.

Obama gets big welcome, fresh support on Capitol tour

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:07:20 -0400

Sen. Barack Obama got a front-runner's welcome back at the Capitol Thursday, pressing congressional "superdelegates" to support him in a visit that had the look and feel of a campaign victory lap.

Gurley: Wake schools should fire attorneys

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:14:59 -0400

A Wake County commissioner urged the county school system to fire its attorneys because of confusion that officials said cost local taxpayers more than $600,000.

Easley budgets money for children, needy

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:01:01 -0400

Gov. Mike Easley said Thursday that his 2008-09 budget proposal will recommend spending $31 million to help children and others in need.

Mecklenburg officials find absentee ballots counted twice

Thu, 08 May 2008 18:27:12 -0400

Mecklenburg County election officials say some absentee ballots sent in by mail for Tuesday's primary were initially counted twice.

Armstrong urges Congress to renew war on cancer

Thu, 08 May 2008 21:31:13 -0400

Seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong is calling on Congress to renew the nation's war on cancer.

Clinton presses on, urges supporters to ignore calls to quit

Fri, 09 May 2008 04:07:12 -0400

Her voice raspy, her tone determined, Hillary Rodham Clinton urged her supporters Thursday to ignore the political pundits who have declared her toast.

House passes broad housing rescue despite veto threat

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:41:58 -0400

The House has passed a housing aid plan to provide $300 billion in refinanced mortgages for struggling homeowners. President Bush says he'll veto the bill. It passed 266-154 with support from 39 Republicans.

NY congressman admits child from affair

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:41:58 -0400

Rep. Vito Fossella of New York ran a red light, and wrecked his life. A drunk-driving arrest last week led to talk of an extramarital affair, and then finally Thursday, an admission of a child from that affair.

Navy releases McCain's military record

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:29:45 -0400

From his five years in a North Vietnamese prison camp to his tenure as the Navy's liaison to the Senate, John McCain's Navy record boils down to a series of unadorned paragraphs that bestow upon him some of the nation's top military honors.

Mich. Dems settle on delegate-seating plan to bring to DNC

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:01:01 -0400

Michigan Democratic leaders on Wednesday settled on a plan to give presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton 69 delegates and Barack Obama 59 as a way to get the state's delegates seated at the national convention.

Florida Dems: We're closing in on deal to seat delegation

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:24:10 -0400

Florida Democrats say they're on the verge of finishing a plan to have the state's delegates counted toward the party's presidential nomination.

Will Obama’s North Carolina win be seen as Clinton's last stand?

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:04:09 -0400

After Barack Obama's strong win in the state's primary, North Carolina Democrats have started to coalesce around the senator from Illinois, with more to come, strategists say.

Parties try to unify after bruising primaries

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:10:56 -0400

Republicans did a better job at pulling together quickly in the run for governor than did Democrats.

After 0-for-20 on land tax, counties eye local sales tax

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:28:28 -0400

As a controversial tax on real estate sales continues to get pounded at the polls across the state, officials in some counties are looking at seeking approval for a local sales tax to help generate extra revenue.

Fuquay-Varina ignites annexation squabble with Holly Springs

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:38:51 -0400

Fuquay-Varina leaders want the land they say Holly Springs has intentions to take. Holly Springs leaders say they are not interested, but the people who live there say they are caught in the middle anyway.

Bush faults Democrats on housing crisis, energy and taxes

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:36:58 -0400

President Bush on Wednesday criticized Democrats in Congress for their approach to dealing with the nation's housing crisis and soaring energy prices and called anew for an extension of expiring tax cuts and government wiretapping authority.

McCain jokes about reputation for temper

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:06:39 -0400

Republican John McCain pretended to snarl when asked about his temper Wednesday.

Analysis: Democrats quietly send word to Clinton it's over

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:18:15 -0400

Apart from George McGovern, a plainspoken man who knows something about losing elections, not a single Democrat of national stature publicly urged Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday to end her campaign for the White House.

History of corruption clouds primary in northern Indiana

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:36:58 -0400

It was midnight and the nation was still awaiting results from the Indiana primary, one of the biggest remaining prizes of the epic Democratic presidential battle between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

Officials to push early voting before November

Wed, 07 May 2008 13:15:05 -0400

After seeing record turnout for Tuesday's primary, state elections officials said they plan to place more emphasis on early voting before the November general election.

Obama weighs next moves, maps out general election strategy

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:49:09 -0400

Barack Obama's campaign on Wednesday sought to increase pressure on Hillary Rodham Clinton to wrap up the drawn-out Democratic nomination race as it mapped out a general-election strategy that will involve early campaigning in battleground states that have already held primaries.

Lawmakers dogged by problems defeated

Wed, 07 May 2008 13:03:32 -0400

Two state House members who have been battered by ethics or criminal charges were defeated in Tuesday's primary.

N.C. House candidate wins despite concession

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:19:13 -0400

Democratic state House candidate Stan Morse won his primary race, even though he gave up on his campaign a day earlier.

Obama, McCain win in N.C.

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:55:01 -0400

Barack Obama took North Carolina's nod for the Democratic presidential nomination, while John McCain did so among Republicans. Hillary Clinton pulled off a victory in Indiana.