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  • Schweitzer decision boosts GOP chances in Senate

    KEN THOMAS Associated Press|Updated Jul 13, 2013

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans received a boost in their attempt to win back the majority in the Senate next year when a former Democratic governor bowed out of Montana's open Senate race, a development that could further hamper President Barack Obama's agenda during his final two years in office. Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Saturday he would not run for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Max Baucus in 2014, dealing a blow to Democrats who considered the popular ex-governor their best chance of keeping the o...

  • Game on: Early GOP auditions for 2016 election

    KEN THOMAS, STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press

    OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Only months after President Barack Obama's re-election, an annual gathering of conservatives served as an audition for Republicans looking to court conservative activists and raise their profile, all with an eye toward greater political ambitions. It may seem early, but the activists who attended the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference are already picking favorites in what could be a crowded Republican presidential primary in 2016. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker gestur...

  • Obama honors fallen troops at Arlington Cemetery

    KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

    ARLINGTON, Va. — President Barack Obama paid tribute Monday to the men and women who have died defending America, saying the country must strive "to be a nation worthy of your sacrifice." He said the war in Iraq has ended after nine years and is "winding down" in Afghanistan. But he conceded that the pain of war lingers for the families of those lost in battle, noting mourners can be seen daily at Arlington National Cemetery daily, not just on Memorial Day. AP Photo/Charles Dharapak Honor Guard members depart after P...

  • More Secret Service agents gone; Obama briefed

    ALICIA A. CALDWELL, KEN THOMAS,Associated Press

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Three more Secret Service officers resigned Friday in the expanding prostitution scandal that has brought scorching criticism of agents' behavior in Colombia just before President Barack Obama's visit for a summit meeting last week. Agency Director Mark Sullivan came to the White House late Friday to personally brief Obama in the Oval Office. The Secret Service announced the new resignations, bringing to six the number of agency officers who have lost their jobs so far because of events at their hotel in C...

  • Obama has concerns over Internet priacy bills

    KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration raised concerns Saturday about efforts in Congress that it said would undermine "the dynamic, innovative global Internet," urging lawmakers to approve measures this year that balance the need to fight piracy and counterfeiting against an open Internet. White House officials said in a blog post that it would not support pending legislation that "reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk" or undermines the global Internet, cautioning the measure could discourage i...

  • Obama has concerns over Internet priacy bills

    KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration raised concerns Saturday about efforts in Congress that it said would undermine "the dynamic, innovative global Internet," urging lawmakers to approve measures this year that balance the need to fight piracy and counterfeiting against an open Internet. White House officials said in a blog post that it would not support pending legislation that "reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk" or undermines the global Internet, cautioning the measure could discourage i...

  • Obama trying to avoid miscue in first debate

    JULIE PACE, KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

    HENDERSON, Nev. — President Barack Obama has one mission heading into his first debate with Republican Mitt Romney: Don't screw things up. Less than five weeks from Election Day, Obama has political momentum and an edge in polls of the battleground states that will determine the election. But he's sure to face a blistering challenge from Romney, who needs to use Wednesday's debate in Denver to change the trajectory of the race. AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, File President Barack Obama waves to supporters as he arrives at M...

  • GOP-leaning group targets Senate Democrats

    KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

    WASHINGTON — Crossroads GPS, a conservative group connected to Republican strategist Karl Rove, is releasing a new ad campaign that targets five Democratic senators up for re-election in 2012 on taxes and spending, potent issues as President Barack Obama and Congress attempt to address the federal debt. The group said it would spend $1.6 million to run ads through Aug. 6 that focus on Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. The D...

  • Obama wants payroll tax extended for entire year

    KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama, rebuffed by Congress on a yearlong extension of a Social Security payroll tax cut, said Saturday that it would be "inexcusable" for lawmakers not to lengthen the short-term deal when they return from their holiday break. The measure, passed by the Senate shortly before the president spoke briefly at the White House, would extend the tax cut and long-term jobless benefits for just two months — a partial victory for Obama that also sets the stage for another fight in February. Whi...

  • AP-GfK Poll: More than half say Obama should lose

    JENNIFER AGIESTA, KEN THOMAS - Associated Press

    WASHINGTON — Entering 2012, President Barack Obama's re-election prospects are essentially a 50-50 proposition, with a majority saying the president deserves to be voted out of office despite concerns about the Republican alternatives, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Obama's overall poll numbers suggest he's in jeopardy of losing, even as the public's outlook on the economy appears to be improving, the AP-GfK poll found. For the first time since spring, more said the economy got better in the past month than s...

  • Democrats encouraged about Obama in 2012

    KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

    WASHINGTON — After a dreary summer marred by the fight over government borrowing, rank-and-file Democrats say they are growing more optimistic about President Barack Obama's political prospects in 2012. They cite his tougher, more populist tone and what they view as a chaotic primary fight among Republicans. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File President Barack Obama talks about the economy at Osawatomie High School in Osawatomie, Kansas. Many Democrats acknowledged that high unemployment and economic uncertainty create f...

  • Feds investigating Prius brakes

    KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON

    The Transportation Department opened an investigation today into brake problems in the 2010 Prius, the latest in a series of safety troubles at Toyota that have confused drivers and strained the Japanese automaker's relationship with U.S. regulators. Toyota earlier this morning acknowledged design problems with the brakes in its prized gas-electric hybrid but said it was still deciding how to inform customers and whether a recall is needed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Transportation Department's...

  • U.S. launches new fuel efficiency rules

    KEN THOMAS Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON

    The U.S. government is setting tough gas mileage standards for new cars and trucks, spurring the next generation of fuel-sipping gaselectric hybrids, ef f icient engines and electric cars. T h e h e a d s o f t h e Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday will sign final rules requiring 2016 modelyear vehicles to meet fuel efficiency targets of 35.5 miles per gallon combined for cars and trucks, an increase of nearly 10 mpg over current standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety...

  • Toyota tells dealers parts are on way

    KEN THOMAS TOM KRISHER Associated Press Writers WASHINGTON

    Toyota Motor Corp. said this morning its dealers should get parts to fix a sticky gas pedal problem by the end of this week as the automaker apologized to customers and tried to bring an end to a recall that has affected 4.2 million vehicles worldwide. The company said in a statement that it has begun shipping parts and is training dealers on the repairs. Some dealers will stay open around the clock to fix the 2.3 million cars and trucks affected by the recall in the U.S. Technical bulletins on how to install the new parts sh...