Liz Halloran

Gun control prospects recede as politics swamp momentum

Liz Halloran — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:36:58 +0000

President Obama's campaign for new federal gun control laws takes him to Colorado on Wednesday, and next week back to Connecticut, where the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre renewed the nation's fraught conversation about guns.

Though his trip to Connecticut was designed to coincide with the start of gun control debate in the U.S.

Skim milk, states' rights and clout: The high court and DOMA

Liz Halloran — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:46:35 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a challenge to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between "one man and one woman as husband and wife."

It was the court's second and final day of hearing appeals involving same-sex marriage laws.

Gay marriage arguments: cellphones, the Internet and fertility over 55

Liz Halloran — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:45:57 +0000

The U.S.

Obama's Win Powered By Organization, If Not Ideas

Liz Halloran — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:39:14 +0000

The euphoria of Barack Obama's supporters on election night four years ago was replaced Tuesday by relief, as the incumbent president won a second term over Republican Mitt Romney in an effort powered more by organization than by ideas.

To retain the White House, Obama managed to overcome the handicap of an economy just finding its footing after a devastating recession, and an unemployment rate higher than it's been under any president seeking re-election since Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

And in swing states that now serve as pickers of our presidents, Obama and his tea

GOP Eyes Gains As Voters In 11 States Pick Governors

Liz Halloran — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:46:22 +0000

Voters in 11 states will pick their governors tonight, and Republicans appear on track to increase their numbers by at least one, with the potential to extend their hold to more than two-thirds of the nation's top state offices.

Eight of the gubernatorial seats up for grabs are now held by Democrats; three are in Republican hands. Republicans currently hold 29 governorships, Democrats have 20, and Rhode Island's Gov.

Potential election day firsts: Races to watch

Liz Halloran — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 19:35:29 +0000

Election Day is promising many firsts — and not just the obvious ones.

Yes, the country could get its first Mormon president if Republican Mitt Romney is elected. And of course, it could get its first two-term African-American commander in chief if President Obama is re-elected.

But Tuesday offers a smorgasbord of other potential "first" opportunities across the nation — from New Hampshire, which could end up with the nation's first all-female congressional delegation, to Arizona, which could elect its first Hispanic U.S.

How To Read The Post-Sandy Polls

Liz Halloran — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:00:09 +0000

Hurricane Sandy's on-the-ground devastation has yet to be cataloged, and how the violent storm may affect the presidential campaign with just a week to Election Day is equally uncertain.

Will President Obama's response to the disaster help or hurt his re-election prospects?

Swing State Debate Watchers Give First Round To Romney, And Lehrer The Loss

Liz Halloran — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 05:04:17 +0000

We headed to Virginia's Prince William County, a swing county in a swing state, to watch Wednesday night's presidential debate with four undecided voters — three of whom voted for Barack Obama in 2008, one who voted for Republican John McCain.

They gathered in the Occoquan home of Kim Deal and Jim Drakes, and were joined by Connie Moser of Dale City and Al Alborn of Manassas.

The consensus of the group was that Republican Mitt Romney won the debate, putting together a more "focused and sincere" performance, Moser said, adding: "The president seemed to be struggling to make his point."

2012 gender gap could be historic – but not necessarily why you think

Liz Halloran — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:44:56 +0000

A slew of new presidential polls released this week not only confirm a long-established gender gap among voters, but also suggest that the male-female preference divide in this year's presidential contest could hit historic levels.

It may surprise that that divide appears not driven by social issues and arguments over reproductive care or choices, analysts say, but largely by the national conversation over the size of government.

"On the fundamental question of whether you want a smaller government with fewer services, or a bigger government with more services, women and men are in a very

Obama: 'Times have changed ... so have I'

Liz Halloran — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:54:30 +0000

Framing the coming election as a choice between fundamentally different visions, President Obama offered himself to the country Thursday as a fire-tested leader ready to finish the job he started.

"Our problems can be solved," Obama said. "Our challenges can be met."

It was an older, battle-scarred nominee who faced his party in Charlotte, N.C. This message of hope was tempered and longer-view — a good distance if not a full turn from the vision he offered four years ago when he accepted the nomination in a thundering Denver stadium.

The rah-rah rapture was yesterday.

Wonky Clinton wows convention in muscular Obama sales pitch

Liz Halloran — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:45:53 +0000

President Obama still has a case to make for a second term, and specific people to whom he needs to make it.

But while it's two months too early to call former President Bill Clinton Obama's closer, he came about as close as it gets Wednesday night at the Democratic convention with a bravura defense of the current White House occupant.

"We are here to nominate a president," Clinton said after strolling onto the stage to tumultuous applause, "and I've got one in mind."

What followed was a familiar and classic Clinton performance, tailored not to the audience in the Charlotte arena — or mi

Mormon Democrats Battling Romney — And What Would Be Church History

Liz Halloran — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:17:48 +0000

They billed the gathering in a Charlotte, N.C., Holiday Inn conference room Tuesday as the first national meeting of Mormon Democrats.

Don't laugh.

A fine night for Romney, but no game change

Liz Halloran — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:16:16 +0000

It's been the political world's obsession for weeks leading into the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Would nominee Mitt Romney manage what would be miraculous for any candidate, and in a handful of days and one big speech wash away the problems of a modern candidacy?

Turns out Romney's moment Thursday night was a fine one, if not a great one.

His speech continued the campaign's concerted effort to reach out to skeptical female voters, reminding the audience that his strong mother ran for Senate.

It spoke to those disillusioned with President Obama, and criticized his record on

Obama, at crossroads, takes different route than Clinton

Liz Halloran — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:51:14 +0000

As the president delivered the final State of the Union address of his term before a looming re-election battle, he looked out at a sea of angry and skeptical Republicans who had fought him on budgets, government shutdowns, and whether or not to raise the nation's debt ceiling.

And what did President Bill Clinton do in 1996?

He delivered his "the era of big government is over" speech, which The Washington Post summed up this way: "Clinton Embraced GOP Themes in Setting Agenda."

President Obama may be buffeted by nearly identical issues — including the specter of pugnacious Clint