Congressional Elections | featured news

Admonishing his own party, President Barack Obama says it would be inexcusable and irresponsible for unenthusiastic Democratic voters to sit out the midterm elections, warning that the consequences could be a squandered agenda for years.

Top Republican and Democratic officials skirmished on Sunday over the timing of a vote on extending tax cuts, seeking an edge ahead November congressional elections likely to be dominated by job anxiety.

Democrat Jerry Brown has moved into a narrow lead over Republican Meg Whitman in their fractious contest for governor, while his party colleague Barbara Boxer has opened a wider margin over GOP nominee Carly Fiorina in the race for U.S.

If anyone is scorned as much as Democrats these days, it's Republicans - the party that may recapture the House and perhaps the Senate in November's elections.

Although her job performance ratings are at an all-time low, Sen. Barbara Boxer has increased her lead over Republican challenger Carly Fiorina in California's U.S. Senate race, with the three-term incumbent leading the former Hewlett-Packard CEO 47 to 41 percent, according to a Field Poll released today.

The measure's passage ends months of partisan delay. The wait for action was agonizing for small-business owners, many of whom have been seeking loans for months in the tight credit market. Ending months of partisan delay, the House gave final passage Thursday to a small-business tax and lending assistance bill, handing Democrats a legislative victory on the economic issues central to the midterm elections.

The Senate will not vote on renewing Bush-era tax cuts before the November 2 elections, a spokesman for the Majority leader said on Thursday, as Democrats face internal divisions and potential Republican obstacles.

Democrats cannot decide whether to hold a vote on extending tax cuts, as some lawmakers fear the issue could hurt their re-election chances in November.

Heatedly contested races in this fall's midterm elections and a Supreme Court decision that ended certain spending restrictions could boost political advertising spending on TV stations 25%-plus compared with 2006 and produce a revenue windfall for broadcasters, according to a new study from research firm SNL Kagan.

First lady Michelle Obama, who typically avoids partisan politics, is about to go out on the campaign trail for the first time this year.