Kansas City Star: Elections

Lose your shirt, but keep your right

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:48 CDT

Many voters may be tempted to run out of the house wearing their “Obama for President” T-shirts or their “Pit Bull with Lipstick” buttons as they head for the polls on Tuesday.

Campaign for seats on Kansas Board of Education runs quiet

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:48 CDT

This year's campaign for five seats on the Kansas Board of Education has been relatively quiet.

Missouri's 5th Congressional District: Meet the candidates

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:52 CDT

The 5th Congressional District includes that part of Kansas City in Jackson County — rich in Democratic votes. But it also includes large areas where Republican votes are easier to come by: Lee's Summit, Raymore and Belton. Still, the last time a Republican held the seat was in 1948. And 5th District incumbents traditionally don't leave office until they're ready to.

Lawyers eye Missouri on Tuesday

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:09 CDT

The first thing we do, let’s hire all the lawyers. William Shakespeare didn’t write that, exactly — he suggested a more drastic prescription — but he never watched an American election, either.

Northland family appeared in half-hour Obama commercial

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:09 CDT

For a few minutes, Rebecca Johnston’s family stood center stage before America in the presidential campaign between Barack Obama and John McCain.

Picture this presidency: How would Obama govern?

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:54 CDT

'08 has been one for the books. And what if more history is made next week and Sen. Barack Obama is elected the 44th president? What would his administration look like? The Star has taken a look at eight possible priorities for the Democrat, at eight top Cabinet posts and how he might fill them, and even more “eights.”

Commission won't pressure Toplikar

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:30 CDT

Johnson County commissioners agreed Monday that they would take no action against fellow commissioner John Toplikar, who is accused of stealing a political opponent's campaign signs.

Missouri campaign contribution data released

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:54 CDT

JEFFERSON CITY | Eight-day campaign finance reports are in, providing the latest-breaking look at candidates' fund-raising and -spending before Election Day.

JoCo commissioner charged with stealing political signs

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:15 CDT

Olathe police cited Johnson County Commissioner John M. Toplikar on a charge of misdemeanor theft over the weekend -- for stealing two of his opponent’s campaign signs. The wife of Toplikar's opponent and a volunteer captured the incident on video.

Johnson County commissioner charged with stealing campaign signs

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:33 CDT

Olathe police cited Johnson County Commissioner John M. Toplikar on a charge of misdemeanor theft over the weekend.

U.S. attorney to handle Election Day issues

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:12 CDT

The U.S. attorney’s office announced Monday that it had appointed a prosecutor to oversee complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses Nov. 4.

Questions surface about costs of promises in governor's race

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:09 CDT

As the race for governor enters its final days, questions are emerging about the potential cost of all those campaign promises to expand health care, education and job training.

A look at Moore's and Jordan's campaign ad claims

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:09 CDT

Negative ads from Dennis Moore and Nick Jordan are saturating local newscasts. But what can you believe?

PAC controlled by Sebelius spends $300,000 for Democratic candidates in Kansas

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:09 CDT

TOPEKA | Republicans who complain that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has turned her back on Kansas got a painful reminder otherwise this week.

Finance reports show Nixon has advantage

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:30 CDT

Jay Nixon continued his fundraising pace in October, taking in $2.55 million, as the Democratic candidate for governor brought his total fundraising to $14.7 million.

Light-rail vote can proceed, court says

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:30 CDT

A Jackson County judge on Monday refused to delay next week's light-rail election in Kansas City.

Carnahan predicts 76 percent Election Day turnout in Missouri

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:30 CDT

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan on Monday forecast a whopping 76 percent Election Day turnout, and warned some voters will find long lines at polling places.

Campaign 2008: That's entertainment

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:28 CST

I'm already missing the 2008 campaign. I'm going to miss it the way I miss “The Wire.” The way I missed “Survivor” after Richard won. The way I missed France after Lance.

Obama taps passionate defender for press secretary

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:47 CST

Two of the top qualities Robert Gibbs brings to the job of White House press secretary aren't found on his resume: He won't flinch at telling it like it is to the next president or telling it like he thinks it ought to be to the media.

Obama names longtime spokesman Gibbs press chief

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:18 CST

President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday named longtime spokesman Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary and reached outside his inner circle for the post of White House communications director.

Obama to name Geithner, Summers to economic posts

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:33 CST

President-elect Barack Obama will announce the leaders of his economic team Monday, naming Timothy Geithner as treasury secretary and Lawrence Summers to direct the National Economic Council, transition officials said.

Chicago, Clinton camps feed Obama's incoming team

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:52 CST

Two main quarries are supplying the building blocks for President-elect Barack Obama's new administration.

Oprah, Leno, Letterman: What's Palin to do next?

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:13 CST

Sarah Palin is juggling offers to write books, appear in films and sit on dozens of interview couches at a rate astonishing for most Hollywood stars, let alone a first-term governor.

Obama weighs names for top posts

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:08 CST

President-elect Barack Obama is weighing an array of Washington insiders and outsiders, including some Republicans, for Cabinet and other top positions, according to Democratic and transition officials. They include:

Obama grabs lunch at local deli, greets patrons

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:33 CST

President-elect Barack Obama grabbed his lunch to go Friday and artfully dodged a question about the auto industry woes he'll inherit.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson plans return to acting

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:09 CST

Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson is going back to the small screen after his foray into Republican presidential politics over the last year.

Early, absentee voting pushed Obama to win in Fla.

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:15 CST

More Floridians voted for John McCain than Barack Obama on Election Day, but the Democrat sealed his victory in the state by winning more early and absentee votes.

Bum nominations hard to avoid, history shows

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:26 CST

No matter how careful he is, sooner or later President-elect Barack Obama is likely to make a bum nomination or two.

Politics' next step? Donations go high text

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:36 CST

In a 2008 Super Bowl ad, NFL golden boy Tom Brady asked nearly 100 million viewers to text "FIT" to donate $5 to the United Way. About 25,000 people responded, raising $10,000.

Dems: Napolitano emerges for Homeland Security job

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:34 CST

President-elect Barack Obama is likely to choose Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to be secretary of homeland security, top Obama advisers and several Democrats said Thursday as the shape of Obama's Cabinet begins to emerge.

Holder's likely nomination revives pardon furor

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:24 CST

Eric Holder is in line for nomination by President-elect Barack Obama to the attorney general's job that Holder has long wanted, but the 2001 episode with fugitive financier Marc Rich is stirring partisan acrimony.

Hillary Clinton weighing secretary of state post

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:34 CST

Former President Bill Clinton has agreed to publicly disclose the names of most donors to his presidential foundation and library, a significant concession aimed at helping smooth the path for his wife to become the next secretary of state.

Boss gives Biden cupcakes for his 66th birthday

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:01 CST

What does an accomplished man of the world get for his 66th birthday?

Obama puts longtime aides at White House

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:31 CST

President-elect Barack Obama is putting some longtime aides in senior posts at his White House.

Who's in the running for Obama administration jobs

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:01 CST

It's Washington's favorite parlor game during a presidential transition: trying to figure out who'll land a top spot in the new administration. President-elect Barack Obama is weighing an array of Washington insiders and outsiders, including some Republicans, for Cabinet and other top positions, according to Democratic officials.

McCain wins Missouri in close race against Obama

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:21 CST

Republican John McCain has defeated President-elect Barack Obama in Missouri - the last state to be decided in the 2008 presidential election.

Dem officials: Daschle accepts HHS Cabinet post

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:24 CST

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, Democratic officials said Wednesday. The appointment has not been announced, but these officials said the job is Daschle's, barring an unforeseen problem as Obama's team reviews the background of the South Dakota Democrat.

Huckabee won't rule out 2012 run for president

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:51 CST

Mike Huckabee wouldn't rule out a 2012 run for president Wednesday, but he acknowledged it could be hard to take back the spotlight from fellow Republican Sarah Palin. "I'm not ruling anything out for the future, but I'm not making any specific plans," Huckabee told reporters at a briefing to promote his new book, "Do the Right Thing."