Parnell v. Palin: Alaska’s soon-to-be governor says he shares Palin’s values, not personality

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — After Sean Parnell becomes Alaska’s governor on Sunday, he’s promised to push many of Sarah Palin’s higher profile initiatives, like the natural gas pipeline.

Ala. Sen. Jeff Sessions reaches decision on Sotomayor, but not ready to make choice public

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee says he has made up his mind on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, but he’s not ready to make his decision public.

Dodd boasts about angering lobbyists but cashes in with their campaign checks

WASHINGTON — Facing the toughest re-election fight of his nearly 30 years in the Senate, Sen. Christopher Dodd boasts about snubbing lobbyists.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., the intellectual, has tasted the arena before

Decades ago — long before Harvard, long before his books and documentaries — Henry Louis Gates Jr. and some friends nearly set off a brawl trying to integrate a West Virginia club.

Obama raises millions for Democrats at 2 Chicago stops

CHICAGO — President Barack Obama raised millions of dollars Thursday for Democratic candidates in next year’s elections, making a side trip to his hometown of Chicago after pushing for health care changes in Cleveland.

Nominee for US ambassador to Japan allays lawmakers’ fears, says alliance will remain strong

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s nominee for chief U.S. diplomat to Japan sought Thursday to ease lawmakers’ worries that a win by Japan’s opposition party in next month’s crucial elections could signal a weakening in ties with the top American ally in Asia.

Ex-Christian Coalition firebrand looking for redemption with broader venture

ATLANTA — Ralph Reed was once a powerful force in Republican politics, able to marshal millions of religious conservatives to the polls while leading the Christian Coalition.

2 Dems, 2 ways to raise funds for Ala. gov’s race: Davis seeks NY money, Sparks holds fish fry

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Artur Davis’ campaign to become Alabama’s first black governor is drawing notice as far off as New York, where a prominent attorney organized a top-dollar fundraiser at his swanky Manhattan penthouse. A rival Democrat, Ron Sparks, is also angling for funds far ahead of the party’s 2010 primary — by calling all donors to a fish fry.

Obama’s health care overhaul on uncertain trajectory; 2 committees approve provisions

WASHINGTON — Working day and night, House Democrats advanced major health care legislation through two committees on Friday and struggled to line up the votes necessary to prevail in a third.

Obama’s health care overhaul on uncertain trajectory; committee approves tax provisions

WASHINGTON — Up one day. Down the next. Sometimes legislation to remake the nation’s health care system moves in both directions at once.

FEC says candidates can’t use campaign money to buy clothes

WASHINGTON — Candidates can’t use campaign money to improve their wardrobes, the Federal Election Commission said Thursday in a ruling that nonetheless dismissed a complaint against four congressional candidates who did just that.

Obama warns that without action health costs will keep rising as he touts proposal in NJ

HOLMDEL, N.J. — President Barack Obama returned to campaign-style rhetoric on Thursday, telling a political rally that inaction is not an option and urging allies to push for his overhaul of the nation’s health care system.

Obama warns that health costs will keep rising without action as he touts proposal in NJ

HOLMDEL, N.J. — President Barack Obama says he wants a health care overhaul this year and that costs will continue to rise without action.

Ky. Sen. Bunning raises $300K in 2nd quarter, less than his GOP and Democratic rivals

WASHINGTON — Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning raised $302,466 from April through June for his re-election campaign next year, about half the haul of a potential GOP rival.

President pursues health care, helps Dems, addresses NAACP

WASHINGTON — It’s a double celebration and a civil rights milestone: President Barack Obama tonight helps the NAACP celebrate its 100th anniversary, and the civil rights group celebrates the first African-American president of the United States.

Obama campaigns on health care as Hill Democrats move ahead despite Republican protests

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama achieved a milestone Wednesday when a Senate committee approved a plan to revamp the U.S. health care system.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand raises $1M more than likely primary challenger Maloney

WASHINGTON — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., raised nearly $1 million more than her likely Democratic primary challenger in the recent fundraising quarter.

Senate health committee is first panel to act; vote follows party lines

WASHINGTON — The Senate health committee has passed legislation to revamp health care, becoming the first congressional committee to act on President Barack Obama’s goal of overhauling the system this year.

US Sen. Arlen Specter raises $1.7 million; his likely primary challenger raises $1 million

WASHINGTON — During the fundraising quarter in which Sen. Arlen Specter switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, he raised about $1.7 million, his campaign said Tuesday.

Ill. Sen. Roland Burris bowing out of 2010 race leaves wide open field for seat with baggage

CHICAGO — Embattled Sen. Roland Burris may have relieved Illinois Democrats of their biggest political headache and reduced Republican chances of capturing a valuable Senate seat next year by announcing Friday he won’t run for a full term. Still, his withdrawal sets the stage for a major clash of political forces in 2010.

Obama chooses former DNC finance chair as ambassador to Germany

WASHINGTON — President Obama plans to nominate Philip Murphy, a former finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee, to be ambassador to Germany, the White House announced Thursday.

SF City College officials charged with using public money to pay for alcohol, parking tickets

SAN FRANCISCO — The former chancellor at the City College of San Francisco has been charged with making illegal campaign contributions and steering public funds to a secret account used in part to buy liquor and pay parking tickets, prosecutors said Wednesday.

GOP candidates in Virginia, New Jersey wary of potential campaign help from Palin

NEW YORK — Sarah Palin’s decision to step down as Alaska governor was driven in part by her wish to help Republican candidates across the country, associates say.

Michael Jackson _ White House guest now in the culture wars

NEW YORK — Michael Jackson was once so safe that presidents from both parties welcomed him to the White House. In death, after a scandal-filled decline, he is the latest target in the cultural war.

Palin keeps low-profile after surprise announcement she is stepping down as Alaska’s governor

JUNEAU, Alaska — Where is Sarah Palin?

Palin’s unexpected resignation raises questiones

WASILLA, Alaska — Even for a nonconformist, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has defied political logic with her sudden, stunning announcement to leave office more than a year early.

Feds bring charges against 90-something Seattle strip club mogul with rap sheet dating to ’40s

SEATTLE — At 92, Frank Colacurcio Sr. shows little sign of slowing down in a life of crime that began back in the FDR administration with a statutory rape conviction.

Federal election panel considers Sen. John Kerry’s request to invest campaign cash in movie

WASHINGTON — Federal election officials will have a hand in writing the script on Sen. John Kerry’s plans to become a movie producer.

Former Georgia congressman Swindall indicted in alleged campaign contribution scheme

ATLANTA — A former Georgia congressman has been charged with conspiracy and telling lies in an alleged campaign contribution scheme linked to a 2005 Atlanta city council election.

Watchdog group asks Senate Ethics Committee and FEC to investigate Ensign affair

WASHINGTON — A watchdog group alleged Wednesday that Sen. John Ensign violated the Senate’s ethics rules by engaging in an affair with a campaign aide who was married to his administrative assistant, then terminating their employment.