Constitutional amendments defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman were approved in three more states on Tuesday – most significantly in California where the state supreme court legalized gay marriage back in May. So why did the amendment succeed? Why did the public schools become a major issue in the debate? Would a court challenge to the amendment succeed? And what happens to all the gay ‘marriages’ performed over the past six months? We ask Matt Staver, Chairman of Liberty Counsel, which argued for traditional marriage before the California high court.
Dateline Washington: Seismic Shift or Simple Fatigue?
Is Barack Obama’s convincing victory a sign that a political transformation is happening in this country? Or were voters just tired of the status quo based on the narrow wins for Obama in virtually every key state? Did John McCain lose because of the conditions in the country or because he run a bad campaign? Did Sarah Palin help or hurt the ticket? We ask all these questions to longtime USA TODAY White House Correspondent Richard Benedetto.
Victory for Obama
Was the Obama campaign surprised to win so many of the battleground states? Why does Obama call campaign manager David Plouffe the “unsung hero” of his campaign? Will Obama govern from the left or from the center? And what will be some of the first steps in his transition to the White House? We ask Christina Bellantoni, National Political Reporter for The Washington Times.
Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter on Rough Republican Election
How do Republicans explain the Democratic wins on both sides of Capitol Hill and for the White House? What lessons have been learned for future campaigns and for their work over the next two years? What issues will be most important in the next Congress? And why did Republicans lose two House seats in Michigan? We ask Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, a member of the House Republican Leadership.
Dateline Washington: The Obama Transition
Was the Obama campaign surprised to win so many of the battleground states? Why does Obama call campaign manager David Plouffe the “unsung hero” of his campaign? Will Obama govern from the left or from the center? And what will be some of the first steps in his transition to the White House? We ask Christina Bellantoni, National Political Reporter for The Washington Times.
Dateline Washington: Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter Offers Republican Election Reaction
How do Republicans explain the Democratic wins on both sides of Capitol Hill and for the White House? What lessons have been learned for future campaigns and for their work over the next two years? What issues will be most important in the next Congress? And why did Republicans lose two House seats in Michigan? We ask Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, a member of the House Republican Leadership.
Why the Dems Gained in Congress and A Look at Their Agenda
Democrats not only claimed the White House on Tuesday night, but built larger majorities in the House and Senate as well. Democrats have gained at least five Senate seats and could grab a couple more before the night is over. So why did the Dems succeed in most of the battleground races and how will that impact their agenda? What will be their legislative priorities? And what lessons can both parties learn from the fact that a sizable Republican majority four years ago
Democrats Make House Gains
The 2008 election is breaking right for Democrats at every step on the national level. Barack Obama is on the verge of an electoral vote victory, Democrats are about halfway to a filibuster proof U.S. Senate and their already comfortable lead in the House of Representatives is getting bigger too. Democrats have successfully ousted longtime Connecticut Rep. Christopher Shays, Florida Reps. Ric Keller and Tom Feeney, North Carolina’s Robin Hayes and many more are still fighting for survival.
Stay tuned to this space for more updates on the House races.
Democrats Gain Four Senate Seats…So Far
Democrats are hoping to build a filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate. They need to pick up nine seats to accomplish that goal. At 10 p.m. Eastern, Democrats have captured seats in New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina and New Mexico. We’re still watching key races in Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon and Alaska.
Obama Wins Ohio…Victory Seems Assured
Barack Obama seems on cruise control to victory tonight after winning the critical battleground state of Ohio. Obama is also looking strong in previously red states like Florida and North Carolina. So why did Obama win? Are voters really enamored with him or fed up with Republicans? Does he have a mandate or does he need to lead from the center? We ask longtime Democratic strategist Michael Lewan, a former Chief of Staff to Sen. Joe Lieberman.