Clearly, the Obama presidency hasn't wiped out racial prejudices.

Anything can go wrong in a debate, and Obama is not a perfect debater.

Election night is the easiest time to act like a grownup.

At his best, Obama promised to work with Republicans to reduce the deficit in a way that honors both individualism and community.

You can almost see voters nodding their heads at home: The public's faith in politicians and political institutions has been on a steep and dangerous decline for decades, because elected leaders fail to deliver.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most influential woman in Washington - for what she has accomplished and for what she may yet do: win the presidency.

Like a cowboy saddling a bucking stallion, Republican leaders tried to tame the Tea Party while riding it to victories.