Politics - Democratic Party

Dems alarmed as independents bolt
Politico – Wed Nov 18, 12:02 am ET

Mounting evidence that independent voters have soured on the Democrats is prompting a debate among party officials about what rhetorical and substantive changes are needed to halt the damage. Full Story »
Reid Pushes Party Holdouts to Vote for Health-Care Bill Debate
Bloomberg – Wed Nov 18, 12:01 am ET

Nov. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he’s close to unveiling legislation to overhaul the U.S. health-care system even as fellow Democrats raise concerns over issues from abortion to a government-run insurance plan. Full Story »
Democrats promise jobs bill
AP – Tue Nov 17, 9:37 pm ET

WASHINGTON - House Democrats are looking at swelling deficits further, at least temporarily, on a jobs-producing bill in response to double-digit unemployment and a sense within their ranks that the party needs to do more to put people back to work. Full Story »
House Dems sharpening "too big to fail" plan
Reuters – Tue Nov 17, 9:01 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A key U.S. congressional panel moved toward toughening a plan for dealing with "too big to fail" financial firms on Tuesday, while rejecting a Republican alternative that is expected to reappear later. Full Story »
House Likely to Delay Estate Tax Consideration
CQPolitics.com – Tue Nov 17, 12:37 pm ET

House Democrats are likely to delay consideration of estate tax legislation until after the Thanksgiving recess, aides said. Full Story »
Democrats Who Don't Retire Make Takeover Tougher
CQPolitics.com – Tue Nov 17, 12:01 am ET

A lack of competitive open-seat House races in 2010 could complicate Republican efforts to fully maximize a favorable national environment and make large seat gains after back-to-back elections where the political winds were blowing in the opposite direction. Full Story »
Democrats aim for climate bill by early 2010
Reuters – Mon Nov 16, 5:27 pm ET

AFP/Pool

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats will attempt to pass a climate-change bill in "early spring" of 2010, Senator John Kerry told reporters on Monday, further complicating prospects for an international summit on global warming next month. Full Story »
New York’s Paterson Loses Primary, General Elections, Poll Says
Bloomberg – Mon Nov 16, 1:17 pm ET

Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- New York Governor David Paterson’s popularity remains low and he would lose to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in a Democratic primary race by 75 percent to 16 percent, a Siena Research Institute poll shows. Full Story »
Anti-Castro Cubans shift funding to US Democrats
AFP – Mon Nov 16, 1:42 am ET

AFP/File

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Groups opposing Cuba's communist regime have dramatically shifted funding toward the US Democrats since the party took control of Congress in last year's elections, according to a study published on Monday. Full Story »
Reid’s Health Overhaul Bill Likely to Split Senate Democrats
Bloomberg – Mon Nov 16, 12:01 am ET

Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will unveil legislation to overhaul the U.S. health-care system as early as this week. The floor debate that follows is likely to divide his Democratic Party. Full Story »
Dems, GOP split on NY trials of alleged terrorists
AP – Sun Nov 15, 5:43 pm ET

WASHINGTON - Bringing those accused in the Sept. 11 attacks to New York for trial would increase the security threat to the city and give radical Islamists a platform to propagate their ideology, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Sunday. Full Story »
Dems may lose Catholics over abortion
Politico – Sun Nov 15, 6:57 am ET

Reuters

Hanging in the balance are millions of Catholic swing voters who moved decisively to the Democrats in 2008 and who could shift away just as readily in 2010. Full Story »
Dems jam GOP with Franken vote
Politico – Thu Nov 12, 2:26 pm ET

When Al Franken ran for the Senate last year, the former “Saturday Night Live” star had to reassure skeptics that the fierce partisan attacks he lobbed at Republicans as an author and radio host wouldn’t define his style as a legislator. Full Story »
Analysis: 2010 To Be Referendum On Obama
CQPolitics.com – Thu Nov 12, 7:06 am ET

Two years ago, Democrat Bobby Bright, then the mayor of Montgomery, Ala., wouldn't even admit who he was supporting in the presidential election. Now he's one of 49 Democrats who represent House districts that Republican John McCain won. Full Story »
Reid Faces Challenge Crafting Abortion Curbs in Health Care Bill
CQPolitics.com – Wed Nov 11, 1:50 pm ET

Senate Democrats are bracing for a floor fight on abortion when debate begins on health care overhaul legislation, as Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., probably will not include restrictions stringent enough to satisfy abortion opponents. Full Story »
'No easy way out' for Dems on abortion
Politico – Wed Nov 11, 4:44 am ET

The sudden spasm of intense debate over abortion on Capitol Hill this week threatens not only to stall the passage of health care legislation, but also to shatter the delicate cease-fire that has governed the abortion issue during the Obama era. Full Story »
Health vote pits Democrat vs. Democrat
Politico – Tue Nov 10, 8:15 pm ET

Democrats who thought a vote against the sweeping health care package would inoculate them from political attack are facing serious blowback from angry constituents and interest groups on the left — fierce opposition that could prove as consequential as anything Republicans could have thrown at them. Full Story »
Bill Clinton urges Senate Democrats to pass health bill
McClatchy Newspapers – Tue Nov 10, 5:21 pm ET

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats, struggling to reach agreement on how to overhaul the country's health care system, got some practical political advice Tuesday from former President Bill Clinton, whose own effort collapsed 15 years ago. Full Story »