David Sherfinski

Majorities disapprove of how Obama is handling Islamic State, terrorism: poll

More than 50 percent of Americans disapprove of how President Obama is handling the Islamic State terrorist group and terrorism overall, but a new poll also shows they think Congress should give him the authority to continue fight the group, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

February 17, 2015

Virginia collects $136 million more in revenue than expected

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Monday announced an additional $136 million in state revenue as a result of a final midsession analysis, putting the commonwealth's finances in better shape as lawmakers weigh amendments to the current two-year budget.

February 16, 2015

GOP 2016 race wide open in early primary states

Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina help kick off the GOP's primary calendar next year — and a different candidate is leading the early polls in each of them, signaling just how wide open the contest is.

February 16, 2015

Chris Christie scheduled to hit New Hampshire Monday

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to brave the New England weather and head to New Hampshire on Monday for his first visit to the early presidential state since the 2014 midterm elections.

February 16, 2015

Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition announces speakers for spring kickoff

The Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition announced Monday that a handful of potential presidential contenders are slated to speak at the group's 15th annual spring kickoff on April 25.

February 16, 2015

Russia now U.S.’s greatest enemy, Americans say

Russia has surpassed North Korea as the United States' greatest enemy in the minds of Americans amid heightened tensions between the two countries in recent years.

February 16, 2015

Lindsey Graham leads potential 2016 GOP candidates in South Carolina

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sits atop a host of potential 2016 GOP presidential contenders in a new poll on the early primary state.

February 16, 2015

Mike Huckabee leads potential 2016 GOP contenders in new Iowa poll

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the state of Iowa during his 2008 presidential run, leads among potential 2016 Republican caucus attendees in the Hawkeye State in a new NBC News/Marist poll.

February 16, 2015

Jeb Bush’s new PAC doles out more than $122K in about five weeks

The "Right to Rise" political action committee formed last month by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced Friday that it has doled out its "first round" of contributions to conservatives running in 2016 totaling nearly $123,000.

February 13, 2015

Scott Walker on leaving college early: ‘Graduate degree in taking on special interests’

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who left Marquette University in the spring of his senior year in 1990, says he left because, like a lot of Americans, he jumped at the offer of a job opportunity.

February 13, 2015

Kristin Beck, transgender former Navy SEAL, to challenge Steny Hoyer

Kristin Beck, a former Navy SEAL who published a memoir and came out as a transgender woman in 2013, plans to mount a primary challenge to House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, to represent the state's 5th congressional district.

February 13, 2015

Marco Rubio: As ‘architect’ of Obama foreign policy, Hillary Clinton has ‘tremendous liabilities’

Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, predicted Friday that if former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton runs for president, her record as the nation's chief diplomat will play a central role — to her detriment.

February 13, 2015

Rick Perry: Country ready to move past ‘young, very attractive, amazing orator’

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in predicting that the country will opt for a "results-oriented executive" in 2016, dealt President Obama quite the backhanded compliment while in New Hampshire Thursday.

February 13, 2015

Americans split on Obama legacy after Islamic State war request

Even as most Americans want their member of Congress to support President Obama's requested authorization to combat the Islamic State terrorist group, a plurality says Mr. Obama will be remembered more for starting a new war than ending one.

February 13, 2015

Terry McAuliffe’s Medicaid expansion killed by House, Senate budgets

The Virginia House and Senate approved their respective amendments to the current biennial budget Thursday, eliminating the proposed Medicaid expansion included in Gov. Terry McAuliffe's proposed framework and providing for other items such as pay increases for state employees and teachers.

February 12, 2015

Southern Poverty Law Center recants Ben Carson ‘extremist’ smear

Amid heavy criticism, the Southern Poverty Law Center has apologized and removed an "Extremist File" it had posted in the fall on retired neurosurgeon and potential 2016 GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson.

February 12, 2015

John McCain knocks ‘classic Obama: Telling everybody and our enemies what we’re not going to do’

Count Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, as among those unimpressed with President Obama's request to Congress for an authorization of force to combat the Islamic State terrorist group.

February 12, 2015

Philadelphia to host Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Committee announced Thursday it will hold its 2016 nominating convention in Philadelphia, where it will officially put forward its candidate who will try to succeed President Obama's two terms in office.

February 12, 2015

David Axelrod: Elizabeth Warren cannot beat Hillary Clinton

One of the chief strategists who guided President Obama to an upset win over then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary says Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts cannot beat Mrs. Clinton in 2016.

February 12, 2015

73 percent say White House does not have clear strategy for defeating Islamic State: poll

Seventy-three percent of American voters say the Obama administration does not have a clear strategy for defeating the Islamic State terrorist group, compared to 19 percent who say it does.

February 12, 2015