Stephen Dinan

McCain evolves into a supply-sider

At a religious values forum this weekend, Sen. John McCain was asked about his biggest flip-flop of the past decade. He pointed to his newfound support for offshore drilling, but his biggest change might have come during the forum itself, when he completed his transformation from class warrior to supply-side tax cutter.

August 18, 2008

Obama, McCain air moral, ethical views

LAKE FOREST, Calif. | Sen. Barack Obama Saturday said that defining when life begins is "above my pay grade," but added he would work to promote adoptions, as he and Sen. John McCain spilled their souls to an audience.

August 17, 2008

Stevens faces toughest battle

A maverick millionaire who took on President Bush in the Dubai Ports fight of 2006 is now aiming for another top Washington politician - Ted Stevens, the senior Republican in the U.S. Senate.

August 14, 2008

Immigration: ‘Demographic divide’ on the rise

New U.S. Census Bureau numbers show a stark change in immigration and birth patterns has moved up by eight years the date at which whites will no longer be the majority of the U.S. population, to 2042 - and demographers said those numbers will push immigration to the forefront of this year's political debates.

August 14, 2008

McCain hints at pro-choice running mate

Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that he would not rule out naming a pro-choice vice-presidential nominee, saying the abortion issue amounts to "a disagreement" and that he thinks conservatives would accept former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who is pro-choice, as a potential running mate.

August 14, 2008

McCain learns his lessons on No. 2 picks

Sen. John McCain knows what it's like to be a potential vice-presidential nominee, having been on the list a time or two himself and having stepped on one, too.

August 12, 2008

Businesses balk at immigration checks

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Monday it opposes a new screening requirement to weed illegal immigrants out of the federal contractor work force, and said President Bush acted illegally in signing an executive order mandating use of the program.

August 12, 2008

Edwards admits to affair, denies fathering child

UPDATED -- John Edwards admitted Friday he did have an affair during his presidential campaign and repeatedly lied about it as he was seeking the White House.

August 8, 2008

Edwards admits to affair, denies fathering child

UPDATED -- John Edwards admitted Friday he did have an affair during his presidential campaign and repeatedly lied about it as he was seeking the White House.

August 8, 2008

Edwards admits affair with worker

UPDATED — John Edwards admitted Friday he had an affair with a woman during his presidential campaign and repeatedly lied about it as he was seeking the White House.

August 8, 2008

McCain takes lead on YouTube hits

Paris Hilton may think John McCain is just a “wrinkly white-haired guy,” but the Republican presidential candidate apparently has figured out the younger generation just fine.

August 7, 2008

Obama now backs tapping into oil reserve

Sen. Barack Obama put his pursuit of energy voters into overdrive on Monday, flipping positions to call for releasing oil from the government's strategic reserve just days after he said he was open to expanded offshore drilling.

August 5, 2008

McCain, Obama agree on big issues

On some policy issues, the presidential election just won't matter - both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain are prepared to overturn President Bush's policy and expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, one of a series of contentious issues pushed out of the presidential debate because those at the top of the tickets agree.

August 5, 2008

‘Sam’s Club’ voters called key to modern GOP

The man who's helping host the Republican nominating convention and is seen as a shortlist candidate for the vice-presidential nomination has a message for his party: Care about the Sam's Club voter.

August 4, 2008

Race turns into insult contest

A day after the release of a McCain ad comparing Mr. Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, both campaigns veered away from the issues and into a squabble over who said what, who intended what and who insinuated the rest.

August 1, 2008

Ad rips celebrity Obama

John McCain on Wednesday charged that rival Barack Obama is more Cosmo than he is commander in chief, running a stark, harsh and groundbreaking ad that matches him with clips of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

July 31, 2008

Illegals figure drops by 11%

The Department of Homeland Security is claiming success after an independent study released Wednesday argued that stepped-up enforcement efforts have reduced the illegal immigrant population by 11 percent since August.

July 31, 2008

Illegal population shrinking

Crackdowns on illegal immigrants are showing results.

July 30, 2008

Bush successor faces massive debt

President Bush will bequeath the largest-ever budget deficit to his successor, and the men vying for that honor struggled Monday to explain how they will dig out from the inherited red ink.

July 29, 2008

McCain: Obama aims to win vote, not war

Sen. John McCain said Sen. Barack Obama has played politics with the Iraq war, choosing his positions in order to win a political campaign rather than do what is needed to win the war.

July 28, 2008