Virginia Senate Debate –

Republican George Allen and Democrat Tim Kaine had their first debate for the Virginia Senate seat.  George Allen is running for the Senate seat that he lost to Democrat Jim Webb in 2006.  Jim Webb is retiring and the open Senate seat is expected to be a close election.  George Allen and Tim Kaine are both former Virginia Governors.  George Allen served as Virginia Governor from 1994-1998.  Virginia is expected to be a battleground state in the Presidential race.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/21/allen-kane-debate-in-close-senate-race-in-swing-state-virginia/

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Congress, DC, Debate, Democrat, Election, General, Politics, Republican | Leave a comment

Spanish & Italian Yields Rise –

Yields on 10 year government bonds from Spain rose above the 7% mark in trading on Monday.  Italian bond yields also increased and rose above 6%.  Italy is expected to sell three year bonds later in the week.  The rise in Spanish and Italian yields come ahead of a meeting of European finance ministers.  Yields on two year German debt are near zero after turning negative last week.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/09/markets-bonds-euro-idINL6E8I99HX20120709

James Sutliff

Posted in Budget, General, International | Leave a comment

CNN Electoral Map 2012 –

The CNN Electoral Map allows visitors to predict swing states and to calculate electoral votes.  Currently, CNN has projected 247 electoral votes for Obama and 206 for the Republican candidate Mitt Romney.  CNN has 85 electoral votes in 7 states listed as unallocated.  The seven states include Ohio, Virginia, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, Colorado, and Iowa.  Three battleground states that CNN has projected for Obama are Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

To visit the CNN 2012 Electoral Map, please click here:

http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/ecalculator#?battleground

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Democrat, Election, General, Politics, Presidential, Republican | Leave a comment

Greece Elections –

The elections in Greece on Sunday was the second national election in less than two months.  The New Democracy party came in first and have 129 seats in the 300 member parliament.  The New Democracy party received slightly less than 30% of the vote.  A coalition government requires a minimum of 151 seats.  The New Democracy party supports the bailout and they are in negotiations to form a government .

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/06/18/greek-conservatives-win-head-into-coalition-talks/

James Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Election, General, International, Politics | Leave a comment

George Allen Wins Republican Senate Primary –

George Allen is the projected winner of the Virginia Republican Senate primary.  Allen will run against Democrat Tim Kaine in November.  Tim Kaine is a former Virginia Governor and is expected to have a close race with Allen for the Senate seat.  George Allen lost the Senate seat to Jim Webb in 2006.  Virginia is a battleground state for the Presidential election in November.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/12/allen-wins-virginia-republican-primary-gets-bid-to-regain-senate-seat/

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Congress, Democrat, Election, General, Politics, Primary, Republican | Leave a comment

Walker Wins Wisconsin Recall Election –

Republican Governor Scott Walker won the Wisconsin recall election over Democrat Tom Barrett.  The Wisconsin race gained national attention and volunteers poured into the state from across America.  National fundraising efforts also played a role in the Republican and Democrat campaigns.  Voter turnout was very high and the Walker get-out-the-vote drive had an impact on the race.  Scott Walker received more than one million votes in the election.

To read related CNN articles, please click here:

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/

James Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Administrative, Democrat, Election, General, Governor, Politics, Republican | Leave a comment

Wisconsin Recall Heats Up –

The Wisconsin recall election is heating up with only two days left in the race.  Ground troops supporting Governor Walker and Democratic challenger Barrett have arrived from around the country.  Republican Governor Scott Walker is leading in recent polls and will likely win the recall election.  A Republican victory in the recall election sets the table for a competitive race in the November Presidential election.  Democrat Tom Barrett is the Mayor of Milwaukee.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/02/wisconsin-gov-walker-works-to-meet-voters-before-recall-vote/

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Democrat, Election, Fundraising, General, Governor, Politics, Republican | Leave a comment

Congressional Quarterly Roll Call –

CQ Roll Call has an Executive Briefing series that covers Banking & Finance, Defense, Energy, Transportation, and Technology.  CQ Roll Call also offers legislative tracking and advocacy tools.  CQ Weekly and CQ Today cover the legislative process as well as the House and Senate.  Roll Call was started in 1955 and provides coverage of politics and Capitol Hill.   CQ Roll Call is a subsidiary of the Economist Group.

To visit CQ Roll Call, please click here:

http://corporate.cqrollcall.com/

James Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Administrative, Budget, Business, Congress, DC, Democrat, Dodd-Frank, Economy, Election, Energy, Environment, General, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Politics, Presidential, Regulatory, Republican, Trade | Leave a comment

Romney Clinches Republican Nomination –

Mitt Romney clinched the Republican Presidential nomination with a victory in the Texas primary.  There were 155 delegates at stake in the Texas Republican primary.  Romney now has more than the 1,144 delegates required for the Republican nomination.  The Republican convention will be held in Tampa Florida in late August.  The general election will be November 6th.

To read a related MSN Money article, please click here:

http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=OBR&date=20120529&id=15162743

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Election, General, Politics, Presidential, Primary, Republican | Leave a comment

Romney Wins Arkansas & Kentucky –

Mitt Romney won the Arkansas and Kentucky Republican primaries last Tuesday.  The victories leave Romney only one win away from winning the Republican Presidential nomination.  Texas will have 152 Republican delegates at stake in their primary on Tuesday.  Mitt Romney is expected to win all 152 delegates and reach the 1,144 required for the Republican nomination.  Romney received slightly more than two-thirds of the vote in the Kentucky and Arkansas primaries.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/23/primary-sweep-has-romney-1-win-from-gop-nomination/

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Democrat, Election, General, Politics, Presidential, Primary, Republican | Leave a comment

Wisconsin Early Voting-

Wisconsin voters started hitting the polls in early voting ahead of the June 5th election.  Republican Governor Scott Walker is leading in most polls and is expected to win the recall election.  Wisconsin is considered a battleground state for the Presidential election and a Scott Walker victory would build momentum for Republicans.   Tom Barrett is the Democratic candidate for Governor and the former mayor of Milwaukee.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/24/republicans-claim-advantage-in-walker-recall-as-early-voting-heats-up/

James Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Democrat, Election, Fundraising, General, Governor, Politics, Republican | Leave a comment

Real Clear Politics Electoral College Map –

The Real Clear Politics Electoral College map has the number of electoral votes for each state. Currently, Real Clear Politics estimates that Obama has 243 electoral votes and Romney has 170.  There are 125 electoral votes in states that are considered toss-ups and 270 electoral votes are needed to win.  A few of the states that are considered toss-ups include Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina.

To visit the Real Clear Politics Electoral College Map, please click here:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Democrat, Election, General, Politics, Presidential, Primary, Republican | Leave a comment

Greece Downgraded –

Fitch Ratings downgraded Greece one notch from B- to CCC.  A lower grade would place Greece in default.  The Greece downgrade was partially due to the risks associated with a possible exit from the European Union.  Greek elections are expected to be held in mid-June and could produce a government that does not support the austerity plan.

To read a related Businessweek article, please click here:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-05/D9UQLLJO1.htm

James Sutliff

Posted in Administrative, Budget, Business, Economy, Election, General, International | Leave a comment

Reuters Election 2012 –

Reuters provides the latest election news and polling data for races across the country.  Current polling data on Reuters Election 2012 indicate that Obama has a 227 to 180 advantage over Romney in the electoral college.  However, most of the ten states listed as toss-ups lean towards the Republican.  A few of the toss-up states are Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.  The four states account for 68 electoral votes.

To visit the Reuters Election 2012 site, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/politics/elections-2012

Jim Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Administrative, Caucus, Congress, DC, Debate, Democrat, Election, Fundraising, General, Governor, Politics, Presidential, Primary, Redistricting, Republican, RNC | Leave a comment

Republican Mourdock Defeats Senator Lugar –

Indiana Republican Senator Dick Lugar was defeated in a Republican primary by Richard Mourdock.  Senator Lugar has held the Indiana Senate seat for 35 years.  Mourdock is the Indiana State Treasurer and won the election despite being heavily outspent by Senator Lugar.  Mourdock will face Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly in the November election.  The Indiana Senate seat is likely to remain Republican.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/08/longtime-gop-sen-richard-lugar-loses-indiana-primary-to-challenger-richard/

James Sutliff

Posted in 2012, Congress, Economy, Election, General, Politics, Primary, Republican | Leave a comment