News Items

Four States Holding Key to Marriage Future?

Picking the president isn't the only decision voters will have to make Tuesday. Voters in four deep blue states are also weighing in on marriage and how it should be defined.

In Washington, Minnesota, Maine, and Maryland, voters will decide on marriage and what kind of history they want to make.

If all four states vote for traditional marriage, they'll extend an unbroken record where voters in 32 states have supported the traditional institution.

In Washington, voters will decide whether to let stand a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers and the governor. Supporters of the law include major employers like Starbucks, Amazon, and Microsoft.

...

Most Americans Trust Romney to Break Gridlock

More Americans believe Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be able to work with Congress to end gridlock in Washington.

A new Associated Press-GFK poll shows 47 percent think the Republican challenger will be able to work with Democrats to move the country forward.

Only 37 percent believe President Barack Obama is capable of doing the same with Republicans.

While Leigh Westholm of Pensacola, Fla., supports Obama's re-election, she wasn't optimistic he'd be able to work with Republicans.

"It takes two to tango and he has tried and tried for four years," Westholm said. "It might be better for Romney, but I don't agree...

Christians, Israeli Jews Fight Persecution Together

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Christians and Jews in Israel are banding together to stamp out what they say could become a trend of Christian persecution in the Holy Land.

Last February, vandals spray painted blasphemous and anti-Christian graffiti on the Narkis Street Baptist House in Jerusalem. It's not the first attack there. Five years ago, someone set fire to the sanctuary, and in 1982, the previous wooden structure was burned to the ground.

"There are many other Christian institutions across the land that have also been attacked, and we feel we should show solidarity with them and with Israeli leaders that have spoken out," Chuck Kopp, senior pastor of the Narkis Street Congregation, told...

Millions Without Power as Sandy Pounds East Coast

NEW YORK -- Superstorm Sandy is one of the largest storms ever to hit the East Coast. Sandy has claimed the lives of at least 16 people and left more than 7 million without power.

After running parallel to the East Coast for days, Sandy made landfall as a tropical storm Monday night, delivering a direct hit to the New Jersey coast.

The 80-mph winds and massive flooding left entire areas along the coastline underwater.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie advised those stranded in their homes to stay put.

"Evacuation is no longer possible, and we're no longer able to come and rescue people," he said.

New York City was the...

Obama Endorses Gay Marriage Ballot Measures

President Obama has endorsed same-sex marriage ballot measures in three states.

Voters in Maine, Maryland, and Washington will decide whether to allow gay marriage, and the president has thrown his support behind the measures in all three states.

The Obama campaign put out a statement saying, "While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the president believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect."

The president first voiced his general approval for gay marriage in May. This is the first time he has endorsed individual state measures on the issue.

Report: A Million Jobs Already Lost to 'Fiscal Cliff'

The so-called "fiscal cliff" has already cost the economy about one million jobs this year, according to a report by the National Association of Manufacturers.

Economists have been warning that a combination of tax hikes and budget cuts scheduled to hit in January will push the economy into recession.

The new report says the economy is already feeling the effects.

Companies across the nation are laying off workers, leaving open positions unfilled and putting off major purchases...

Romney Erases Obama Lead with Women Voters

A new poll shows Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has wiped out President Obama's earlier huge advantage among women voters.

The Associated Press-GFK poll shows Romney pulling even with Obama with women, each candidate now registering 47 percent support. Romney had been trailing by 16 points a month earlier.

And on the central issue of the economy, Romney has pulled ahead among women voters.

A month ago, women favored Obama over Romney on the economy, 56 to 40 percent.

Now, the split has shifted to 49 percent for Romney and 45 percent for Obama.

Obama, Romney Make Mad Dash for Swing States

If you want to find President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney over the next few weeks, look in the nearest swing state.

This election is as close as they come and will boil down to nine key states: Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and New Hampshire.

'Swing County' Colorado

Jefferson County, Colo., is a swing county in a swing state. Both Romney and the president have been campaigning here for months because they know if they can win this county, they can win the state. And if they win Colorado, they can win the presidency.

Jefferson county resident Matt Ankenbruck is one of the...

White House Had Emails on Terror Role in Libya Attack

The White House had information that Islamic radicals were claiming credit for the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, two hours after the assault began.

U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans died in the Sept. 11 attack.

For more than two weeks the White House repeatedly blamed the incident on protests against an anti-Islamic movie that turned violent.

Now, Reuters news service reports it has obtained several emails sent from the State Department's Operations Center to the White House and the Pentagon as the attack was going on.

The first two emails describe the attack and efforts to locate the...

Debate Drifts from Foreign to Economic Policy

President Barack Obama and the man who wants to take his job, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, sat side-by-side for their third and final debate before Election Day at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

In their closing arguments to the American people, they focused on foreign policy but often drifted off topic to the economy.

President Obama said Gov. Romney is "all over the map" and inexperienced. Romney took a less aggressive tone in this debate, but painted a negative picture of the president, even saying to him downright, "you've been wrong."

President Obama came out on the attack, accusing Romney of having an old school foreign policy, saying, "The...

Judge Blocks Arizona from Defunding Planned Parenthood

A federal judge has forbidden Arizona from blocking funding for Planned Parenthood.

The ruling came in response to a new Arizona law that would do more than just bar public funding for abortions.

It also bans funding for general health care services provided by abortion clinics and doctors.
    
The Arizona legislature passed the law earlier this year, but it hasn't been implemented.
     
U.S. District Judge Neil Wake ruled that it's not in the public interest to block funding because it could keep thousands of patients from getting care from their chosen health care provider.

Candidates Tackle Foreign Policy in Final Debate

President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney will face off Monday night in the final debate of the presidential election. The topic is foreign policy.

Most surveys find Obama and Romney in a tight race, especially in key swing states.

Rasmussen gave Romney 49 percent to the president's 47 percent among likely voters nationwide, while a Gallup poll gave the former governor a 52 to 45 lead.

Gallup has correctly predicted all but three of the presidential races since 1936.

On Sunday, supporters of the two candidates took to the airwaves, squaring off on key issues like Iran's nuclear program.

"Iran thinks they can...

University Employee Punished over Marriage Petition

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Punished for signing a petition to vote on same-sex marriage in her state. That's the case for a diversity officer at one of the most prestigious deaf universities in the country.

Dr. Angela McCaskill has worked at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., for 23 years. But the liberal school suspended her after it found out she had signed a petition asking that the public in Maryland get the chance to vote on whether or not same-sex marriage should be legal in that state.

"Dr. McCaskill has participated in a legislative initiative that some feel is inappropriate for an individual serving as chief diversity officer," Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz wrote.

...

NY Appeals Court Rules DOMA Unconstitutional

A federal appeals court in Manhattan has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, the law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman.

In a 2-1 ruling, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling that found the law violates equal protections rights.

Judge Chester Straub disagreed with the majority, saying the American people, not judges, should decide if the definition of marriage should be changed.

"Courts should not intervene where there is a robust political debate because doing so poisons the political well, imposing a destructive anti-majoritarian constitutional ruling on a vigorous debate," Straub wrote.

Traditional marriage...

Campaigns Intensify Fight for Undecided Women

With less than three weeks until voters head to the polls, both presidential campaigns have intensified their push to reach undecided women.

Republican candidate Mitt Romney's camp has released a new ad to answer Democrats claims about his positions on contraception and abortion.

Polls show President Obama has an advantage among women voters, but Romney has narrowed the gap.

In Iowa Wednesday, the president touted his equal pay legislation and criticized Romney for not supporting it.

"When young women graduate, they should get equal pay for equal work. That should be a simple question to answer. When Governor Romney was asked about it, he, his...

Minnesota Voters to Decide on Marriage Definition

This coming election day, Minnesota voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Religious leaders are speaking out on both sides of the issue. Some gathered to protest the amendment Tuesday. They say it limits basic rights and violates their belief in love and acceptance.

"We want all of Rochester to see that there are religous leaders and clergy and community that believe you can be loving and express your faith and to vote no is the loving thing to do," Rev. Kayla Bonewell, minister at Peace United Church of Christ, said during an interview with Minnesota's KAAL-TV, Rev.

"A lot of times you hear that people...

Obama, Romney Swing Hard in Feisty Second Debate

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The second presidential debate between Mitt Romney and President Obama turned into a verbal sparring session, with both candidates not missing an opportunity to take a jab at the other.

Both men were aggressive throughout, often interrupting one another and invading each other's space as they answered questions from dozens of uncommitted voters selected by the Gallup Organization.

The heated exchanges indicated just how tight the presidential election is only weeks before Election Day.

After a listless performance during the first debate in Denver, it didn't take President Obama long to come out swinging in the second round.

"Governor, when you...

Romney Rises in Support Among Women Voters

A recent USA Today/Gallup poll shows that Republican Mitt Romney now leads President Obama by four percentage points among likely voters and it looks women are to thank for the current standings.

Romney has pulled within one point of the president among women who are likely voters, 48 percent to 49 percent.

Experts say Romney's first debate performance made a huge difference. Women are seen as the swing voters for the 2012 race.

Both candidates are expected to ramp up their ads geared towards women during the final 21 days.

Second Debate Crucial to Convince Swing Voters

The presidential candidates are just hours away from their second crucial debate tonight, exactly three weeks from Election Day.

Republican Mitt Romney is looking to keep his edge while President Obama is hoping to rebound from his poor performance in the first debate.

This time, they take on a town hall format, answering questions from undecided voters.

Momentum has shifted to Romney since the first debate, putting pressure on the president to step up with a strong performance tonight.

A new USA Today/Gallup poll shows Romney leading Obama by four percentage points...

Graham to Romney: I'll Do All I Can to Help You'

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney took a moment from the heated campaign Thursday to seek a little spiritual support from Rev. Billy Graham.

That moment came as President Barack Obama and Romney crisscrossed the country in the run-up to their next big debate on Tuesday.

Since the president's poor debate performance in Denver last week, his campaign has been in damage control mode, accusing Romney of changing his positions.

On Thursday, in Florida, Obama accused the former governor of undergoing "an extreme makeover."

Still, Romney is gaining ground in key swing states with polls showing him gaining among likely Colorado voters.

...