Few governors have championed renewable energy as aggressively as Colorado Democrat Bill Ritter. So far, voters seem to appreciate his efforts.
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Barack Obama’s selection of Joseph R. Biden Jr. as his running mate in November’s presidential election has put a third governor on notice that he or she may be called upon to name a new U.S. senator once the next commander-in-chief is known.
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DENVER — Stateline.org asked delegates at the Democratic National Convention, gathered here to nominate a presidential candidate, to turn their focus closer to home and answer the question: What serious issue in your state would you like the next president to address?
From the faltering economy and health care costs to education needs and the mortgage crisis, the delegates expressed a wide range of serious concerns that they hope the next president will tackle. Go to Convention Watch and look for "Delegates speak" and other convention coverage updated throughout the day.
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RECENT STATELINE.ORG STORIES
MT: Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer ropes them in at convention
DENVER -- It was Hillary Rodham Clintons night at the Democratic National Convention, but party activists got a glimpse Tuesday of a surprising new breakout star: a jovial, round-faced warrior with a bolo tie who managed to attack Republicans while keeping a smile on his face.
WA: Gregoire says her Obama ties may benefit state later
DENVER -- Gov. Chris Gregoire basked Tuesday in the glow of her well-timed endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president, accompanying Michelle Obama through a whirlwind of high-profile campaign events during the Democratic convention that underscored the first-term governors promises of a partnership with the White House if Obama is elected in November.
CA: New oversight, stiffer penalties approved for snooping into patient records
Alarmed by breaches in which UCLA Medical Center employees snooped in the confidential records of celebrities including Britney Spears, Farrah Fawcett and California First Lady Maria Shriver, state lawmakers moved Tuesday to clamp hospital files shut with new oversight and stiffer penalties.
AK: Ted Stevens wins primary in Alaska
Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska won the Republican primary in his home state on Tuesday, soundly defeating six Republican challengers less than a month after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for concealing more than $250,000 in gifts from an oil services company.
CO: Checking signatures takes eyes for detail
Inside the secretary of states office, a small army of temporary workers is squinting at pages and pages of scribbled names. The office has hired several dozen temps — working in two eight-hour shifts on weekdays and another shift on Saturdays — to help cobble together Colorados November ballot by verifying signatures on the record-breaking 15 ballot issue petitions filed in the past few months.
NY: On a national stage, Paterson takes an agressive approach
DENVER — Gov. David A. Paterson arrived here for the Democratic National Convention this week with an extra bounce in his step, emboldened by his success in getting the Legislature to heed his call to cut hundreds of millions of dollars out of the state budget.
MA: Patrick takes center stage, heaps praise
DENVER - Three years ago Deval Patrick was a political unknown, but last night the Massachusetts governor stepped onto a prime-time national political stage to extol the historic candidacy of his friend, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, and took shots at the man standing between Obama and the White House, John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.
DE: Biden gets emotional with Del. delegates
DENVER – Vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden was brought to tears this morning while visiting Delawares delegates here for the Democratic National Convention.
Census - Uninsured down, poverty up
The U.S. Census Bureau annual report on poverty shows modest gains in median income in 2007 and a decrease in the number of people who lack health insurance. But the number of Americans living below the poverty line rose to 37.3 million, despite six years of economic growth. Experts predict the picture will be worse this time next year.
Arkansans find convention bittersweet
DENVER — After the murder of the state party chairman, Bill Gwatney, Arkansas delegates honor his memory at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Conventions to look at primary process
DENVER — As Democrats converge here this week to formally nominate Barack Obama as their presidential candidate, both parties are working behind the scenes to prevent a repeat of states’ helter-skelter scramble for early primary dates.
Why presidential elections matter to states
Democrats and Republicans will gather in Colorado and Minnesota to nominate their candidates for president amid uncertainty in the states on the economy and other issues.
Power rates spike in some states
Consumers already grappling with high food, gasoline and heating oil prices in many states now face another financial burden: skyrocketing electricity bills.
WORTH NOTING: Lawmaker called out for 'dirty' stocks
A questionable investment embarrasses a Wisconsin state senator. Indiana state fairgoers object to a racy blue-ribbon photo. And one California lawmaker’s hard line on the state budget lands her across the street. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
2008 state elections: What's at stake?
(Updated 4:20 p.m. EDT, Aug. 20, 2008) The historic battle for the White House may be grabbing most of the headlines, but plenty of state races and major ballot measures also could be nail-biters this November — and the results could have national implications. Stateline.org today is launching a new 2008 interactive guide to help voters keep track of the 11 gubernatorial, 11 attorneys general and seven secretary of state races and some 130 statewide ballot measures.
Measures could bring youth to state races
Lawmakers in Colorado and Hawaii aim to ramp up political participation by younger candidates with November ballot measures to lower the qualifying age for some state offices.
Purple states: The playing field expands
For the first time in more than a decade, the list of battleground states in the presidential election is expanding, and Barack Obama’s campaign war chest is one reason why. Meanwhile, the list of toss-up states continues to grow.
Should murder accomplices face execution?
An execution last month in Mississippi and another scheduled for this month in Texas have reignited a debate over whether the death penalty should be given to those who participate in killings — but do not personally carry them out.
First-term govs largely successful
Midway through their first terms, the governors of the class of 2006 are short one member and have accumulated lots of battle scars. But most are avoiding the voter discontent directed at Congress and the presidency.
2008 state-by-state summary
(Updated 11:15 a.m. EDT, Aug. 6, 2008)Here’s Stateline.orgs state-by-state rundown of significant legislative action in 2008.
Govs find their popularity might not transfer
At a time when the presidential candidates are feverishly trying to flip red and blue states, a group of governors is finding that switching a state’s partisan leaning is no easy matter.
State by state, it's still a tight race
Finally, the last primary votes have been cast, and Barack Obama and John McCain are jousting with each other. But even as Obama opens up double-digit leads in two national polls, the election is still poised to be decided in a half-dozen toss-up states.
CA: Governor signs rail bill to get it on ballot
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who promised not to sign any bills until lawmakers reach a budget deal, reversed his position Tuesday and signed a measure for a statewide bullet train system that he strongly supports.
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