In this Thursday 2009 photo, dancers enter the arbor during the Grand Entry at Crow Fair in Crow Agency, Mont. (Casey Riffe/Billings Gazette/AP)

What's an American Indian? Warren case stirs query

4:09 pm ET -

Native Americans have a high rate of intermarriage with other groups. Many are not identifiable by appearance, which has made it possible for almost anyone to assume a Native persona. That seems to have been the case with US Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren.

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Tea party challenge puts Sen. Richard Lugar in the fight of his political life

Sen. Richard Lugar is a six-term incumbent, highly regarded for his work on national security issues. But tea party-backed challenger Richard Mourdock says Lugar has lost touch with his Indiana constituents. In the run-up to Tuesday's GOP primary, Mourdock leads in the polls.
Was it right for Elizabeth Warren to identify as a minority? Will voters care?

A genealogist is supporting Elizabeth Warren's claim of Cherokee ancestry. But what could linger with voters is whether it's right for someone who is 1/32 native American to claim minority status.
US Senate race in Virginia shaping up as national battleground

In Virginia's US Senate race, Democrat Tim Kaine isn't Barack Obama, and Republican George Allen isn't Mitt Romney or the House GOP leadership. But you wouldn't know it from the special-interest ads pouring into this key battleground state.
Orrin Hatch close call in Utah: Tea party rising?

Sen. Orrin Hatch is favored to win reelection, but first he faces a primary election against tea party favorite Dan Liljenquist. Can Hatch avoid the fate of former Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, ousted in 2010 by the tea party?
Utah Republican convention: How Orrin Hatch (almost) beat back a tea party revolt

As Republicans in Utah have turned more moderate since 2010, veteran US Sen. Orrin Hatch has turned more conservative. Taken together, this nearly helped Hatch survive a tea party challenge at Saturday's Republican nominating convention. Instead, he faces a primary election in June.
Scott Brown pulls ahead of Elizabeth Warren in Mass. Senate race

Sen. Scott Brown, the Republican who famously won the seat held by Edward Kennedy, has built an early lead against Elizabeth Warren in what will be a closely watched race nationally.
Olympia Snowe delivers stunning rebuke in decision to leave Senate

Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican senator from Maine, won't seek another term in the US Senate because intense partisanship has made her question how 'productive' it would be.
If Bob Kerrey runs for Senate, can he save the majority for Democrats?

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) of Nebraska has until Thursday to decide whether to try for his old seat, being vacated by Sen. Ben Nelson. Even if he does, Nebraska has shifted to the right since he last served.
Without Ben Nelson, can Democrats keep control of Senate in 2012?

The decision by Sen. Ben Nelson (D) of Nebraska not to run for reelection in 2012 is a 'blow' to Democrats' efforts to retain their Senate majority, analysts say.
Elizabeth Warren moves toward barnburner race against Sen. Scott Brown

Consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren filed paperwork Thursday to form an exploratory committee for a US Senate run in Massachusetts. Republican Scott Brown currently holds that seat.
Can Democrats hold the Senate in 2012? Now Herb Kohl says he's retiring.

Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl says he's retiring after his fourth term ends in 2012. He is the sixth Democrat-aligned senator to do so, compared with only two Republicans.
Tim Kaine enters Virginia Senate race, and Democrats breathe a sigh of relief

Former governor and current DNC Chairman Tim Kaine declares his candidacy for the Virginia Senate race, joining former governor and senator George Allen (R).
Claire McCaskill: Will flap over her plane ground Democrat's career?

Sen. Claire McCaskill already was going to face a tough 2012 reelection in Missouri. But news about unpaid taxes on – and questionable use of – her plane are weighing on the Democrat's chances.
With Jim Webb retiring, 2012 Senate prospects get harder for Democrats

Sen. Jim Webb (D) of Virginia won't seek reelection next year. But Virginia's Democratic bench isn't very deep.
Joe Miller-Lisa Murkowski US Senate race appears to be over

A state judge has dismissed Joe Miller’s complaint that misspelled write-in votes for Lisa Murkowski should be tossed out. If the ruling stands, it's a blow to the tea party and Sarah Palin.
AP calls Alaska Senate race for Lisa Murkowski - Joe Miller disagrees

After laborious vote counting, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski appears to have won her write-in campaign against tea party favorite Joe Miller. But Miller is challenging the vote count in court.
Democrat Patty Murray holds onto her Senate seat, just barely

Sen. Patty Murray (D) of Washington State won reelection, though not by the comfortable margins she's used to. Farther north, the drama continues as Alaskans wait to see if incumbent Lisa Murkowski won her write-in challenge to tea party favorite Joe Miller.
Lisa Murkowski ahead in Alaska, but long count of write-ins looms

Write-in votes total more than 80,000. It may take until Nov. 29 for the Alaska Senate election to be certified, but for now, incumbent Lisa Murkowski appears to be the winner.
Washington, Colorado, Alaska Senate races: When will we know who won?

The Colorado, Washington State, and Alaska Senate races are undecided on Wednesday morning. They won't tip the balance of power in the Senate, but two are important to Democrats.
Alaska's close Senate race: why the polls tell us nothing

Right ahead of the election, polls released almost simultaneously show vastly different results in Alaska’s Senate race. In one, Lisa Murkowski is leading; in another, it’s Joe Miller.
Outside spending fuels negative ads in tight Colorado Senate race

Democratic US Sen. Michael Bennet trails GOP challenger Ken Buck by 3 points in a Colorado Senate race that has seen outside groups spend heavily on negative campaign ads.
Florida's October surprise: Clinton urged Meek to exit Senate race

Democrat Kendrick Meek says he'll stay in the three-way Florida Senate race, but the Clinton-Meek saga is a PR nightmare for the party.
Carly Fiorina out of hospital: How does illness affect a campaign?

Carly Fiorina spent a day in the hospital this week. The impact it has on her bid to unseat Sen. Barbara Boxer could depend on how her campaign handles the challenge.
Struggling in Wisconsin, 'maverick' Russ Feingold cozies up to Obama

Dubbed by some as the 'least loyal' of all Senate Democrats and trailing in the polls, Wisconsin's Russ Feingold is in a tricky spot as he tries to appeal to the Democratic base.
Which Election 2010 race has run the most TV ads? Not the one you'd expect.

Campaign TV ads are ramping up ahead of Nov. 2, but the race that has run more than any other in the nation has been largely overlooked by the national media, though it is crucial to the GOP.