Topic: Campaign Finance

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Bill Clinton: 5 reasons he is helping Obama

Four years ago, former President Clinton got his knuckles rapped for calling Sen. Barack Obama's presidential aspirations a "fairy tale." Now the 42nd president is appearing on the stump with No. 44. Here are five reasons for Mr. Clinton to go all out for the newest member of the Presidents Club.
US Supreme Court: Big 21st century rulings

The past 12 years have seen significant US high court decisions with wide-ranging effects on personal freedoms and national politics. Another key ruling is expected this summer on President Obama's health-care reform law. Here are some recent top rulings, all decided by 5-to-4 votes.
Eight reasons to ‘mute’ super PAC ads

First Iowa, now Florida, have seen the first wave of political TV ads from super PACs – mostly negative – that will smother the 2012 presidential elections. Voters have an easy way to avoid such ads: the mute button. Here are eight reasons to use it:
Political sex scandals: Who survived – and who didn't

Herman Cain’s chance of winning the GOP presidential nomination has virtually disappeared amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. But against all odds, some candidates or incumbents survive sex scandals. Here’s a list of politicos whose careers continued in spite of their slips – and some whose didn’t.
How the tea party can 'agree' with Occupy movement's demands

Given the somewhat amorphous slogans of the Occupy Wall Street movement, members of the tea party may be wondering if they should join the fray. University of Denver law professor Robert Hardaway suggests how the tea party might “agree” with five of the Occupy movement's top demands – in its own way:

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John Edwards trial: Day 7 for jury deliberations (+video)

The eight men and four women are expected to go back to work Tuesday as they consider campaign finance charges against the former presidential candidate.
Sixth day of deliberations in John Edwards begin

Prosecutors say Edwards used nearly $1 million from donors in a plan to hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the White House in 2008.
Obama fundraises hard as super-PACs boost Romney's cash

The President has so far enjoyed a large lead in the money race, but as the GOP field solidifies more cash in flowing into the Romney camp.
John Edwards verdict could become part of Citizens United backlash

A diverse panel of North Carolinians is currently considering whether John Edwards committed campaign fraud in 2008, but the verdict could also reverberate nationally if it is at odds with the Supreme Court's landmark Citizens United ruling.
No verdict yet in Edwards trial

Jurors will begin a third day of deliberation on Tuesday as they decide whether or not John Edwards committed campaign finance violations by funneling money to his mistress.
Why aren't more conservatives donating to Mitt Romney?

Mitt Romney raised $40 million last month. But an analysis of Romney's fundraising shows that many wealthy conservatives, who backed rivals Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, aren't donating to Romney's campaign.
John Edwards trial jury deliberations continue Monday

The jury of eight men and four women will resume their deliberations in the campaign finance case against the former Democratic presidential contender.
John Edwards trial: Prosecution, defense deliver closing arguments

Jurors are now deliberating to decide whether or not Edwards is guilty of diverting campaign funds to his mistress.
John Edwards trial: What will verdict mean for campaign finance? (+video)

Closing arguments in the John Edwards trial are set to begin Thursday. But the political significance of the trial in defining the limits of campaign finance has been greatly dampened.
Edwards doesn't testify in campaign finance trial

The former senator's defense rested without putting on John Edwards, accused of illegally funneling money to his mistress.
John Edwards trial: Defense rests without calling former senator or mistress

Defense lawyers concentrated on whether former US Senator John Edwards broke federal campaign finance laws.
Obama helps re-election campaign and Dems by raising almost $44 million in April

President Obama raised that amount, almost nine million dollars less than what he raised in March, with more than 400,000 people contributing.
Gay marriage: Clooney fundraiser a hint of coming Obama money boom (+video)

President Obama's support for gay marriage is energizing gay and lesbian activists, whose support could help offset Wall Street's support for Mitt Romney. The Clooney fundraiser was just a taste.
Robert Reich
Forget gay marriage. America's real problem is in its boardrooms.

In pushing legislation to ban same-sex marriage and limit women's reproductive rights, Republicans are avoiding a much bigger issue: what's going on in the country's corporate boardrooms.
Edwards trial: Interior designer testifies about money funneling scheme

Bryan Huffman described receiving checks in excess of federal contribution limits and then passing them on to the campaign.
Edwards trial: Aide's wife breaks down on stand

Cheri Young began to cry when asked why she went along with the cover-up of Edwards' affair.
Bill Clinton: 5 reasons he is helping Obama

Four years ago, former President Clinton got his knuckles rapped for calling Sen. Barack Obama's presidential aspirations a "fairy tale." Now the 42nd president is appearing on the stump with No. 44. Here are five reasons for Mr. Clinton to go all out for the newest member of the Presidents Club.
Decoder Wire
Ron Paul beat Mitt Romney in 10 states! Kind of.

Ron Paul fell short in the vote count, but he has edged out Mitt Romney in campaign contributions in at least 10 states – and counting. From the start, the GOP 'money primary' has been a two-man race.
Aide: Edwards doubted he was father of mistress's child

Andrew Young testified that former Senator John Edwards initially disbelieved he was the father of his mistress' child.
Decoder Wire
John Edwards's trial: a cad, or a cad and a felon?

John Edwards' trial turns on whether $1 million from heiress Bunny Mellon and another donor was a bid to influence an election – hence an illegal campaign contribution – or merely an effort to cover up an extramarital affair.
John Edwards on trial over $1 million used to support mistress (+video)

John Edwards faces six criminal counts over the use of $1 million. John Edwards says the donations were gifts. Prosecutors say they were campaign donations.
In March, President Obama raises $53M for campaign, Democrats

Obama has entered a new phase in which he faces a direct challenge from Romney, who has begun raising money jointly with the Republican National Committee to overcome the president's fundraising edge.
Does Blagojevich brother have beans to spill on Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.?

Robert Blagojevich, brother of jailed ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, is expected to talk this month to the House ethics panel about Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Jackson's interest in being appointed to Obama's former US Senate seat is the likely topic.
President Obama vastly outspends GOP presidential campaigns

Obama has spent more than $135 million — more than GOP challengers Romney and Rick Santorum combined — on his re-election apparatus, according to an Associated Press analysis of Federal Election Commission records.
Newt Gingrich cuts one third of campaign staff but vows to press on

Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, plans to spend much less time in primary states and instead personally call delegates to try to persuade them to back him at the Republican National Convention in August.