Obama's Symbolic Importance  —  In his closed door meeting with House Democrats Tuesday night, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama delivered a real zinger, according to a witness, suggesting that he was beginning to believe his own hype.  —  Obama was waxing lyrical about last week's trip …

Low-Road Express  —  Well, that certainly didn't take long.  On July 3, news reports said Senator John McCain, worried that he might lose the election before it truly started, opened his doors to disciples of Karl Rove from the 2004 campaign and the Bush White House.  Less than a month later, the results are on full display.

Stevens woes = 60 votes for Dems?  —  The federal indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens certainly is buoying Democratic hopes that they could pick up enough Senate seats to get to the magical 60 votes, enough for a veto-proof majority.  —  It would be the first time in 30 years that a party would hold such a majority in the Senate.

EDWARDS' HU$H MONEY TO MISTRESS  —  A NATIONAL ENQUIRER investigation has uncovered John Edwards' mistress, Rielle Hunter - the mother of his “love child” - has been secretly receiv­ing $15,000 a month as part of an elaborate cover-up orchestrated by the former presidential contender.

Women voters aren't warming to ‘cool’ Obama  —  The Obama campaign has a woman problem.  How big?  How small?  It's not clear, but in a close election, small can be big.  —  And Michelle Obama spoke to it Monday in Chicago.  —  Departing from her prepared remarks …

House Issues An Apology For Slavery  —  The House yesterday apologized to black Americans, more than 140 years after slavery was abolished, for the “fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow” segregation.  —  The resolution, which passed on a voice vote late …

Kerry's office: Sen. wasn't partying with women  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  An embarrassing gallery of photos showing Bay State Sen. John Kerry surrounded by young women partying on Nantucket was a dockside encounter and nothing more, the senator's office tells the Herald.

McCain's Tax Blunder  —  One of the miracles of this Presidential election campaign is that John McCain still has a chance to win, notwithstanding his best attempts to kick it away.  In his latest random policy improvisation, the Arizona Senator tried to give up the tax issue.

Aide to U.S. Senator Jim Webb found dead from apparent gunshot wound  —  Authorities in Botetourt County this morning discovered the body of a well-known Democratic operative and U.S. Senate aide along U.S. 220, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.  —  The body of Frederick W. Hutchins Jr. …

There's Something About Mary: Unmasking a Gun Lobby Mole  —  NEWS: Mary McFate was a prominent gun control activist.  Mary Lou Sapone was a freelance spy with an NRA connection.  They are the same person.  A Mother Jones investigation.  —  This is the story of two Marys.

Lobbyists Give to Obama Campaign  —  Lobbyists might be persona non grata on the presidential campaign trail, but that hasn't put them off of donating to the presumptive Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).  —  Obama has pledged to forgo contributions from federally registered lobbyists.

1. Statuesque beauty  —  Political party: Democrat.  —  Dating status: “Happily single”  —  She's striking - and accident-prone.  —  Three weeks ago, Tulani Elisa, a legislative assistant for Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), fell down while going up the Metro escalator that leads into Dupont Circle.

A Week In John McCain's Shoes — His $520 Ferragamo Loafers, That Is  —  This summer John McCain is traveling in style.  He has worn a pair of $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes on every recent campaign stop — from a news conference with the Dalai Lama to a supermarket visit in Bethlehem …

WHAT SHOULD MCCAIN DO WITH BUSH AT THE CONVENTION?  —  Chat with this story's author on Washingtonpost.com.  —  The last time a two-term president spoke at his party's nominating convention, he sparked a grand celebration.  It was 2000.  Bill Clinton was introduced, and the Democrats gathered in Los Angeles went nuts.