Palin's Mole at The Times  —  Exclusive: Palin's Mole at the New York Times By Scott Horton  —  Did Bill Kristol use the Gray Lady to fight the McCain campaign's civil war?  —  Was John McCain's senior foreign policy advisor Randy Scheunemann fired for leaking sensitive information to his friend …

Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for ‘careless’ joke  —  President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan this afternoon to apologize for a joke about her having held “séances” in the White House, an Obama aide said.  —  “President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan today …

‘No More Mr Nice Gay’ as Mormons face vote backlash  —  Protesters vent fury after church funds successful effort to ban gay marriages  —  Daniel Ginnes carried a banner declaring: “No More Mr Nice Gay.”  Brian Lindsey held up a sign billing Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of the Latter Day Saints …

Byrd to Quit Powerful Senate Appropriations Post  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia, and the senior member of the Senate, agreed on Friday to relinquish his chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee, as Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama prepare …

Minn. Senate Race Far From Over  —  Incumbent Coleman Is Just 239 Votes Ahead of Al Franken  —  The U.S. Senate race in Minnesota is nowhere close to being decided, state officials said yesterday.  —  The recount in that election will not be completed until mid-December, and even then …

Jones-Kelley put on paid leave by governor  —  COLUMBUS — Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and former head of that department in Montgomery County, has been placed on paid administrative leave by Gov. Ted Strickland.

‘Mutts like me’ - Obama shows ease discussing race  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - It popped out casually, a throwaway line as he talked to reporters about finding the right puppy for his young daughters.  —  But with just three offhanded words …

THE CASE AGAINST LIEBERMAN'S CHAIR.  —  “If you wield a congressional oversight gavel, and your buddy's in the White House, you might just conduct exactly zero investigations into presidential wrongdoing,” says Brian Beutler.  “But when the election comes, and your other buddy loses to a guy …

Gun shop takes heat over sign  —  A local gun shop that used Barack Obama's name to hawk weapons has backed down, saying the message was meant to champion gun rights, not threaten violence.  —  Georgia Outdoor Sports owner Carrie Mentel said she advertised an “OBAMA SALE!”

Breaking News: Obama wins electoral vote in Nebraska  —  Barack Obama made history today in Nebraska.  —  The Democratic presidential candidate claimed an electoral vote in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District — the first time in more than four decades a Democrat won any of Nebraska's electoral votes.

Uncounted Votes May Push Begich Past Stevens  —  Although Ted Stevens currently holds a lead of approximately 3,200 votes in ballots counted to date in Alaska's senate contest, there is good reason to believe that the ballots yet to be counted — the vast majority of which are early and absentee ballots …

Reichert wins tight race for 8th District  —  U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert has survived a second Democratic wave election, bucking a national trend that flipped at least 24 Republican congressional seats to Democrats.  His opponent, Darcy Burner, conceded tonight after The Associated Press determined tonight …