‘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 …

Palin Calls Critics Among McCain Aides ‘Jerks’  —  ANCHORAGE — Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska fired back Friday at the unnamed McCain campaign aides who have been maligning her in recent days, saying that their criticism was “cruel and it's mean-spirited, it's immature, it's unprofessional, and those guys are jerks.”

‘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 …

An Obama Tilt in Campaign Coverage  —  The Post provided a lot of good campaign coverage, but readers have been consistently critical of the lack of probing issues coverage and what they saw as a tilt toward Democrat Barack Obama.  My surveys, which ended on Election Day, show that they are right on both counts.

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 …

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 …

“Troopergate” Trooper Now Pushing Paper  —  After Palin's Public Comments, Trooper Hit With Threatening Phone Calls  —  The Alaska state trooper who was the subject of harsh allegations by Gov. Sarah Palin was taken off patrols recently for his own safety, after her comments allegedly prompted …

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.

Newt in 2012?  —  In serious conversations among Republicans since their election debacle Tuesday, what name is mentioned most often as the Moses, or Reagan, who could lead them out of the wilderness before 40 years?  —  To the consternation of many Republicans, it is none other than Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House.

AN ADVANCE LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.... It's only been a couple of days since Barack Obama was declared the president-elect, but it's hard not to notice that congressional Republicans are already striking a confrontational pose.  Take these ridiculous comments from Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl (R).

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 …