Hochul takes House seat in stunner  —  Kathleen Courtney Hochul, the Erie County clerk and longtime Democratic figure who defied political experts giving her little chance of success, ground out a stunning and surprisingly comfortable victory Tuesday in the special election for the predominantly Republican 26th Congressional District.

G.O.P. on the Defensive as Voters Resist Medicare Plan  —  WASHINGTON — When they proposed just last month to overhaul Medicare, House Republicans were confident that the wind of budget politics was at their backs and that the country's looming fiscal problems provided justification …

Six Months After Midterm Disaster, Hopeful Signs for Democrats  —  Here's what I wrote two weeks ago about the special election in New York's 26th Congressional district, which was won by the Democrat Kathy Hochul Tuesday night: … Ms. Hochul, with most of the vote counted, has 48 percent of the total, so she has met this threshold.

After Dem win in NY special election, group eyes NH race  —  A liberal group that wants to “keep the momentum going” after Democrats' upset victory in Tuesday's special election in New York is eyeing a race in New Hampshire where it thinks bashing the GOP's Medicare reform plan could be a political winner.

Warning shot: 4-point Dem. victory in heavily GOP district where Medicare was issue — Ryan video tries to shift debate to ‘Saving Medicare’ — Geithner's #PlaybookBreakfast livestream  —RAHM MAY TESTIFY AT BLAGO II: ChiTrib p. 1 tease, “Sources: Emanuel, Blagojevich to testify …

Report: John Edwards set to be indicted  —  The Justice Department is set to indict former presidential candidate John Edwards on charges that he violated campaign finance laws trying to cover up an extramarital affair during the last presidential campaign, according to multiple reports.