Why Terry McAuliffe barely won  —  How the heck did that happen?  —  Most public polls leading up to Election Day had Terry McAuliffe coasting to victory, some by double digits, in the Virginia governor's race.  Instead he squeaked by, beating Republican Ken Cuccinelli by less than 3 percentage points.

Lawmakers approve gay marriage in Illinois … Clout Street  —  SPRINGFIELD —  The General Assembly today narrowly approved a gay marriage bill, clearing the way for Illinois to become the 15th state to legalize same-sex unions.  —  The bill got 61 votes in the House …

Washington Times ends Sen. Rand Paul column amid plagiarism allegations  —  U.S. Sen. Rand Paul acknowledged Tuesday he had failed to properly source material in published writings, including a column in The Washington Times, after a string of embarrassing plagiarism accusations surfaced in recent days.

De Blasio Is Elected New York City Mayor in Landslide  —  Bill de Blasio, who transformed himself from a little-known occupant of an obscure office into the fiery voice of New York's disillusionment with a new gilded age, was elected the city's 109th mayor on Tuesday.

Democrats' Anxiety Grows Over Obamacare Problems  —  When a loyal leader on your own team says there is a “crisis of confidence” surrounding your signature initiative, you've got trouble.  —  That's the phrase Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland used repeatedly Tuesday morning …

Establishment beats tea party in Alabama runoff  —  Bradley Byrne, a former state senator, defeated businessman Dean Young in the GOP primary runoff for Alabama's 1st district, CNN projects.  —  Follow @politicalticker Follow @danmericaCNN Follow @KevinBohnCNN

VOTERS REJECT BIG TAX HIKE, SCHOOL FINANCE MEASURE AMENDMENT 66  —  Voters emphatically rejected a $950 million tax increase and the school funding revamp that came with it, handing Amendment 66 a resounding defeat Tuesday night.  —  The measure fell behind by a large margin as the early returns …

Biden phones winner of memorable Coralville election  —  IOWA CITY, IA.  — In a contest that attracted the attention of Vice President Joe Biden and spending by the national conservative group Americans for Prosperity, Coralville's three incumbent candidates are staying for another term.

Five years in, Obama and Bush poll numbers nearly identical  —  When President Obama first ran for the White House in 2008, it was with the promise to turn the page on the presidency of George W. Bush.  But for all their political differences, it turns out the American public pretty much view …

Christie's strategy of wooing key Democrats pays off big  —  A day after routing Jon Corzine in 2009, Republican Governor-elect Chris Christie placed a call to the Democratic mayor of Woodbridge, John McCormac, inviting him to join his transition team.  —  McCormac, a state treasurer under …

Insurance cancelled?  Don't blame Obama or the ACA, blame America's insurance companies  —  Liar!  Pinocchio!  Deceiver!  —  With all the charges flying against President Obama in the on-going effort to stop ObamaCare it's time for a reality check.  —  Having failed to kill …

51ST STATE QUESTION ANSWERED “YES” IN 6 OF 11 COUNTIES CONTEMPLATING SECESSION  —  Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway, center, with other elected officials address a group of supporters of the 51st State Initiative during an election result watch party at the Historic Fort Lupton Fort, November 5, 2013.

Pictured with the man who shot him dead moments later: RAF policeman grins alongside rogue Afghan policeman who opened fire on him and comrade  —  An unwitting British soldier who posed for a photograph with a rogue Afghan policeman was shot dead by him seconds later.