David Sherfinski

Obama can come to Oregon anytime he’d like, Jeff Merkley says

As Democratic candidates across the country try to distance themselves from President Obama — even if statements from the president himself are making it a bit tricky — Mr. Obama can take comfort in the fact that he's at least welcome in Oregon. Published October 21, 2014

Mitt Romney scheduled to head to Kansas to boost GOP Sen. Roberts

Former Massachusetts Gov. and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is heading to Kansas next week to boost the re-election campaign of GOP Sen. Pat Roberts, according to the Roberts campaign. Published October 21, 2014

AFL-CIO chief: Because of mess in D.C., we’re looking at states

Richard Trumka, the head of the AFL-CIO, said gridlock in Washington, D.C., has led to group to expand its focus to state-level and down-ballot races this year, while still predicting a strong election day turnout operation for Democrats. Published October 21, 2014

Obama on Dems: ‘These are folks who are strong allies and supporters of me’

President Obama said that while it's difficult for some Democratic candidates running in states he didn't carry to invite him to their states, they are nevertheless loyal allies and backers of his agenda in Congress. Published October 21, 2014

RNC raises $13.5 million in September

The Republican National Committee raised $13.5 million in September — its best September haul ever in a midterm election year. Published October 21, 2014

Tom Cotton up 8 points over Mark Pryor in Arkansas Senate race: poll

GOP Rep. Tom Cotton has stretched his lead over Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor to 8 points, according to a new poll from Talk Business & Politics and Hendrix College. Published October 21, 2014

Jeanne Shaheen up 3 points in New Hampshire Senate poll

Incumbent Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen leads by 3 points in a new Suffolk University/Boston Herald poll in her re-election bid against Republican Scott Brown after leading by 10 in the same poll in June. Published October 21, 2014

Rubio pushes visa ban for nationals from Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone

Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, says he plans to introduce legislation to temporarily ban new visas for nationals of West African countries hardest hit by the Ebola virus. Published October 20, 2014

Rand Paul heading to Iowa Wednesday to boost GOP candidates

Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, is headed back to Iowa Wednesday to give a boost to GOP congressional candidates in the Hawkeye State. Published October 20, 2014

Group headed by former Va. Gov. Gilmore airing ads in Iowa, N.H., Va.

A conservative group chaired by former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III is launching statewide radio ad campaigns starting Monday to boost Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Virginia. Published October 20, 2014

Kay Hagan up 3 points in North Carolina Senate race: poll

A new poll shows Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan up by three points in North Carolina in what could turn out to be the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history. Published October 20, 2014

Bill Clinton does DCCC fundraising pitch: Dems face ‘avalanche of spending’

Former President Bill Clinton is the latest high-profile surrogate to lend his name the the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's (DCCC) often eyebrow-raising fundraising pitch email campaign, pleading for money from supporters in a missive Monday morning. Published October 20, 2014

Bill Clinton to stump Tuesday for Alison Lundergan Grimes

Seeking to infuse her U.S. Senate campaign with some high-wattage political star power, Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes is bringing in former President Bill Clinton to stump for her for the third time in Kentucky, the Associated Press reports. Published October 20, 2014

Tim Murphy: Don’t need someone who has a ‘learning curve’ overseeing Ebola response

Rep. Tim Murphy, Pennsylvania Republican, said Monday that newly-announced "Ebola czar" Ron Klain simply doesn't have the background that is needed for such a position. Published October 20, 2014

Likely voters prefer Republican-led Congress: poll

With just more than two weeks left until Election Day, a new poll shows that likely voters prefer a Republican-controlled Congress to a Democrat-controlled one. Published October 20, 2014

Ted Cruz outlines 10 priorities for a GOP-led Congress: ‘We should lead boldly’

Should Republicans take full control of Congress after the midterms in a few weeks, Sen. GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said in a new op-ed that they should focus on the key priorities of improving the economy, protecting civil liberties and defending national security. Published October 20, 2014

North Carolina Senate race could be most expensive in U.S. history: report

The U.S. Senate race in North Carolina this year is poised to eclipse the $100 million dollar mark and could be the most expensive Senate contest in U.S. history, the Charlotte Observer reported. Published October 20, 2014

Pentagon: Ebola response team to be in place for ‘potential support’

Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon's press secretary, said Monday that a team of about 20 nurses, five infectious disease experts and five trainers are preparing to assist hospitals in their response to the Ebola crisis if and only if they ask for it. Published October 20, 2014

Second nurse who contracted Ebola was cleared to fly to Ohio, family says

The family of Amber Vinson, the second nurse who tested positive for Ebola in Dallas, said health officials had cleared her to fly recently even though she had expressed concerns. Published October 20, 2014

Voters split on Bush’s, Obama’s handling of federal government: poll

A plurality of voters say former President George W. Bush was more effective at handling the basic functions of the federal government than President Obama. Published October 20, 2014