David Sherfinski

Virginia GOP attack on Kaine ricochets

The Virginia Republican Party lambasted Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine on Monday for backing a congressional deal that's led to the specter of $500 billion in defense cuts starting next year — despite a majority of the state's Republican lawmakers, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, having voted for the plan. Published July 23, 2012

Sharp exchanges punctuate first Allen-Kaine debate in Virginia

Both U.S. Senate candidates in Virginia offered glimpses of their lines of attack in the race's first general election debate, with Democrat Tim Kaine repeatedly labeling Republican opponent George Allen a big spender and overt partisan, and Mr. Allen painting Mr. Kaine as a serial tax-hiker and cheerleader of President Obama's agenda, notably his high-profile federal health care law. Published July 21, 2012

Poll: Romney winning over hesitant Virginia voters

Mitt Romney has erased an 8-point deficit in the swing state of Virginia, which provided President Obama with one of his biggest victories in 2008 by supporting a Democratic candidate for the first time in more than four decades. Published July 19, 2012

Trayvon Martin’s parents: Zimmerman apology ‘insincere’

The parents of Trayvon Martin on Thursday called an apology from George Zimmerman in the shooting death of their teenage son "insincere," and said it is still too difficult to forgive Mr. Zimmerman for the act. Published July 19, 2012

In Ohio, fired-up Romney pledges to ‘fight for soul of America’

Mitt Romney brought his newly aggressive style of attack against President Obama to Ohio on Wednesday, hammering the president for his recent comments on small businesses and pledging to "fight for the soul of America" in the face of mounting pressure to release more of his tax returns. Published July 18, 2012

Romney team gets outgunned on rapid response to Obama

Even as Mitt Romney was readying one of his strongest direct attacks yet on President Obama on Tuesday in Pennsylvania, Mr. Obama's campaign pre-empted him with its own attack ad in the state, a turn of events emblematic of the Republican challenger's struggle to impose his own narrative to drive — and win — what is now a 24-hour news cycle. Published July 17, 2012

Sununu: ‘I wish this president would learn how to be an American’

Former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu said Tuesday he wished President Obama "would learn how to be an American" and called the Obama campaign "a bunch of liars" for running an ad that suggested GOP nominee Mitt Romney may not have paid all of his taxes. Published July 17, 2012

Romney shows his fighting side, to GOP cheers

Dogged by lingering questions about his business record, Mitt Romney shifted from defense to attack mode Monday, accusing President Obama of unfairly rewarding campaign donors. It was a more aggressive posture many Republicans have been wanting to see. Published July 16, 2012

GOP smells blood in Virginia Senate race

A newly discovered connection between U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine and convicted double murderer Jens Soering has prompted renewed attacks by Republicans on an issue over which the Democratic former governor has long been perceived as vulnerable. Published July 13, 2012

These three fact-checkers keep candidates in line

The emergence of fact-checkers is one of the major stories of the 2012 presidential campaign, with the self-appointed arbiters of truth inserting themselves into all of the thorniest issues. Published July 12, 2012

Bolling against Medicaid expansion; McDonnell has not made a decision

Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has asked Gov. Bob McDonnell to reject the federal health care overhaul's Medicaid expansion, days after Mr. McDonnell said there were too many unanswered questions to make a decision yet. Published July 12, 2012

Between Allen and Kaine, no daylight

U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine and George Allen on Wednesday announced their best quarterly fundraising totals, even as a new poll showed the Virginia political heavyweights still neck and neck heading into the summer campaign season. Published July 11, 2012

Va. Gov. McDonnell undecided on adding to Medicaid

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell told members of the General Assembly on Tuesday that it is too early to say whether the state will follow the lead of a handful of Republican governors who have vowed not to implement key portions of President Obama's health care overhaul. Published July 10, 2012

Obama leads Romney in poll in Va. as both swing through

President Obama leads presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney by eight points in Virginia as both campaigns turn their focus toward the all-important swing state this week. Published July 10, 2012

Goode’s third-party run: Bad news for Romney in Virginia?

Former Virginia Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr.'s bid for the White House as the Constitution Party's nominee could help resuscitate a political career cut short by a razor-thin loss in 2008 — but it also carries the risk of tipping the scales toward President Obama in the all-important swing state. Published July 8, 2012

Obama touts transportation, student loans; GOP hits economy, health care

President Obama, in his weekly radio address, highlighted a bill he signed into law Friday that will provide more money for transportation projects and prevent interest rates for student loans from doubling, opting to stray from the two subjects that have dominated the headlines in recent days — the economy and health care. Published July 7, 2012