Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
3rd-party candidates could tip tight races
Even political junkies might not be able to identify LeAlan Jones, Shawn Moody, Scott Ashjian and Ceci Iglesias, but all four could have a major effect on the political balance of power after Election Day. Published October 24, 2010
Five ex-governors hope to catch on again
The anti-incumbent fever sweeping the nation apparently isn't contagious when it comes to gubernatorial contests. Published October 20, 2010
With few undecideds, Reid, Angle try to rally voters
Polls show nearly all voters in Nevada have made up their minds about the state's bitter Senate race, but combatants Harry Reid and Sharron Angle upped the ante this week with a round of fresh attacks as they try to gain separation in a contest that's long been too close to call. Published October 19, 2010
Colorado clean-campaign vow at risk
Democrat John Hickenlooper has repeatedly vowed to run no negative ads in his campaign for Colorado governor, but that was before Tom Tancredo pulled within 4 percentage points. Now campaign watchers are waiting to see how much longer the Hickenlooper campaign can continue to ignore Mr. Tancredo's insurgent American Constitution Party candidacy. Published October 17, 2010
Military gay ban best left to Congress, Gates says
The Obama administration distanced itself Wednesday from a federal judge's injunction banning enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military, with officials saying that the policy should be properly addressed by Congress and not the courts. Published October 13, 2010
Judge orders end of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
A federal judge in California on Tuesday ordered the U.S. military to stop enforcing the 17-year-old policy banning openly gay service members, the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell." Published October 12, 2010
‘Tea party’ warms up to Tancredo
There's a "tea party" candidate running for governor in Colorado this fall, but with three weeks to go in the campaign, it's not entirely clear who it is. Published October 11, 2010
Mum’s the word as Brewer shuns debates
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer insists she won't participate in any more debates after her notorious brain-freeze moment in the first gubernatorial debate, but so far that doesn't seem to be hurting her with the voters. Published October 6, 2010
Voters in 3 states to consider opting out of ‘Obamacare’
After taking a beating at the hands of Missouri voters in August, "Obamacare" could be roughed up once again at the ballot box in November. Published October 3, 2010
‘Major’ stem cell development announced
A major breakthrough in stem cell development could help resolve the ongoing debate over the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research. Published September 30, 2010
California initiatives do battle on ballot
The 2010 California ballot isn't just a list of traditional ballot initiatives and propositions - at times it's a toe-to-toe slugfest between the state Legislature and anyone standing in its way. Published September 23, 2010
Tancredo gets good news in polls, court
Tom Tancredo may be a third-party candidate for Colorado governor, but he's no longer coming in third. Published September 14, 2010
Fiorina refuses to run as a moderate
After Carly Fiorina won California's Republican Senate primary, many analysts expected her to shake off her conservative mantle and make a lunge for the moderate middle in the general election against liberal incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer. That's not how it has played out. Published September 12, 2010
GOP sweating out effect of governor’s race
The disaster that is the Colorado Republican gubernatorial campaign could end up dragging down the rest of the party's ticket. Or it could benefit other GOP candidates by freeing up resources and creating a sense of urgency among activists. Published September 6, 2010
Slow progress feared in stem cell study
The courts have been less than friendly to pro-life causes in the past - see Roe v. Wade - but this week's ruling came as a resounding victory for those opposed to spending federal dollars on embryonic stem cell research. Published August 26, 2010
Judge puts Obama stem cell policy on hold
A federal judge issued a temporary hold Monday on the Obama administration's new guidelines on human embryonic stem cell research, dealing the White House a serious setback in its efforts to promote the highly sensitive research with federal funding. Published August 23, 2010
Reid, Angle misfire with gaffes in Nevada Senate race
Between Democratic incumbent Harry Reid's gaffes and Republican challenger Sharron Angle's misfires, the winner of the Nevada Senate race may be the first candidate who can stop talking. Published August 16, 2010
Upstarts bench GOP’s all-star team
Less than a year ago, top party officials boasted of experienced candidates poised to breeze through their Senate primary elections and put the hurt on vulnerable Dems. After Tuesday's primary votes, not one member of the dream team will be the Republican nominee in November. Published August 11, 2010
Bennet survives, Buck wins in Colorado
Sen. Michael Bennet, President Obama's candidate, fended off a challenge from Bill Clinton favorite Andrew Romanoff on Tuesday to win the Colorado Democratic Senate primary and avoid the fate of other endangered incumbents this primary season. Published August 10, 2010
Insurgents in both parties eye upsets in Colorado primary
With Colorado's primary election a day away, the anti-establishment candidates are surging, and not just on the Republican side. Published August 8, 2010
