Politics

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** FILE ** In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, photo, President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event at Colorado College, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

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D.C. Council member Yvette M. Alexander welcomes the study of burying power lines and says the new task force should provide “real numbers” on costs and “the real timeline. She heads the public service committee. (Dreg Angerer/The Washington Times) ** FILE **

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Family Research Council President Tony Perkins exits the Family Research Council headquarters on Thursday to accuse ideological opponents of using language that inspires the type of violence that occurred in his building lobby. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Family Research Council President Tony Perkins exits the Family Research Council headquarters on Thursday to accuse ideological opponents of using language that inspires the type of violence that occurred in his building lobby. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III throws a pass during team practice at their Redskins training camp, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

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An effort to designate the American bison the National Mammal of the United States has drawn bipartisan support, led by a Missouri Democrat and a Nebraska Republican. It currently has the support of four congressmen and 17 senators. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut Democrat-turned-independent, addressed the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., on Sept. 2, 2008, a little more than a week after maverick former Rep. Jim Leach, Iowa Republican, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, on Aug. 25 of that year. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Former Rep. Artur Davis, who served as a Democrat during his four terms in office and seconded Barack Obama's nomination at the 2008 convention, now supports Mitt Romney and will speak in Tampa, Fla., at the Republican National Convention. (Associated Press)

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Democrats are looking to Rep. Tammy Baldwin to stem a long and deep losing streak in Wisconsin for the party that dates back to 2010. She is running for a U.S. Senate seat against former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson in the November election. (Associated Press)

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Republicans in Wisconsin hope Rep. Paul Ryan can help boost the chances of party candidates thanks to his prominence as Mitt Romney’s running mate. (Associated Press)