Election 2012 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=139482413&ft=1&f=139482413 Explore NPR's coverage of the battle for the White House. You'll also find the latest news about House and Senate races and key statewide contests. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:28:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Election 2012 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=139482413&ft=1&f=139482413 Resolute Rhetoric: Obama's Confident Case For Government Though wrung of much of the drama of his historic first inauguration, President Obama's efficient, specific and, at times, soaring address outshone his first with allusions to Lincoln, King and Kennedy. Speech experts and presidential historians weigh in on Obama's words and delivery. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/21/169909886/resolute-rhetoric-obamas-confident-case-for-government?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/21/169909886/resolute-rhetoric-obamas-confident-case-for-government?ft=1&f=139482413 Though wrung of much of the drama of his historic first inauguration, President Obama's efficient, specific and, at times, soaring address outshone his first with allusions to Lincoln, King and Kennedy. Speech experts and presidential historians weigh in on Obama's words and delivery.

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]]> 'Aggressive' Obama Defends Entitlements, Highlights Social Issues President Obama began his second term with an unapologetically liberal inaugural address, calling on Americans to work together to preserve entitlements, address climate change and extend civil rights. Conservative and libertarian observers noted an "aggressive" approach to the speech. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/21/169909091/in-address-obama-highlights-equal-rights-and-governments-role?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/21/169909091/in-address-obama-highlights-equal-rights-and-governments-role?ft=1&f=139482413 President Obama began his second term with an unapologetically liberal inaugural address, calling on Americans to work together to preserve entitlements, address climate change and extend civil rights. Conservative and libertarian observers noted an "aggressive" approach to the speech.

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]]> What Now? Obama Leads Polarized Government Into Second Term Unlike with his first swearing-in, Barack Obama does not face two ongoing wars and an economy on the verge of collapse. But thorny issues remain, and there's less hope than there was four years ago that Obama can bend Washington to his will. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:37:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/16/169520525/what-now-obama-leads-polarized-government-into-second-term?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/16/169520525/what-now-obama-leads-polarized-government-into-second-term?ft=1&f=139482413 Unlike with his first swearing-in, Barack Obama does not face two ongoing wars and an economy on the verge of collapse. But thorny issues remain, and there's less hope than there was four years ago that Obama can bend Washington to his will.

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]]> As It Happened: Obama Asks Americans To Carry 'Light Of Freedom' "Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness," he says. "But it does require us to act in our time." Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/16/169529891/live-blog-president-obamas-second-inauguration?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/16/169529891/live-blog-president-obamas-second-inauguration?ft=1&f=139482413 "Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness," he says. "But it does require us to act in our time."

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]]> Obama Takes Oath Of Office In White House Ceremony Obama fulfilled the constitutional requirement to take the oath before noon on Jan. 20. He will repeat the oath in public on Monday. Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/20/169841828/obama-takes-oath-of-office-in-white-house-ceremony?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/20/169841828/obama-takes-oath-of-office-in-white-house-ceremony?ft=1&f=139482413 Obama fulfilled the constitutional requirement to take the oath before noon on Jan. 20. He will repeat the oath in public on Monday.

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]]> Obama So Far: Making History, Inspiring An Opposition Barack Obama was always going to have a place in history as the first African-American president. That's no small feat given the nation's peculiar past. But achieving what other Democratic presidents couldn't fueled deep divisions within the country and set the table for a second term with daunting challenges. Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/20/169733928/obama-so-far-making-history-inspiring-an-opposition?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/20/169733928/obama-so-far-making-history-inspiring-an-opposition?ft=1&f=139482413 Barack Obama was always going to have a place in history as the first African-American president. That's no small feat given the nation's peculiar past. But achieving what other Democratic presidents couldn't fueled deep divisions within the country and set the table for a second term with daunting challenges.

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]]> For Cartoonists Who Cover Obama: Four More Ears Four years ago, when the nation's first African-American president was inaugurated, even conservative editorial cartoonists marked the moment with reverence. Now, not so much. Political cartoonists Scott Stantis of the <em>Chicago Tribune </em>and Matt Wuerker of <em>Politico </em>weigh in on the evolution of a president's image. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:27:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/18/169726644/for-cartoonists-who-cover-obama-four-more-ears?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/18/169726644/for-cartoonists-who-cover-obama-four-more-ears?ft=1&f=139482413 Four years ago, when the nation's first African-American president was inaugurated, even conservative editorial cartoonists marked the moment with reverence. Now, not so much. Political cartoonists Scott Stantis of the Chicago Tribune and Matt Wuerker of Politico weigh in on the evolution of a president's image.

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]]> Saying No To The Inauguration For some Americans, next week's inauguration is a time to protest, not celebrate, the beginning of a second term for President Obama. Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:44:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169421139/saying-no-to-the-inauguration?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169421139/saying-no-to-the-inauguration?ft=1&f=139482413 For some Americans, next week's inauguration is a time to protest, not celebrate, the beginning of a second term for President Obama.

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]]> Obama (Officially) Wins! Electoral College Votes Tallied Before Congress On Friday, it was confirmed that President Obama won the election with 332 electoral votes tallied in his column. Of course this is old news. But the formal count mandated by the Constitution took place before a joint session of Congress, heavy on ceremony and light on attendance. Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:48:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/04/168629793/obama-officially-wins-electoral-college-votes-tallied-before-congress?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/04/168629793/obama-officially-wins-electoral-college-votes-tallied-before-congress?ft=1&f=139482413 On Friday, it was confirmed that President Obama won the election with 332 electoral votes tallied in his column. Of course this is old news. But the formal count mandated by the Constitution took place before a joint session of Congress, heavy on ceremony and light on attendance.

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]]> It's Official: Electoral Votes Are Counted; Obama & Biden Won At a joint session of Congress, the Electoral College votes from each state were read aloud. Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:24:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/04/168622842/electoral-votes-are-being-counted?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/04/168622842/electoral-votes-are-being-counted?ft=1&f=139482413 At a joint session of Congress, the Electoral College votes from each state were read aloud.

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]]> Not Your Father's (Or Mother's) Congress Despite what has been called a status quo election, the 113th Congress will bring with it generational changes and some history, including the first all-female delegation for a state, and the fewest number of military veterans since World War II. Here are some of the noteworthy newcomers. Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/31/167989125/not-your-fathers-or-mothers-congress?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/31/167989125/not-your-fathers-or-mothers-congress?ft=1&f=139482413 Despite what has been called a status quo election, the 113th Congress will bring with it generational changes and some history, including the first all-female delegation for a state, and the fewest number of military veterans since World War II. Here are some of the noteworthy newcomers.

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]]> Election Study: Black Turnout May Have Surpassed That Of Whites Blacks also voted at a higher rate than other minorities in what could turn out to be a historic election, according to the Pew Research Center. Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/27/168155895/election-study-black-turnout-may-have-surpassed-whites?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/27/168155895/election-study-black-turnout-may-have-surpassed-whites?ft=1&f=139482413 Blacks also voted at a higher rate than other minorities in what could turn out to be a historic election, according to the Pew Research Center.

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]]> Romney Didn't Want To Run, Son Says The 2012 Republican presidential nominee had to be convinced by his family to get into the race, his son tells the <em>Boston Globe</em>. "He wanted to be president less than anyone I've met in my life," Tagg Romney says. Mon, 24 Dec 2012 07:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/24/167955525/romney-didnt-want-to-run-son-says?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/24/167955525/romney-didnt-want-to-run-son-says?ft=1&f=139482413 The 2012 Republican presidential nominee had to be convinced by his family to get into the race, his son tells the Boston Globe. "He wanted to be president less than anyone I've met in my life," Tagg Romney says.

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]]> Remembering Those Who Left Us In 2012 George McGovern, Arlen Specter, Warren Rudman, Dan Inouye ... just some of the political giants who died in 2012. This week's super-sized Political Junkie column is dedicated to their memory. Mon, 24 Dec 2012 06:04:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2012/12/24/167219024/remembering-those-who-left-us-in-2012?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2012/12/24/167219024/remembering-those-who-left-us-in-2012?ft=1&f=139482413 George McGovern, Arlen Specter, Warren Rudman, Dan Inouye ... just some of the political giants who died in 2012. This week's super-sized Political Junkie column is dedicated to their memory.

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]]> In Midwest Union Fights, Michigan Shows 2010 Election Still Trumps 2012 Michigan this week provided more shock treatment for organized labor and, by extension, the Democratic Party. And a lame-duck Legislature showed that elections do have consequences. But in this case, it was the election two years ago — the one that swept out Democrats in key statehouse races. Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:12:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/12/167080178/in-midwest-union-fights-michigan-shows-2010-election-still-trumps-2012?ft=1&f=139482413 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/12/167080178/in-midwest-union-fights-michigan-shows-2010-election-still-trumps-2012?ft=1&f=139482413 Michigan this week provided more shock treatment for organized labor and, by extension, the Democratic Party. And a lame-duck Legislature showed that elections do have consequences. But in this case, it was the election two years ago — the one that swept out Democrats in key statehouse races.

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