For politicians, winning public office means countless handshakes with voters and making their best case for election, all while knocking the opposition. We keep an eye on the campaign trail as candidates and voters perform the ritual dance of democracy.
by Charles Mahtesian
The former South Carolina governor whose political career seemed to end in ignominy in 2010 defeated Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, 54 percent to 45 percent. The Republican's career had unraveled following a highly publicized extramarital affair in 2009.
by Frank James
Updated at 9:29 pm ET — Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford handily won the race for his old House seat, beating Elizabeth Colbert Bush. Earlier in the day, both sides expressed confidence that apparently strong voter turnout was a good omen. And it was — for Sanford.
by Kathy Lohr
South Carolina's 1st Congressional District hasn't elected a Democrat since 1978. But in a race against scandal-ridden former Gov. Mark Sanford, Democrats think their candidate, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, has a chance to pull it off in Tuesday's special election.
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by Liz Halloran
Sen. Rand Paul went to one of the top historically black colleges in the nation and tried to make a case for his Republican Party as a continuing defender of the civil rights of African-Americans. The Kentucky Republican got credit for the effort, but not always his message.
by Frank James
On Election Day 2012, black voters waited on average nearly twice as long to vote as did whites. The wait time for Hispanics fell in between. While race may have played a role, a researcher suggests geography did, too.
by Ari Shapiro
Right now, children are central to campaigns on gun control, immigration and same-sex marriage — demonstrating their effectiveness as political messengers. Politicians know that on almost any issue, kids can make an argument more compelling.
by S.V. Date
Two prominent Democrats, including a former Republican governor who recently switched parties, hold commanding leads over the unpopular Scott, according to a poll.
by Frank James
As the Republican National Committee offers criticism and advice for the party after its performance in 2012, a political science professor has come up with a list of sometimes similar GOP outreach efforts of old.
by Frank James
The Republican National Committee report offers the party a way forward after its 2012 failure to defeat President Obama, who was long seen as vulnerable because of a relatively high jobless rate and uninspiring economic growth.
by S.V. Dáte
Jeb Bush got headlines last week when he opened the door to a presidential run, after years of insisting he was not interested. So it's of some note that when attendees at this week's Conservative Political Action Conference vote in the group's straw poll for 2016, they will not find his name on the ballot.
