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Don Gonyea Don Gonyea is a NPR National Political Correspondent based in Washington, D.C., and travels throughout the United States covering elections and the country's political climate. His reports can be heard on all NPR programs and at NPR.org.
Don Gonyea 2010
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Don Gonyea

Elections

Voter Turnout Efforts Going Full Steam In Wisconsin

Wisconsin is in the small group of remaining battleground states that could determine the outcome of the presidential election. Turnout operations are an important part of the Mitt Romney and President Obama campaigns in all the critical states. But in Wisconsin, get-out-the-vote efforts grew out of the state's hard-fought gubernatorial recall election.

Voter Turnout Efforts Going Full Steam In Wisconsin

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Obituaries

McGovern, From WWII Pilot To Embattled Candidate

Former Sen. George McGovern, the Democratic nominee for president 40 years ago this fall, has died at age 90, with his family gathered near him in South Dakota.

McGovern, From WWII Pilot To Embattled Candidate

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McGovern Legacy Offers More Than A Lost Presidency

McGovern listens to a constituent in 1974. Jim Mone/AP hide caption

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Jim Mone/AP

Obituaries

McGovern Legacy Offers More Than A Lost Presidency

Former Sen. George McGovern died Sunday morning. He was best known as the Democratic Party's ill-fated nominee against President Nixon in 1972, a textbook case of how not to run for the White House. Even so, as a proud liberal, McGovern was an inspiration to many political figures. He was 90.

McGovern Legacy Offers More Than A Lost Presidency

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Elections

In Ohio, Bill Clinton Opens For 'The Boss'

One of President Obama's most high-profile surrogates, former President Bill Clinton, spoke at a rally in Parma, Ohio, Thursday. Rocker Bruce Springsteen was the co-headliner.

In Ohio, Bill Clinton Opens For 'The Boss'

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Elections

Take-Charge Obama Shows Up For Second Debate

Two weeks ago, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney was seen as the clear winner of that debate. A very different President Obama showed up for the second debate. He went hard after his Republican opponent from the very start.

Take-Charge Obama Shows Up For Second Debate

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Elections

Volunteers Labor To Get Early Voters Out In Iowa

Early voting is underway in Iowa, a battleground state where the most recent polls give President Obama a very narrow lead in a tight race. Four years ago, Obama carried Iowa with help from a massive ground organization that far outpaced what the GOP was doing. This year, Republicans say that won't be repeated.

Volunteers Labor To Get Early Voters Out In Iowa

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Strict Private School Prepped Romney To 'Aim High'

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lived in Stevens Hall while he was attending Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images hide caption

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Elections

Strict Private School Prepped Romney To 'Aim High'

At Cranbrook School for Boys, Mitt Romney and his classmates "lived by the bell" and wore coats and ties to dinner. Romney made his mark at the prestigious private school, but a former classmate says, "you never saw Mitt and said, 'That's the governor's son.' He was one of the guys, quite honestly."

Strict Private School Prepped Romney To 'Aim High'

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Elections

No. 2s, Biden, Ryan, Square Off In Combative Debate

Vice President Joe Biden and GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan engaged in a memorable and highly combative debate Thursday night in Danville, Kentucky. It's the only time the two men, who occupy the second spots on their party's presidential tickets, will square off before the election.

No. 2s, Biden, Ryan, Square Off In Combative Debate

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Presidential Race

Scramble For Ohio Has High Stakes For Romney

Every four years the Presidential campaigns roll into Ohio. This year, the stakes are especially high for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney because no Republican has ever won the White House without a victory in Ohio. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Scramble For Ohio Has High Stakes For Romney

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Presidential Race

Obama Leads In Nevada Despite State's Poor Economy

Nevada is one of the eight most hotly contest battleground states of the 2012 election. President Obama carried it by a wide margin four years ago. But since he took office, the Nevada unemployment rate has gotten significantly worse and is now at 12.1 percent. Still, polls continue to show the race is very close there, with Mr. Obama holding a narrow lead, while Mitt Romney has so far been unable to capitalize on the state's deep economic woes.

Obama Leads In Nevada Despite State's Poor Economy

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Presidential Race

Nev. Voters Scrutinize Candidates' Economic Messages

President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney have made multiple trips to the battleground state of Nevada this year. Romney was there again Friday. Nevada has the worst jobless rate in the nation, and it's a place where recent distractions from Romney's economic message could hurt his chances of winning. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Nev. Voters Scrutinize Candidates' Economic Messages

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Presidential Race

Biden A Vital Surrogate For Obama On Campaign Trail

Vice President Joe Biden has been an important surrogate for President Obama this year, as he was four years ago. Biden especially excels at connecting with white, working-class voters — a group with which the president has struggled.

Biden A Vital Surrogate For Obama On Campaign Trail

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Paul Ryan A Star Attraction For Values Voters

Paul Ryan addresses the Family Research Council Action Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Politics

Paul Ryan A Star Attraction For Values Voters

At the same summit last year, many religious conservatives said they would support Mitt Romney only as a last resort. Now, he has Ryan to vouch for him. The GOP vice presidential nominee slammed President Obama on foreign policy, the economy and abortion in his speech Friday.

Paul Ryan A Star Attraction For Values Voters

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In The Ohio River Valley, Voters Aren't Sure Either Candidate Can Help

Towns near the Ohio River, including Steubenville, seen here in 2009, are home to many undecided voters. One of them, Brian Snider, says, "This is pretty much a ghost town." Rick Gershon/Getty Images hide caption

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Rick Gershon/Getty Images

It's All Politics

In The Ohio River Valley, Voters Aren't Sure Either Candidate Can Help

Neither President Obama nor Mitt Romney seems to be winning the hearts of blue-collar voters in this part of the state. Economically, says one analyst, many residents here should be voting Democratic; but their social conservatism clouds the picture.

In The Ohio River Valley, Voters Aren't Sure Either Candidate Can Help

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