Elections Directory USA

AP - As President Obama spoke, Violeta Sifuentes snuggled with her 6-year-old twins on the suede sofa — Samuel beside her, Selena sprawled across her legs. When the 29-year-old Army captain explained what the president meant by combat operations in Iraq being over, "Nina" let out a loud, "Woo-hoo!" then asked, "Can we go play now?"

AP - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's stunning defeat in the Alaska primary ends a 30-year family legacy of holding that seat, an era that spanned a majority of Alaska's statehood.

AP - Take note, Mitt Romney.

CQPolitics.com - Sen. John McCain's victory in the Aug. 24 Arizona Republican primary was fueled partly by transfers of $7.5 million from his 2008 presidential campaign compliance fund -- an account GOP Congressional strategists are now eyeing as they look to finance a growing list of competitive midterm races.

The Upshot - A week after the primary, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski conceded to challenger Joe Miller Tuesday night, becoming the seventh congressional incumbent and fourth Republican to lose a primary challenge this election year. Miller, who was endorsed by Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express, narrowly defeated Murkowski in last week's voting. Murkowski's campaign was hopeful [...]

Reuters - President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared an end to the American combat mission in Iraq and said America's most urgent task now is restoring the sagging U.S. economy.

The Upshot - President Obama faced a major dilemma heading into Tuesday's prime-time address on Iraq: How do you mark the milestone of a campaign promise fulfilled when what has happened in Iraq isn't exactly "mission accomplished"?  It was an obstacle that Obama never quite overcame in his 18-minute speech, which was remarkably disjointed for a president well [...]

AP - Potential 2012 presidential candidate Sarah Palin will headline the Iowa Republican Party's biggest annual fundraiser, party officials announced Tuesday in the state that launches the presidential nominating process.

AP - Remarks by President Barack Obama on the end of combat operations in Iraq, as provided by the White House.

AP - Congressional leaders who opposed the troop surge in Iraq are now taking credit for it, and President Barack Obama is more worried about ending the war than winning it, House Republican leader John Boehner said Tuesday.

The Christian Science Monitor - The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a ballot initiative that sought to amend the state’s constitution to establish that Florida residents have a right to refuse to purchase mandatory health insurance – including under President Obama’s reform effort.

AP - President Barack Obama is acknowledging that he and former President George W. Bush disagreed about the Iraq war from the beginning. But in his nationally televised address on the Iraq war, he pays tribute to Bush by calling him "a patriot."

AP - President Barack Obama is calling on Iraq's leaders to act quickly to form an inclusive government.

AP - Potential 2012 presidential candidate Sarah Palin will headline the Iowa Republican Party's biggest annual fundraiser, party officials announced Tuesday in the state that launches the presidential nominating process.

AP - Congressional leaders who opposed the troop surge in Iraq are now taking credit for it, and President Barack Obama is more worried about ending the war than winning it, House Republican leader John Boehner said Tuesday.

AP - Opposed to the war from the start, President Barack Obama on Tuesday formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq as promised, declaring: "It is time to turn the page." He said the nation's most urgent priority must be fixing its own economy.

AP - John McCain's daughter says in a new book released Tuesday that Sarah Palin brought drama, stress and uncertainty to her father's failed bid for the presidency in 2008, but she doesn't blame the vice presidential nominee for losing the race.

Reuters - President Barack Obama declared the U.S. combat mission in Iraq officially over on Tuesday but said he would not take a "victory lap" because a lot more work remained to be done inside the country.

AP - President Barack Obama is declaring Operation Iraqi Freedom to be over with the end of the U.S. combat mission, and says it's now time "to turn the page" to give the Iraqi people full responsibility for their own security.

AP - This isn't Florida in 2000, with chads hanging and people threatening to riot outside. No, call it a kinder, gentler recount.