James W. Pindell's blog

The arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his top aide on charges, among other things, that he attempted to sell off his pick to replace President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat, creates a drama for political junkies just in time for the Holidays.

It has high drama allegation of bribes. It has big political families. It has ties to Obama. It involves the most exclusive club in the world and possibly the most corrupt office in the land.

President-elect Barack Obama's decision to name Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff means that Emanuel's role as House Democratic Caucus Chair is now vacant.

It could mean that Van Hollen will make a play for the role, the number four job in the House. Before Emanuel became caucus chair he held Van Hollen's current job of Democratic Congressional Committee Chairman.

NBC calls the New Hampshire Senate race says Gov. Jeanne Shaheen won.

The moment polls closed in New Hampshire NBC called the state for Democrat Barack Obama.

So far they are the only network to make the call.

Will today really be the Democratic landslide some are predicting? Dixville Notch votes may have already answered that question.

For the first time since 1968 Dixville voted for a Democrat. And it wasn't even close.

Consider that Dixville voted twice for George W. Bush. In 2000 Bush's won 21-5 and in 2004 he won 19-7.

Which makes Obama's 15-6 win this morning an ominous sign for Republicans.  Then again it was only 21 people.

Before Barack Obama's grandmother died today she cast an absentee ballot to help Obama become president.

Under Hawaii law, though, that ballot will not count. The state law says that if the local election clerk is notified before the polls open on Election Day the ballot is invalid.

The issue is whether or not someone conveniently forgets to tell the clerk.