US Senate

RENO-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid takes reporters' questions at the Nevada Democratic Convention.  Reid predicts that the Democratic primary will be over in two weeks and that the party will be able to come together against Republicans in the fall.

Reid also discusses Mass. Sen. Ted Kennedy's health, renews his pledge to remain neutral in the Democratic primary, and predicts that the Florida and Michigan delegates will be seated in Denver.

RENO-Reid gave probably the most red-meat of the Democratic speeches of the day, in this clip calling John McCain a "George Bush clone."

RENO-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid continues extolling the drawn-out Democratic primary season and refers to presumptive Republican nominee John McCain as a "flawed candidate." "He has the wrong temperament, he's wrong on the war, he's wrong on the economy and we're going to beat John McCain," said Reid.

RENO-Speaking before the Nevada Democratic Convention, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid discusses the success of the Nevada caucuses and the impact of the ongoing Democratic primary on the party.

RENO-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid discusses Mass. Sen. Ted Kennedy's hospitalization and his book at the Nevada Democratic Convention.

MANCHESTER -- As the presidential primary battle continues between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton nationwide, local Democrats stressed unity during their annual state convention Saturday.

They talked as if talking about unity would actually heal the wounds playing out at the grassroots. Call it the audacity of hope.

At one point former party chair Kathy Sullivan, a Cinton supporter, addressed the 800 pound donkey in the room by making all delegates stand, raise their right hands and pledge they'll support the Democratic presidential nominee, whoever that might be. Jim Demers, an Obama state co-chair, repeated the same call for unity.

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville): Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- Kentucky's senior Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) was honored by the National Rifle Association at this afternoon's NRA Leadership forum in Louisville with the annual "Defender of the Constitution" award from the organization. After receiving the award, McConnell's speech went a long way towards showing why he was in the group's good graces.

"I happen to believe more guns in lawful hands means less crime," said McConnell. "I'm sleeping well tonight knowing the NRA is in town."

LOUISVILLE-- While some comments from speakers at Friday's National Rifle Association Leadership Forum have already been widely reported, a few other gems may have slipped through the cracks.

Here are just of few of the more significant or humorous lines of the day:

• "Does that make us clingers or does that make us Klingons? I don't know, I don't get it." - former Deputy Chief of Staff for George W. Bush, Karl Rove, referencing Senator Barack Obama's (D-Illinois) earlier statement that some rural Americans "cling to guns and religion."

• "It is important that you sign this, because we want to protect every citizen's right to be shot by the Vice President." - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), on what she told Vice President Dick Cheney to get him to sign the Amicus Curae brief opposing the Washington, D.C. handgun ban.

LOUISVILLE -- The National Rifle Association's Leadership Forum held in Louisville today falls amid a period of limbo for those on either side of the gun control issue. As gun rights advocates gather for the NRA's annual weekend meeting in Kentucky, the United States Supreme Court is considering a case that is seen by legal analysts to be one of the first genuine tests of the Second Amendment.

"This will be the first time in almost 70 years that the Supreme Court will rule on a Second Amendment case. Its decision will have major implications on all Americans," said Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas).

"We have the case before the Supreme Court that is our very best chance, maybe in our lifetimes, to have this settled clearly and unambiguously," Hutchison continued.

The Rob Andrews Senate campaign isn’t giving up on proving that Frank Lautenberg claimed Washington, DC as his primary residence. 

Despite a letter that Lautenberg’s campaign produced stating that he received a homestead tax deduction by mistake – a prerequisite of which is to claim the town as a primary residence – Andrews filed a Freedom of Information Act request today with the city’s Office of Tax and Revenue for all records pertaining to the rebate. 

Andrews said that Lautenberg would have had to affirmatively apply for the program and acknowledge Washington, DC as his primary residence.    

“We have been advised by the District of Columbia, Office of Tax and Revenue that it is and has been impossible to receive the Homestead Deduction unless an application is completed,” read a letter attached to the FOIA request from Andrews counsel William Tambussi.