David Espo

12 - 1:07am

WASHINGTON — Hewing to a hard line, President Barack Obama warned congressional Republicans on Wednesday not to inject the threat of a government default into complex fiscal cliff negotiations aimed at avoiding year-end tax increases and spending cuts that could harm the economy. “It’s not a game I will play,” declared Obama as Republicans struggled to find their footing in talks with a recently re-elected president and unified congressional Democrats.

Obama says he'll do what it takes to avoid fiscal cliff 11/29/12 - 1:22am

WASHINGTON — The White House and a key congressional Democrat hinted at fresh concessions on taxes and cuts to Medicare and other government benefit programs Wednesday as bargaining with Republicans lurched ahead to avoid the year-end “fiscal cliff” that threatens to send the economy into a tailspin.

Hill leaders voice new confidence in deficit deal 11/17/12 - 1:17am

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders from both parties voiced fresh optimism Friday after meeting with newly re-elected President Barack Obama about avoiding year-end “fiscal cliff” tax increases and spending cuts that would hammer the middle class and risk plunging the economy into recession. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio said Republicans are willing to consider increased revenue “as long as it is accompanied by spending cuts” as leaders in a divided government get to work on a possible deal after a fierce election campaign.

Obama presses GOP on taxing rich to avert 'cliff' 11/15/12 - 1:10am

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama challenged congressional Republicans on Wednesday to let taxes rise on the wealthiest Americans on both economic and political grounds, noting he campaigned successfully for re-election on the point and contending it would instantly ease the threat of the “fiscal cliff” plunging the nation back into recession. “A modest tax increase on the wealthy is not going to break their backs,” Obama said of the nation’s top income earners. “They’ll still be wealthy,” he said at his first news conference since winning a second term.

Obama powers past Romney to win four more years 11/07/12 - 1:46am

After the costliest - and arguably the nastiest - campaign in history, President Barack Obama rolled to re-election Tuesday night.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama rolled to re-election Tuesday night, vanquishing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and prevailing despite a weak economy that plagued his first term and put a crimp in the middle-class dreams of millions. “This happened because of you. Thank you,” Obama tweeted to supporters as he celebrated four more years in the White House. After the costliest — and arguably the nastiest — campaign in history, divided government seemed alive and well.

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President Obama defeats Mitt Romney 11/06/12 - 11:46pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama won re-election Tuesday night despite a fierce challenge from Mitt Romney as well as a weak economy and high unemployment that crimped the middle class dreams of millions. "This happened because of you. Thank you" he tweeted to supporters" as he secured four more years in the White House.

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Obama takes commanding lead 11/06/12 - 11:28pm

President tweets his thanks

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama took command of the fierce race for the White House Tuesday night, capturing battleground Ohio from Mitt Romney and edging ahead in other pivotal states despite a weak economy and high unemployment that crimped the middle class dreams of millions.

Presidential race tightens as votes flow in 11/06/12 - 9:19pm

The critical battlegrounds with the key to victory were unsettled — Virginia, Ohio and Florida among them — with long lines in many locations after poll-close time.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama won the reliably Democratic Northeast, and Republican Mitt Romney secured his Republican conservative base Tuesday night in a tense duel for the White House shadowed by a weak economy and high unemployment.

Romney & Obama: I'm the real candidate of change 11/02/12 - 12:33am

DOSWELL, Va. — Five days before the election, Republican challenger Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama vied forcefully for the mantle of change Thursday in a country thirsting for it after a painful recession and uneven recovery, pressing intense closing arguments in their unpredictably close race for the White House. Early voting topped 22 million ballots.

Romney on economy: Obama 'made the problem worse' 10/27/12 - 12:20am

AMES, Iowa — Seizing on fresh evidence of economic sluggishness, Republican challenger Mitt Romney said Friday that President Barack Obama inherited a bad situation when he took office and then “made the problem worse.” Obama looked ahead to the second term he’s hoping to win. Referring to the two top Republicans in Congress, the president said he was prepared to “wash John Boehner’s car” or “walk Mitch McConnell’s dog” if it would help complete an elusive deal to cut future deficits by trillions of dollars.