Stephen Dinan

McCain tries anti-Chavez ad to lure Hispanics

Sen. John McCain released a commercial linking Sen. Barack Obama to anti-American rants by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in the hope that Hispanics' disdain for the divisive Latin American leader will pay off at the polls.

September 20, 2008

Market creates political turmoil

Sen. John McCain blames the current economic crisis on Washington's failure to combat greed and excess on Wall Street while Sen. Barack Obama views it as the inevitable consequences of failed Republican policies.

September 18, 2008

Records show McCain more bipartisan

ANALYSIS -- Sen. John McCain's record of working with Democrats easily outstrips Sen. Barack Obama's efforts with Republicans, according to an analysis by The Washington Times of their legislative records.

September 15, 2008

Sen. says Palin sank ‘Bridge to Nowhere’

Sen. Tom Coburn, the chief foe of the "Bridge to Nowhere," said Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin deserves credit for killing the project, which became the symbol of Washington pork-barrel spending.

September 13, 2008

Palin touts readiness in 1st interview

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Thursday she is ready to be vice president and warned the U.S. needs to be vigilant in the face of Russian aggression, including being ready for war if it means defending NATO allies.

September 12, 2008

Palin takes tough stand on Russia

On the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, Gov. Sarah Palin took a hard-line approach on national security and told ABC News that war with Russia may be necessary if that nation invades another country.

September 11, 2008

GOP bandwagon runs on ‘Palin Power’

Volunteers have skyrocketed, fundraising has picked up and even the polling shows closer races in some down-ticket congressional contests as Republicans say the effects of "Palin Power" are being felt across the country.

September 10, 2008

McCain vows to end ‘rancor’

John McCain tells the nation Thursday night that the scars he earned in war and during years of Washington's policy battles left him better-equipped than Democrat Barack Obama.

September 5, 2008

‘Black hats’ keep lookout for troublemakers

Fearing demonstrations from Ron Paul delegates at the Republican National Convention, the party has created a "black-hat" squad to track the Paulites and other potential disrupters.

September 5, 2008

McCain vows to end ‘partisan rancor’

John McCain tells the nation that the scars he earned in war and during years of Washington's policy battles left him better-equipped than Democrat Barack Obama to silence "partisan rancor" and lead through the nation's rough times.

September 4, 2008

Palin takes on ‘Washington elite’

Her prime-time moment arrived, Sarah Palin introduced herself to the nation Wednesday night as a feisty mayor turned governor who was more qualified than Barack Obama to serve in the White House.

September 4, 2008

Bush hands GOP to McCain

President Bush turned over the reins of the Republican Party to John McCain on Tuesday night as McCain's friends touted him as a maverick and teamed up to blast Barack Obama as the least-qualified nominee ever.

September 3, 2008

Charity takes over agenda for GOP

Politics gave way to charity out of respect to those suffering from Hurricane Gustav when the Republican National Convention gaveled open Monday, but outside the Xcel Energy Center the parties rolled on.

September 2, 2008

Palin: 17-year-old daughter is pregnant

Republican vice presidential pick and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Monday said her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

September 1, 2008

McCain cancels early GOP events

Sen. John McCain on Sunday canceled most events on the opening day of the Republican National Convention and promised no political rhetoric, taking an unprecedented step as both major political parties scaled back their schedules to allow the Gulf Coast to prepare for Hurricane Gustav.

September 1, 2008

Fla. GOP donates nixed fete’s funds

The Florida delegation to the Republican National Convention has canceled its Thursday post-nomination party and has pledged to donate the funds for the party to the Red Cross and local charities assisting hurricane victims.

August 31, 2008

Convention to duck immigration

It's the unmentioned issue — Democrats were nearly silent on immigration during their convention, and on Sunday House Minority Leader John Boehner said the Republican convention won't say much about it either.

August 31, 2008

ANALYSIS: McCain picks Gov. Palin

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin unseated a sitting Republican governor in a primary by running against her own party establishment in Alaska. Now Mr. McCain hopes her magic can help him distance himself from the unpopular Republican administration in Washington.

August 30, 2008

ANALYSIS: Trumping Obama on change

Sen. John McCain should be thrilled with the Washington crowd's lukewarm reaction to his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, in an election about change; they are exactly the sort of folks he should want to be miffed.