Ken Rudin

In an announcement made on his Web site, Sen. Barack Obama says he will form a presidential exploratory committee. The first-term Democrat says he will go into greater detail about his White House plans on Feb. 10.

A surprising election season is nearing its end. The political winds clearly favor the Democrats, with the GOP playing defense across the country.

The battle for control of the Senate has come down to four states: Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia and New Jersey. With 11 days before the election, it's still not clear who will control Congress.

With record-low approval ratings, Republican congressional representatives are scrambling to get ahead in the polls. With only three weeks to go before midterm elections, everyone is asking whether the GOP can hold on to either house of Congress.

The Democrats have a chance at winning control of the Senate. They need six more seats to take control. There are just enough vulnerable Republican seats to make a Democratic takeover possible. But Republicans are counting on using their organizational strength to counter the rising Democratic tide.

Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) is just the latest in a long line of national politicians to be accused of accepting cash bribes. Steve Inskeep talks to Ken Rudin, political editor at NPR, about the history of corruption among elected officials.

As a special Independence Day weekend event, Liane Hansen tests the political trivia acumen -- and wits -- of NPR editors and NPR.org columnists Ron Elving and Ken Rudin. Find 15 additional questions online.

President Bush wins his second term in the White House as Sen. Kerry concedes the race. Both candidates set new records for the number of votes received in a presidential election, leading to quetsions of a mandate for President Bush. Hear NPR's Ken Rudin and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

This year, key battles for control of the Senate will take place in about 10 states -- including five Southern states where Democrats are retiring. The Democrats need to win two seats to regain the majority they lost in 1994. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and NPR's Ken Rudin.

In 1992, Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois became the first African-American woman to win election to the U.S. Senate. In the third in a series of Morning Edition interviews with Democratic presidential candidates, Moseley Braun discusses her opposition to the Iraq war and her desire to rebuild America -- physically and spiritually. Read an analysis of her candidacy by NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin and hear an extended version of the interview at npr.org.