Politics & The City Portal

Breaking: New Mexico For Obama

MB — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:47:25 +0000

Yet another swing state, New Mexico, is now projected for Barack Obama. His total now stands at 200, which if the expected win in California is included, leaves Obama just 15 electoral votes from victory.

Obama Wins Ohio

MB — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:36:35 +0000

The US news networks are now calling Ohio for Barack Obama. This is a massive boost to his electoral college total which now stands at 195. California has 55 votes which are almost assured so victory is now in sight for Obama.

Florida is still in play and Virginia is getting closer. If Obama wins both he could the projected winner within hours.

No Republican candidate has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio.

Obama Set To Win Pennsylvania

MB — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:30:36 +0000

Barack Obama has made some early gains in the presidential race with projected victories in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington D.C. and crucially Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. McCain is leading in the swing state of Virginia and is projected to win Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Polls in Indiana, Florida, Alabama, Ohio, Missouri and Georgia have closed but the networks have yet to project the winner in these states.

Boy, 7, feeds croc at Australian zoo

MB — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:12:02 +0000

A boy of seven has broken into a zoo in the Australia where he fed a crocodile and attacked a number of lizards with a rock.

He killed 13 animals worth more than £3,000, including a turtle, bearded dragons and thorny devil lizards.

“By allaccounts, he’s quite a nasty seven-year-old,” said zoo chief Rex Neindorf, who plans to sue the boy’s parents. “If we can’t put the blame onto the child, then someone has to accept the responsibility.”

For more including CCTV images see the Sky News Web site.

Debate “Plan B” muted

MB — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:54:59 +0000

The confusion and uncertainty over tomorrow’s opening presidential debate continues with Obama confirming that he will be there and McCain non-committal.

According to CNN as “Plan B” has emerged.

Mississippi University Chancellor Robert Khayat said if McCain does not show, the format may include members of the audience to submit questions to the moderator, Jim Lehrer. Lehrer would then pose the questions to Obama. It would take on a kind of town hall format, according to Khayat.

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Blears labels McCain veep “horrendous”

MB — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:13:09 +0000

Cabinet Minister Hazel Blears controversially stepped into the U.S. presidential election battle when she called Alaska Governor and GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin “horrendous” in remarks at a fringe meeting in Manchester. In the opening weekend of Labour Party conference the Communities Secretary Blears said:

“Her politics are horrendous, but actually she’s struck a chord with people — ‘I’m a maverick, I’m not part of those powerful people’ — and people identified with that.”

For more of her comments see the article from the Press Association.

Darling insists “Britain is strong”

MB — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:11:46 +0000

Chancellor Alistair Darling addressed Labour Conference this afternoon and attempted to reassure delegates and voters that the Government would do everything possible to maintain financial stability amid turbulent economic conditions. He claimed that Britain could withstand the credit crunch and confirmed that Government borrowing will increase significantly to protect the public finances.

See the full video of Darling’s speech to delegates in Manchester on The Daily Telegraph Web site.

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Home Secretary unveils plans for community crime fighters

MB — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:09:00 +0000

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced a package of proposals on crime at the Labour conference in Manchester, including a “new army of community crime fighters” who will improve communications between the public and the police.

She also announced a new crackdown on anti-social behaviour, Smith said:

“Let me be clear. I’ve zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour, and zero tolerance of its causes.

“Causes like alcohol misuse. So from Monday, we are giving councils and police new powers to take the licences away from dodgy premises.

“We should give no time to the idea that just because you’re drunk and incapable that somehow lets you off the hook. And incidentally, why celebrate drunken behaviour on our TV screens? Alcohol misuse can cause real damage to real people.”

Smith also pledged better investigation and prosecution of serious sexual offences including rape and sexual assaults.

Her full speech is available to read on the BBC News Web site.

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Foreign Secretary Miliband backs Brown

MB — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:14:20 +0000

David Miliband, bookies favourite to be next Labour leader, today received a standing ovation after he gave his strong backing to Gordon Brown and his leadership as polls over the weekend predicted a bleak electoral future for the Labour Party.

The Foreign Secretary hailed the Prime Minister as inspirational and praised his leadership in the fight against global poverty.

For more go to the Sky News Web site.