Long haul to election reaches a messy end

The 2012 presidential campaign has been one defined by candidates bumping against ceilings — and, in the final week, by a storm that appears to have helped President Obama regain his footing.

Obama, Romney rush to the finish with battleground state stops

Running at a breakneck pace in what is shaping up to be one of the tightest presidential battles in American history, President Obama and Mitt Romney spent the last full day of the campaign scouring the country for additional votes, and calling on their troops to give them the ground support they need to capture the White House.

Evangelicals mine Ohio seeking redux of Bush's 2004 stealth surge

Evangelical organizers from as far away as California have been quietly mining Ohio pastors and their pews for evangelical voters, hoping to tip the election Mitt Romney's way, just as they did for President George W. Bush in 2004.

Leaning left or right, red or blue? Answer may be in your genes

That vote you're about to cast may have been set in motion long ago — going all the way back to your birth and early years, when your genes and your developing brain helped determine whether you leaned conservative or liberal and how strongly you tilted that way.

Strike on Sudan arms factory points to Iran threat to Israel

Sudan's longtime ties to Iran — and the two nations' roles in arming Islamic militants — have come under scrutiny in the wake of an explosion at a Khartoum weapons factory, blamed on an Israeli airstrike, and the dockings of two Iranian warships at a Sudanese port.

DYRS transfers youth who sought to report 'terrible things'

Ebony McCombs expected to see her son one last time before he was transferred from the District's youth rehabilitation agency. But when he asked to speak with police about things Perry C. White had told him, all that changed.

Allen, Kaine bask in glow of top of tickets

U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine and George Allen enjoyed the 11th-hour benefits of Virginia's swing-state status Monday, getting high-profile nods of support from Vice President Joseph R. Biden and Mitt Romney, respectively, at events across the commonwealth and in voter-rich Northern Virginia.

A nostalgic Obama ends campaign in Iowa, where his political rise began

President Obama, with first lady Michelle by his side, wrapped up the final, frenzied hours of campaigning in the place where his march to the White House first began.

P.G. key in votes on Maryland ballot questions

Prince George's County voters could tip the balance in Maryland's two most closely contested ballot initiatives on Election Day.

Inside the Beltway: Thundering for Romney

Mitt Romney's got the biker vote. Rolling Thunder, the exuberant nonprofit membership organization for motorcycle enthusiasts, military vets and old-school patriots are near unanimous in their support of Mr. Romney following a vote Saturday during a conference in the nation's capital.

Irrational voters: How everything from sports scores to shark attacks can tip close elections

As voters, we like to think of ourselves as, well, thoughtful. Careful. Essentially reasonable. Patriotic citizens making important ballot box decisions based on issues, candidates and political arguments. If a growing body of behavioral research is right, however, we may be flattering ourselves.

Shanahan not giving up on Redskins' season

Mike Shanahan is not giving up on the Washington Redskins' spiraling season. He does not plan to play young players for the sake of evaluation, and he still prioritizes winning above all else.

Bettors put money on Obama to win re-election

Political-betting websites that allow wagers on Tuesday's election increasingly favor President Obama to be re-elected as the race — and the betting — head into their final hours.

Netanyahu: Israel won't allow Iran to get atom bomb

Israel's prime minister says Iran is progressing toward acquisition of a nuclear bomb in order to destroy Israel.

Intense fighting erupts in Syrian capital of Damascus

Palestinian supporters and opponents of Syria's regime got swept up in intense fighting in Damascus on Monday while rival rebel groups clashed over control of a border crossing with Turkey, activists said.

Prosecutor: U.S. soldier had blood of Afghan victims on him

The soldier accused of killing 16 villagers in a nighttime rampage in Afghanistan returned to his base wearing a cape and with the blood of his victims on his rifle, belt, shirt and pants, a military prosecutor said Monday.

Commentary

PRIEBUS: America needs Mitt Romney — a real leader

With just hours to go before the polls close on this historic election season, the candidates and their campaigns have made their closing arguments. Voters will soon render their verdict, and the choice seems starker than at any point in this race.

BOLTON: Restoring American global pre-eminence

The raging controversy over the Sept. 11 tragedy at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, must not overshadow the broader, systemic Obama administration failures.

RAHN: Congressional control as important as White House

The media focus has been on the presidential campaign, but the makeup of the U.S. Congress is likely to have an equal or perhaps even greater impact on your future economic well-being.

DECKER: Obama: Snuffing out religious freedom

This year's election has been predominately focused on the economy. That makes sense given the Obama administration's responsibility for growing federal deficits, suffocating debt, almost nonexistent economic growth, a downgraded credit rating, a depressed business climate, worsening unemployment and a debased currency.

MILLER: Romney beats Obama . . . on the economy

After all the speeches, debates, ads, rallies, fundraisers, town halls and polls, the American people finally have the chance to pull the lever for the man they think can best restore prosperity. President Obama and Mitt Romney have distinctly different plans for economic growth.