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2008 was filled with triumphs and setbacks for Rhode Island’s GLBT community, and featured a scandal involving openly gay Providence Mayor David Cicilline. Cicilline was the subject of some complaints from the GLBT community when he failed to show up for the Pride festival in June. Cicilline had been announced as one of the grand marshals for the Illuminated Nighttime Parade. United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse filled in for Cicilline as Grand Marshal. Rodney Davis, co-chairman of RI Pride, later claimed the city had thrown "stumbling blocks" in the organization’s path, making it difficult for RI Pride to put on...

The cameras focused on a tearful Jesse Jackson, and the reporters seemed more interested in talking to Spike Lee, Brad Pitt and Oprah. But at Chicago’s Grant Park, when President-elect Barack Obama declared “Change has come to America,” there was another face in the crowd that Rhode Islanders would have recognized. Former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, the Republican-turned-independent who campaigned for Obama, was about 20 feet from the side of the stage. Chafee and his wife, Stephanie, waved to Obama’s brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, and his wife and two children. The Robinsons, who were on stage with Obama, used to...

“When homes are doubling in price in every six years and incomes are increasing by a mere one percent per year, Fannie’s mission is of paramount importance,” Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, lectured Mr. Mudd at a Congressional hearing in 2006. “In fact, Fannie and Freddie can do more, a lot more.”

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Here is Bud in Burlington, Indiana. Bud, thanks for waiting, and welcome. CALLER: ... Indiana. Anyway Rush -- RUSH: Wait, what did I say? CALLER: I don't... I couldn't understand, but it was actually communist Bloomington Indiana. So... (silence) Are you still there? RUSH: Yeah, I'm here. CALLER: Anyway, I'd like to really quickly thank you for two things. First off, unlike the so-called moderates who called in yesterday complaining about your recommendation for Republicans voting in Democrat primaries -- RUSH: Yes? CALLER: -- I want to thank you, because I don't know if you're aware of...

Hillary Clinton is many things to many people. To some, she is a role model, a groundbreaking icon that women of all ages look up to and are proud of recognizing what she has accomplished. She is a woman who redefined the title of First Lady so that future spouses now have a range of options regarding how they wish to frame their powerful but unelected role when moving in to the White House. As a senator in a decidedly male legislative body, she has proven to be tough, dedicated, and knowledgeable about the issues. She has led on some...

Defeats puncture the Obama bubble Story Highlights Hillary Clinton halts Barack Obama's run of 11 primaries and caucuses victories Obama still slightly ahead in delegates who will choose Democratic nominee Near-tie may last for weeks or even months of hard and nasty campaigning By CNN's Jonathan Mann (CNN) -- It was a bubble and it burst. The growing American infatuation with Barack Obama had to pop eventually and this week, the cult of personality finally got punctured. Obama's run for the presidency is hardly over, but it's a little deflated. For now, the fun is over and the fight is...

With Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's decision to stay in the Democratic race to the bitter end, she has signaled a delegate fight all the way to the party's convention in Denver this August. Both candidates appear in something of a stalemate. Political strategists have concluded that Clinton cannot overcome Sen. Barack Obama's pledged delegate lead by winning additional primaries. And despite his lead in electoral and delegate wins, Obama cannot seal his nomination without the support of the party's superdelegates. Clinton's decision, after winning in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island this week that she would not capitulate has opened up...

As it became clear that Hillary Clinton was gaining ground on Obama, especially in the last week, his usually flawless campaign made several blunders. Here, in order of importance, are ten reasons why Obama slipped. 1. NAFTA Flap When Obama’s leading economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, met with a Canadian official and allegedly told him that Obama’s stated views on NAFTA during the campaign amounted to “political posturing,” this was a huge blunder. It undercut Obama’s attack on Clinton for NAFTA, where she was vulnerable, especially in Ohio. It raised serious issues about Obama’s credibility with the American public, which is...

The total of McCain and Huckleby votes in Ohio yesterday were approximately 955,000. The total of Obama and Clinton votes in Ohio yesterday were approximately 2,150,000. Clinton won by approximately only 227,000 votes. Where were the Republicans? Did at least 227,000 Republicans crossover yesterday and vote for Hillary? In Texas, Clinton won by approximately only 98,000 votes. There in Texas there was also a much smaller number of Republicans voting for McCain and Huckleby. It's sure very reasonable to think that at least 98,000 Republicans crossed over in Texas. Did the Republican voters keep Hillary in the race?

CBS News projects Republican Sen. John McCain has clinched the Republican nomination for president. Click here for the state-by-state tally. McCain will win Republican primaries Tuesday in Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island, CBS News projects. McCain's last Republican rival, Mike Huckabee, dropped out of the race after the results came in. "The most important race begins," McCain said. "It's a very humbling thing, and I say that with all sincerity." McCain will travel to the White House tomorrow where he will receive the endorsement of President Bush. The president and McCain will have lunch and then appear together in...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hillary Rodman Clinton has won the Democratic primary in Rhode Island.

Supporters of Senator Barack Obama have suggested Senator Hillary Clinton bow out of the presidential nominating race if she doesn’t win in two big-state primary contests on Tuesday. Influential Democrats have said they need to put together a unifying campaign for the presidential election in November. Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont hold primary contests on Tuesday, and Clinton, having lost 11 straight contests, needs to win either Texas or Ohio. Clinton, will have to dramatically exceed the results predicted by polls, which now show Texas sentiment as virtually even. Ohio voters tend to narrowly favour Clinton. In the smaller...

Clinton campaign memo highlights Obama’s winning-streak momentum, ad outspending in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island, says if he can’t win all four, then the message that Democrats are “having second thoughts” is clear. Read it here. To: Interested Parties From: The Clinton Campaign Date: Friday, February 29, 2008 RE: Obama Must-Wins The media has anointed Barack Obama the presumptive nominee and he’s playing the part. With an eleven state winning streak coming out of February, Senator Obama is riding a surge of momentum that has enabled him to pour unprecedented resources into Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. The...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Saturday, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton showed her angry side, admonishing Senator Barack Obama for a campaign mailing that she called misleading. On Sunday, before a rally of several thousand, she added a heavy dose of sarcasm. “Now I could stand up here and say, let’s get everybody together, let’s get unified the sky will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing,” she said, to a smattering of giggles. “And everyone will know we should do the right thing, and the world will be perfect.” She added: “But I have no illusions about...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Hillary Clinton today mocked Barack Obama’s campaign style as one that portrays a divine-like picture of problem-solving to voters when the challenges America face are much more complex. Delivering a speech to several thousand people at Rhode Island College, Clinton also contended Obama had given up on implementing a universal health insurance program that she said should go hand-in-hand with other Democratic led achievements such as Social Security and Medicare as grand social programs. Clinton discussed a litany of challenges facing the country, ranging from home foreclosure to responsibly bring troops home from the Iraq war. “None...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Saturday, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton showed her angry side, admonishing Senator Barack Obama for a campaign mailing that she called misleading. On Sunday, before a rally of several thousand, she added a heavy dose of sarcasm. “Now I could stand up here and say, let’s get everybody together, let’s get unified the sky will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing,” she said, to a smattering of giggles. “And everyone will know we should do the right thing, and the world will be perfect.”

Former Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee is endorsing Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. The Rhode Islander told The Associated Press he is endorsing Obama in a conference call Thursday. Chafee left the Republican Party last year and became an independent. He was one of the Senate's most liberal Republicans before he lost his seat in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rhode Island lawmakers, in a bid to make their tiny state matter in presidential politics, voted Tuesday to move the state's presidential primary up to Feb. 5, joining 22 other states. Lawmakers working during a special session Tuesday evening hastily rewrote a bill that had died earlier in the year. It passed with little debate in the Democrat-dominated House and Senate. A spokesman for Republican Gov. Don Carcieri said earlier in the evening that he would not veto the bill if it passed. Rhode Island is perennially overlooked in presidential races. It has just four electoral votes...