“Campaigns” on The Daily Caller

EXETER, N.H. — At a Sunday evening campaign rally for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie clashed with “Occupy” protesters and called President Obama “the most pessimistic man I’ve ever seen.” (more)

When the contrast is bad, keep it simple — that’s what the National Republican Senatorial Committee has figured out. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — As a supporter of presidential candidate Barack Obama, Cynthia Stroum was a superstar whose financial backing of the campaign landed her a plum diplomatic posting in Europe. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eager to honor their campaign pledge, Republicans pushed legislation to repeal the nation’s year-old health care law toward House passage Wednesday despite implacable opposition in the Senate and a veto threat from President Barack Obama. (more)

Welcome back to The Hotline’s “Year In Review” features. So far, we’ve brought you the Year In Scandals, the Year In Upsets, the Year In Surprise Stars, the Year In Media and the Year In Forgettable Candidates. (more)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Failed U.S. Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell said Thursday that accusations she misspent campaign funds are politically motivated and stoked by disgruntled former campaign workers. (more)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Arnold Schwarzenegger landed in the governor’s office after announcing his upstart bid on late night TV and railing against government spending during raucous campaign rallies — at one playing a spirited round of air guitar to the rock anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” (more)

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Joe Miller is fighting as though Alaska’s Senate race has yet to occur. (more)

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — GOP nominee Joe Miller won’t spend a lot of time, energy and effort fighting over ballots in Alaska’s still-undecided Senate race if the math doesn’t add up in his favor, he said Saturday. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — MSNBC says Keith Olbermann will be back on the air Tuesday, ending his suspension for violating NBC’s rules against making political donations after two shows. (more)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Democrat Dan Malloy has won Connecticut’s gubernatorial election after days of back-and-forth over vote totals and irregularities, yet his Republican opponent is reviewing the numbers to see if he can make up the margin. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is passing up an election eve chance to weigh in on campaign finance disclosure rules for groups that raise and spend money independently of candidates. (more)

CHICAGO (AP) — The major party candidates for Illinois governor repeatedly questioned each other’s honesty and competence Thursday in a debate dominated by angry exchanges. (more)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A day after Gov. Chris Christie killed the nation’s largest public works project, an underwater rail tunnel linking New York City to its populous New Jersey suburbs, he said Thursday that it’s time to focus on badly needed improvements to the state’s roads and bridges. (more)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A questionable military service record. An immigrant housekeeper without a visa. A criminal charge from long ago. Sexual indiscretions. (more)

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — It’s hard to turn off Meg Whitman. The most expensive campaign for governor in U.S. history — about $162 million and counting — is inundating California voters with an unprecedented array of TV and radio ads, glossy magazines, smartphone messages, Facebook videos, postcards and phone calls that will test how far a Republican dollar can go in a state Democrats often dominate. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans in the first midterm elections of President Barack Obama’s presidency is no myth — and his party may suffer hugely in two weeks because of it. (more)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Heading into the homestretch of the midterm elections, President Barack Obama is targeting key Democratic constituencies as he tries to energize voters and build up Election Day turnout among his supporters. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Grasping to keep control of Congress, Democratic leaders are turning their backs on some of their staunchest supporters in the House and propping up stronger candidates who have routinely defied them on health care, climate change and other major issues. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican rival Joe DioGuardi clashed over health care, terror trials and each other’s trustworthiness in their first campaign debate Friday. (more)