Businessweek - Special Reports

Investors Show Obama No Respect in Global Poll as Profits Surge

U.S. President Barack Obama inherited an economy roiled by financial crisis and a recession that was the longest and deepest since the Great Depression

Democrats Consoled by Latino vote in Republican 'Game Changer'

For the third straight election, Latinos picked Democrats over Republicans by about 2-to-1

Republicans Are Poised to Increase U.S. House Gains in Undecided Contests

Election outcomes in nine Democratic-held districts remain in doubt

When a Tax is a Tax May Be Pivotal Issue for U.S. Debt Panel

Disagreement over tax cuts underscores the hurdles faced by President Obama's debt-reduction panel

GOP May See Biggest House Win in Years

Voters 'in a foul mood' are set to give Republicans the House and narrow Democrats' Senate margin

GOP Shuts Obama's Window for Sweeping Change

The President may not be able to deliver such pieces of his agenda as climate change legislation

Firms That Fought Dodd-Frank May Win Under GOP

Taking the House gives Republicans influence over new consumer bureau and changes in derivative rules

Business Looks to Republicans to Block Rules, Taxes

Lobbyists and legislators plan for 'serious blowback' on regulations enacted under Democrats

Only Election Number That Mattered: 9.6% Jobless

Employment anxiety trumps change agenda as Americans upend Washington

Republican Victory May Keep Bull Market Alive

Prospect of entending Bush-era tax cuts gives hope to some on Wall Street

Republicans Claim House Majority, Gain in Senate

Harry Reid calls the night one of the toughest fights of his life and some races were down to the wire

Republicans to Take on Health Law's Taxes, Rules

Health insurers' stocks are already seeing a bounce from Republican promises to go after Obama's healthcare overhaul

Republicans Far From United in Victory

Senator Jim DeMint warned newcomers from allowing themselves to be swayed by established Republicans

Tea Party Wins House for Republicans, Wants Rewards

Tea Party-endorsed candidates accounted for 28 of the 60 House seats picked up by the Republicans and they will want a voice

Portman's Corporate Ties No Liability in Ohio Senate Race

The Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former trade czar is out performing democratic opponent Lee Fisher in the polls, despite his close ties to corporate America

Poll: Americans Don't Know Taxes Fell

Likely voters in the midterm elections believe taxes have gone up, the economy has shrunk, and money lent to banks won't be recovered

Alabama's Bachus May Be Wall Street's New Overseer in Congress

Replacement for Barney Frank is expected to 'slow the process down a bit'

Jobless Likely to Shun Election That Is Focused on Their Plight

Joblessness is at 9.6 percent nationwide, yet many who have been hurt most by the slow economy say they have no intention of going to the polls

Obama a Drag on Manchin in Pivotal West Virginia Senate Race

Republicans are zeroing in on the Senate seat once held by the late Robert Byrd

Ohio Lawmaker's Resume May Fail to Stem Republican Tide

Democrat John Boccieri, an Air Force veteran endorsed by the NRA, may not be able to sway Ohio voters from casting their ballot for Republican Rob Portman

Soros Gives $1 Million to Back California Marijuana Legalization

Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization referendum up for vote on Nov. 2, just got a shot in the arm from the billionaire investor

Republicans Plan Budget Cuts as Early Act

If they take power, U.S. House Republicans plan to try to slash the federal budget as early as January

Democrats Say Jon Stewart Rally Will Spur Enthusiasm to Vote

Comedy Central TV hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert expect tens of thousands to rally with them on Oct. 30

Paycheck Anxiety Hits U.S. as Tax-Debate Delay Risks Raising Withholding

Paychecks may shrink if Congress doesn't move quickly to extend Bush tax cuts

Republicans Win House, Get No Mandate in Poll

A Bloomberg National Poll shows that while Republicans may retake the House, voters are by no means sold on their policies

Boehner's Blue-Collar Roots Frame Possible Next Speaker's Views

John Boehner's political philosophy is informed by the hard work and self-reliance that he says come from his blue-collar background

House Emanuel Built Showing Weak Spots

Rahm Emanuel's Democratic congressional "Class of 2006" is showing signs of weakness

Chance for Senate Win Stirs Republic Fervor in Wisconsin

Three-term Democrat Russ Feingold is being given a run for his money by Ron Johnson, but he says the 'enthusiasm gap' is a myth

Ohio Voters May Boot Democratic Governor

Governor Ted Strickland wants to retool his state's economy by focusing on renewable resources. Voters don't share his enthusiasm

Republicans Poised to Add Six Governors

'Ripe for change' voters may signal their dissatisfaction by electing the most Republican governors since 1994

Is Ex-Rocker Hall 'Still the One' for NY House Seat?

Since being elected in 2006, John Hall has been active in veterans' issues, health care, and small business issues, but now he's one of many threatened Democrats

Rove Groups Lead Outside Spending Blitz on Colorado Elections

Republican leaning groups such as American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS have been pouring money into the Colorado race

Women More Pessimistic on Retirement

Female voters have less confidence than males that they'll be able to retire comfortably

'Shadow Parties' Share Leaders and Republican Roots

Veterans of the Bush administration and other former Republican elected officials are now leading the tax-exempt organizations that are skirting campaign finance rules

Marriott Directs Cash to Republicans for Rules he May Not Get

Marriott International chairman J.W. Marriott Jr. has been generous to the Republican party this year, but their focus on border security could hurt his hiring plans

Obama Wave that Swept Out Republicans Recedes

In House rematches, Democrats who were swept in on Obama's wake are fighting a strong opposing tide

Running Against Wall Street May Not Work in Home of JPMorgan

Ohio Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy's anti-Wall Street message may not resonate in Columbus where JPMorgan is the largest private employer

Republicans Seek Gains on Bailouts, Health Care: Races to Watch

With two weeks to go until the midterm elections, Bloomberg Businessweek takes a look at eight key contests

Alice Rivlin's Bid to Cut the Deficit

Her shadow commission to trim spending, without any political candidates, goes where the real commission dare not

Biden Says Outside Money Threatens Democrats

The Vice President worries that anonymous donations to Republican-supporting groups could cost the Democrats their majority

Frank Lends Money to Fight Anti-Democratic Wave

Representative Barney Frank loaned his campaign $200,000 for TV ads to counter expected last-minute infusions to his Republican opponent

Obama Criticizes Tax-Exempt Pro-Republican Groups

The President is ramping up complaints against attack ads funded by Republican-leaning groups with undisclosed donors

TARP a 'Four-Letter Word' for Voters Even as Bailout Cost Drops

Candidates in the November elections find voters hate TARP so much, it's better to avoid talking about it than trying to change their minds

Chamber's Donohue Says Obama's Rules Suffocating U.S.

The Chamber of Commerce is launching a new campaign against rules on health care, finance, the environment and labor, says Chamber president Tom Donohue

Obama's Tax Pitch: Millionaires Should Fill Income Gap

Hoping to help save the Democratic majorities in November, the administration is stressing fairness in tax cuts

Republicans Are Unpopular Even With Voters Opposing Obama

In the run up to the midterm elections, polls show it's more anti-Democrat than pro-Republican

Joblessness Hurts Obama in Poll

A recent poll shows fewer than half of likely voters approve of the President's job performance

Obama Campaigns Making 'Wall Street,' 'Oil Industry' the Target

President Barack Obama is returning to the rhetorical roots of Democratic politics in the final weeks of this election: setting up a battle of the classes

Poll: 50% of Americans Pessimistic for Children's Future

But respondents indicate their economic condition has improved and they believe the worst is over

Biden Takes Obama's Hard Sell to Voters

The Vice-president has been the designated traveling salesman for the President as he tries to drum up support for Democratic candidates

Tea Party Economic Gloom Fuels Republican Momentum

Four of five members of the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement polled plan to vote Republican in November

Democrats, Axelrod Say Obama Tax Plan to Pass After Election

Senator Durbin said Democrats will come together to extend Bush-era tax cuts for the first $250,000 of a married couple's income, including lawmakers who also want to keep the lower rates for high-earning Americans

Clinton Says Democrats Must Stop 'Mealy Mouthing' in Campaign

In an interview with Bloomberg TV's Political Capital, Former President Clinton says his party has 30 days to stand up to the challenge

Republicans Balk at Obama Business Tax Breaks They've Backed

Business tax breaks for R&D and capital investments are two proposals Republicans backed in the past, but don't like as part of Obama's plan to spur growth

Republican Groups Use Hidden Money to Overcome Democrats' Cash

Republicans are getting help filling their coffers from outside groups that don't disclose their donors

Suburban Voters Sour on Obama, Imperil Democrats' Hold

As median home prices drop and businesses fail, residents of affluent, often-Democratic suburbs on Philadelphia's Main Line are blaming Obama's party

Republican Groups Outspend Both Parties

Republican-leaning outside groups have spent more on the November elections than both political parties combined

Tax Cuts Divide Democrats Before Midterm Elections

Divided on extending tax cuts and worried a vote would become a campaign issue, House Democrats announced a delay on the vote till after Election Day

WellPoint, AT&T, Altria Step Up Donations

Recent large donations to Republican-supporting groups underline how important some races will be to pharma and others

Republican Pledge to Freeze Spending Poses Deep Budgetary Cuts

Keeping their mid-term campaign promise would require deep cuts in discretionary spending. Republicans have refused to specify major targets

Economy May Deal Final Blow to Crist

Florida voters frustrated over the economy may choose Tea Party favorite Marco Rubio over Charlie Crist

Given Tax Cuts, Rich Americans Save Instead of Spend

Hand the rich a tax cut and they'll save the money rather than spend it and boost the economy, Moody's says

In New Hampshire, Avoiding Party Labels

Scared of turning off voters, Republicans and Democrats running for the Senate are not trumpeting their party affiliation

Ohio Democrats Look to Obama as Tea Party Power Grows

In Ohio, some candidates are relying on the White House and the state Democratic Party to recreate the campaign apparatus that boosted Obama to victory two years ago