Democratic Party

William Boone, professor of political science at Clark Atlanta University, says that while it’s impossible to expect the same black voter turnout as 2008, it will still be higher than previous midterm elections.

It’s come down to Obamacare. For Republicans, delaying its implementation is important enough to shutdown the government if they don’t get it. For Democrats, keeping it in place is enough to shutdown the government. Both sides have until midnight, eastern, tonight to modify their tune or the government shuts down.

Like Ohio and Texas, places where Republican majorities are trying to pass anti-abortion legislation, residents of North Carolina are showing up in groups to protest the legislature’s actions. The protests, called “Moral Mondays,” have been going on for more than ten weeks and have resulted in hundreds of arrests.

Senate Democrats and some Republicans gave tentative approval to a $40 billion “border surge” bill that proposes to beef up the manpower and structural security of the U.S.-Mexico border. It is a step Democrats hope will give momentum for a bill to create a “path to citizenship” for illegal immigrants already in the United States.

President Barack Obama and the Republicans are digging in their heels over proposals to resolve the crisis of the fiscal cliff. So far, both sides say no progress has been made and seem to be trying to lower expectations for a deal.