Ken Rudin

The Democrats have a chance at winning control of the Senate. They need six more seats to take control. There are just enough vulnerable Republican seats to make a Democratic takeover possible. But Republicans are counting on using their organizational strength to counter the rising Democratic tide.

Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) is just the latest in a long line of national politicians to be accused of accepting cash bribes. Steve Inskeep talks to Ken Rudin, political editor at NPR, about the history of corruption among elected officials.

President Bush wins his second term in the White House as Sen. Kerry concedes the race. Both candidates set new records for the number of votes received in a presidential election, leading to quetsions of a mandate for President Bush. Hear NPR's Ken Rudin and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

This year, key battles for control of the Senate will take place in about 10 states -- including five Southern states where Democrats are retiring. The Democrats need to win two seats to regain the majority they lost in 1994. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and NPR's Ken Rudin.

In 1992, Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois became the first African-American woman to win election to the U.S. Senate. In the third in a series of Morning Edition interviews with Democratic presidential candidates, Moseley Braun discusses her opposition to the Iraq war and her desire to rebuild America -- physically and spiritually. Read an analysis of her candidacy by NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin and hear an extended version of the interview at npr.org.

After an unsuccessful run for the White House in 1988, Rep. Richard Gephardt is giving it another try. In the second in a series of Morning Edition interviews with Democratic presidential candidates, the Missouri Democrat talks about the reasons he's running again and his plans for funding health care coverage. Read an analysis of Gephardt's candidacy by NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin and hear an extended version of the interview at npr.org.