Ludacris' new song, "Politics as Usual," may have cost him one of his biggest fans, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. ...more

August 3, 2008

Sen. Barack Hussein Obama and his campaign colleagues have to grow a much thicker skin if they intend to weather this year's presidential race. ...more

July 23, 2008

SOUTH AFRICA - Nelson Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday Friday by urging the wealthy to share their prosperity with the less fortunate and by saying he wished he had been able to spend more time with his family during the anti-apartheid struggle. ...more

July 18, 2008

John McCain told the NAACP and some skeptical black voters Wednesday that he will expand education opportunities, partly through vouchers for low-income children to attend private school. ...more

July 17, 2008

I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. ... I mean, that's a storybook, man." ...more

June 12, 2008

Kids skipped school. Their moms took off from work. Thousands of people lined up in front of the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday to catch a glimpse of the man they thought would make history by becoming the nation's first black president. ...more

May 22, 2008

Whether out of sincere belief in Barack Obama or sheer curiosity to see a historic presidential candidate, Tampa Bay area residents rushed for tickets Monday to a rally now expected to fill the St. Pete Times Forum downtown on Wednesday. ...more

May 20, 2008

TAMPA - "American Idol" finalist Syesha Mercado, 21, is coming home to Sarasota on Friday for a free public concert, a visit to Tampa radio and TV stations and to sing the national anthem at a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game. ...more

May 8, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama's problem winning votes from working-class whites is showing no sign of going away, and their impression of him since November has gotten worse. ...more

May 4, 2008

For many black Americans, it's a conversation they find hard to avoid, revisiting old fears in the light of bright new hopes. ...more

February 23, 2008