Conner on Obama playlist: From Jennifer Hudson to the Boss to Aretha to ELO to Ledisi

The chief digs his music, that much is clear. That was a credible Al Green impression President Barack Obama slipped into a speech during a Jan. 19 fund-raising event at the famed Apollo Theater. Not only did the YouTube clip of the singer-in-chief go viral, …

State of the Union: Speech is something for Obama to ‘build’ on

The Obama team’s newest slogan, “An America built to last,” rolled out this week for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, is brawny and evocative of a headline on a car ad.

Emanuel says South Carolina primary doesn’t matter, Romney will be nominee

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday that Saturday’s South Carolina Republican primary doesn’t matter: Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for president.

“When Bill Clinton basically had the nomination wrapped up, he lost Connecticut — he lost it big,” Emanuel said, waving off the issue …

G-8 protest organizer agent of ‘change’ or ‘pain in the butt’?

Andy Thayer is one of the guys authorities most expect to cause trouble at the G-8 and NATO summits in May. To him, it’s a badge of honor. Battle-hardened after more than 30 years as the megaphone-carrying face of non-violent Chicago street protests against everything from police brutality to the war in Iraq, the media-savvy 51-year-old rarely stays out of anything for long.

Obama coming to Chicago Wednesday to raise cash through concert, parties

President Barack Obama comes home to Chicago Wednesday to raise millions of dollars for his re-election effort.

He’ll be joined by his recently released chief of staff Bill Daley.

The president starts with a concert and rally Wednesday afternoon at the UIC Forum featuring R&B/Soul …

Michele Bachmann ends campaign, says she’ll fight for issues

Michele Bachmann announced Wednesday that she has “decided to stand aside” and is suspending her bid for the Republican presidential nomination after her last-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.

Iowa Caucuses 101

THE BEGINNING: In 1972 Iowa Democrats moved their caucuses to January, making them the first in the nation and a bellwether for the election cycle. Iowa Republicans followed suit in 1976.

HOW THEY WORK: On caucus night, both Democratic and Republican parties gather to conduct …

Personal blue-jean democracy appeals to many

ANKENY, Iowa — The Iowa caucuses are unvarnished, blue-jean-clad democracy. In Crocker Elementary School in the suburb just north of Des Moines, Rep. Ron Paul showed up in person to plead for votes. Texas Gov. Rick Perry sent his son. Rep. Michelle Bachmann sent a son and daughter.

Obama criticizes GOP presidential field while kicking off bus tour

CANNON FALLS, Minn. — President Barack Obama launched a rare direct attack Monday on the GOP presidential field, criticizing Republican hopefuls for what he contended was their blanket opposition to any compromise involving new taxes. “Think about that. I mean, that’s just not common sense,” …

Michelle Obama in Chicago for fund-raiser and healthy eating push

First lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday announced 37 new fresh-food stores for Chicago, held a live worm from a compost heap, and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for her husband’s re-election. Her crusade to fight the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic has drawn derision from right-wing talk-show hosts, but it brought her a standing ovation on Chicago’s South Side.

Obama funder host Trott: ‘He’s not a schmoozer, he’s a thinker’

Byron Trott has a household name, provided that the household is worth a few billion dollars. Trott is a Chicago investment banker who has advised the likes of the Pritzkers and the Wrigleys. He earns their trust, friends and competitors said, because he is the soul of discretion, never leaking details of pending deals or hogging credit.

Kirk: Obama’s Jobs Bill all borrowing, spending and taxes

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said Tuesday he was voting against President Barack Obama’s Jobs Bill because he thinks his constituents are already overtaxed.

Kirk called the bill “a massive borrowing and spending program with more taxes.”

Obama and his supporters credited the Stimulus Plan started …

Debbie Halvorson challenges Jesse Jackson Jr. on ethics, residency

Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson launched a scorched-earth campaign to unseat 16-year incumbent Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Thursday, calling him disloyal to President Obama, ethically challenged and a non-resident of Illinois.

Standing across the street from her alma mater, Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, …

Switching races doesn’t spare Joe Walsh from being target at Duckworth funder

Nowhere was Tea Party Congressman Joe Walsh’s decision not to seek re-election in the 8th Congressional district mourned more noticeably Thursday than at a fund-raiser for his would-be successor, Democrat Tammy Duckworth.

Duckworth and her supporters — including President Barack Obama’s chief political strategist David …

Biden tells Chicago donors: ‘We are going to win this race’

Vice-President Joe Biden stopped in Chicago Tuesday night to rally the troops at the presidential re-election headquarters, then he hit two fund-raisers expected to bring in $250,000 to $500,000.

The president and first lady were in New York also raising money for the re-election effort. …