If you’re planning a trip to the Jan. 20 inaugural ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama, be warned: Backpacks, signs, umbrellas and thermoses are forbidden.

“The time has come for a new beginning, a new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century,“ Obama said as his Cabinet picks stood behind him on a flag-draped stage.

67-year-old awake and talking

Debate gets hot and lively betewen lawmakers, factions

Cantor is the first Virginian to hold the post in either party. As whip, he will work to coordinate the votes and messages of GOP House members.

After throwing $700 billion to the banks, Congress balks at $25 billion to car makers.

Two University of Virginia law professors have been named members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team.

A panel of party insiders, reporters and pundits will gather next week at the University of Virginia to discuss the 2008 presidential, senatorial and congressional elections.

Supreme Court to hear religious free speach argument from Utah

“Let us rededicate ourselves to keep a sacred trust with all who have worn the uniform of the United States of America: that America will serve you as well as you have served your country.“

“Our nation is blessed because our liberties have been defended by brave men and women in the past and we are blessed to have brave men and women defend our liberties today.“

The relatively obscure governor of Alaska, whose selection for the ticket by McCain last August brought excitement — and controversy — to the 2008 campaign, said she would be eager to do it all again under the right circumstances.

Campaign, clothing and controversy, failed GOP candidate discusses the presidential campaign

Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt, the No. 2 Republican in the House, announced Thursday that he is stepping aside after Democrats expanded their congressional majorities and captured the White House.

New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine has downplayed reports that he was being considered for treasury secretary, telling New York radio station WCBS on Wednesday that he isn’t looking for the job and wants to stay in New Jersey.

Speculation swirled over what appointments President-elect Barack Obama would make as he pivots from an election campaign to the task of building a Democratic administration.

Barack Obama won with wide voting margins in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, painting the metropolitan area a decidedly deeper shade of blue in Tuesday’s historic presidential election.

“We may not get there in one year or even in one term,“ he said. “But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there.“

Obama’s election a catharsis for many Americans

Big turnout sees change in voting demographic

Barack Obama declared winner in preliminary results

With 14 percent of precincts reporting, McCain had 140,161 votes or 54.84 percent, compared with 112,045 votes or 43.84 percent for Democratic U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

The White House was the main prize of the night on which 35 Senate seats and all 435 House seats were at stake. In both cases, Democrats hoped to pad their existing majorities, and Republicans braced for losses.

Late Monday, McCain’s campaign sued the Virginia electoral board, trying to force the state to count late-arriving military ballots from overseas. No hearing has been set.

McCain stepped out of a sport-utility vehicle Tuesday morning with wife Cindy as a small crowd cheered “Go, John, go!“ and “We love you!“ One person carried a sign that read, “Use your brain, vote McCain!“

“The journey ends, but voting with my daughters, that was a big deal,“ Obama told reporters later.

“My friends, it’s been a long, long journey,“ McCain told supporters gathered at an early morning rally Tuesday in Prescott, Arizona, where he kicked off his Senate campaigns. It was the final stop in a sprint across three time zones that took him to seven states Monday.

This time, Gov. Sarah Palin can claim vindication against allegations that she abused her power in office by firing her public safety commissioner.

Even in reliably red states where Barack Obama has little chance of winning on Tuesday, unprecedented numbers of registrations and early votes have been tallied, and elections officials are predicting a record turnout in places where neither candidate even bothered to campaign.

Election watchers won’t have to wait for polls to close in the West to know how things are going. The first clues will come early, when voting ends in Georgia, Indiana and Virginia.