presidential election

What Obama's Second Term Will Mean for Your Personal Economy

Barack Obama has been re-elected as the president of the United States. A nail-bitingly close election, with the economy consistently being named as the top issue, has been decided. Here are a few things to keep in mind for the days to come.

Election Day Roadmap: Watching the Results En Route to 270

Here's your hour-by-hour election night guide: when the polls close in the key swing states, and how the results will unfold. Word to the wise: Beware of early exit polls. They got it wrong in both 2000 and 2004, so be patient and wait for the actual votes to be counted.

Romney or Obama: Whose Win Would Ignite an Economic Boom?

According to our exclusive (but unscientific) poll two-thirds of respondents felt one candidate would be better for the country economically. But does history back up their opinions about which party's presidents bring growth and which bring stagnation? You may be surprised.

President Romney? Gamblers Say Don't Bet on It

We've heard from poll after poll in recent months predicting who would win the presidential race: Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. But poll respondents don't have anything to lose when they give their opinions. Gamblers betting on the outcome do, and they give overwhelming odds to one candidate.

Campaign Donations: The Donors You Know, and Those You Don't

Two years ago, nobody knew anything about Foster Friess, Sheldon Adelson or Frank VanDerSloot. Today, these deep-pocketed money men are household names. But while super PAC supermen are exciting, they're hardly the only folks giving to political campaigns, and you can find out about the less-known names too.

Sandy Reminds Us What Election Is About: 2 Very Different Visions

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is doing much of the heavy lifting in the clean up and relief efforts from Hurricane Sandy. But FEMA's also on the front lines for Republican budget cuts. Which puts a key question of next week's election into sharp focus: What kind of federal government does America want?

Election Home Stretch: 5 Things to Watch for Before Nov. 6

With less than a week to go before Election Day, there are usually a few clear indicators that one candidate has momentum, some idea of how the remaining undecided voters are going to break. It was obvious in 2008. Between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012, that's just not the case.

The Obama Romney Debate: Who Won, and What That Means

Let's not sugarcoat it, President Obama won Monday's debate decisively -- at least on the topic of the evening, foreign policy. That's good news for Obama and bad news for Romney. But there's good news for Romney too.

Unemployment Rates Fall in 7 Swing States

Unemployment rates fell or held steady last month in nine key swing states at the center of this year's presidential election. Rates dropped in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina. They were unchanged in New Hampshire and Virginia.

Economists Reluctantly Pick Romney

A bare majority of economists surveyed by CNNMoney think Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would be better for the economy than President Obama. But on the whole, the economists weren't very enthusiastic about either of them.

George Soros Bails Out the Democrats with $2 Million

Just when everyone thought that Soros was focusing on philanthropy and ignoring Democratic calls for cash because of a perceived snub, "The Man Who Broke The Bank of England" is back in action, rescuing the Democrats from an October in which they're severely outgunned financially.

Pop Quiz: Who Are the 47%, and What Do They Really Pay in Taxes?

Mitt Romney's criticism of the 47% of Americans who don't pay federal income tax has re-energized the debate over who pays into our system, and who reaps its rewards. But the answers to those questions are trickier than you might guess. Think you know how the tax system really works? Take a peek at our quiz.

The Surprising Facts About Mitt's 47% Who Pay No Income Tax

Mitt Romney has been taking some flak for saying the he's not going to try to win votes among the 47% of the populace that pays no federal income tax -- nor try to convince them to "take personal responsibility and care for their lives." But he should look more closely at who's in that group.

Pop Quiz: What Did Washington's Bailout Bonanza Buy for America?

The government's Great Recession bailouts are one of the hot topics of debate this election. But let's skip the rhetoric and run the numbers. If you think you know the facts about the bailouts, or if you're just curious, take a peek at our bailout quiz.

Does Rising Economic Confidence Spell Trouble for Romney?

A boost in confidence in the U.S. economy could be bad news for Mitt Romney's presidential bid. Though Romney's campaign has tried to paint the Obama presidency as unsuccessful at boosting the economy, The U.S. Gallup Economic Confidence Index surged after the DNC.

Bain Closes U.S. Plant, Makes Workers Train Chinese Replacements

In another example of how Mitt Romney's Bain Capital creates jobs, we learn that Bain has for months been dismantling and shipping to China a Freeport, Ill., car parts plant -- and requiring the soon to be laid-off U.S. workers to personally train their Chinese replacements.

FedEx Delivers Bad News on the U.S. Economy

On Monday, FedEx delivered some rough news to its employees: With profits down and cargo volume dropping, the company is going to tighten its belt and jettison some crewmen. Viewed in isolation, this might not seem like big news. But in context, it's a bad sign for for the U.S. economy.

Obama on Personal Finance: First Car Had 'a Big Hole in the Floor'

Mitt Romney's net worth: $200 million. Barack Obama's response to Romney's claim that he's "out of touch" with the concerns of ordinary Americans: Priceless. "I bought my first car for about $900," said Obama. "It had a big hole in the floor that allowed you to see the road, so I knew my wife wasn't marrying me for my money."

The Only Key Swing Voter in This Election? Mr. Dow Jones

Wading through all of the varied political issues and hot buttons of an election year can be difficult for both candidates and voters. But what if there's only one thing that determines the outcome of a presidential race? Turns out, it may really be that simple.

Rick Santorum: An Average Guy with Ordinary Taxes

Rick Santorum has rarely shied away from controversy in his political career, but there's no controversy to be found in his taxes. Based on his recently released returns, Santorum appears to have been a conscientious taxpayer, and a fairly normal (if a little wealthy) guy.

The Economy Ahead: What to Expect in 2012

With 2011 fast coming to a close, it's time to think about what's next -- if you dare. We've got the good news, the bad news, the key points to watch and some good advice on getting through 2012 with your finances intact.

Perry's Flat Tax Plan: Big Savings, Bigger Costs

On Tuesday, Texas Governor and GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry finally entered the tax debate with "Cut, Balance and Grow," a startling new flat tax plan that borrows freely from Herman Cain's 9-9-9 proposal. But would it help American workers, or slash, topple and shrink the U.S. economy?

9-9-9, Take 2: Cain's Revamp Still Stings Middle Class

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain unveiled several major changes to his popular 9-9-9 tax plan on Friday. The former Godfather's Pizza CEO even announced that those below the poverty line would pay no income taxes. But the middle class won't find much relief in Cain's fleshed-out plan.