Washington (CNN) -- Amid conflicting and heated rhetoric, a political pragmatism began to emerge Sunday as senators prepared for a debate on a sweeping Democratic health care bill.

Party leaders who spoke at a weekend fundraising banquet urged Iowa Democrats to “stand up” against Republicans and “stick with” the president.

None of the candidates running for US Senate is standing firmly behind the $787 billion federal stimulus package, with some offering only measured support while others are sharply criticizing it as wasteful and poorly crafted.

Times are quite a bit different today than they were in February when President Barack Obama was in Fort Myers campaigning for the passage of the $787 billion "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

WASHINGTON - Via Oprah, Facebook and a bus trip that resembled a campaign swing more than a book tour, Sarah Palin reappeared on the national stage last week, minus her governorship and running-mate status, but with a new role ...

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is making clear that while he voted Saturday to allow debate on a health care reform bill, he's still firmly opposed to the public insurance option that most in the Democratic majority consider essential to any legislation ...

WASHINGTON - A Democratic lawmaker who has been treated for breast cancer says worries that the proposed health care overhaul would limit cancer screenings are overblown.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's job approval rating has dropped below 50 percent in a second major poll in an indication he is suffering from the long healthcare debate and weakness in the economy, Gallup said on Friday.

PHOENIX -- A new statewide poll suggests John McCain could get a fight in his bid for another term in the US Senate. And it would come from his own party.

Is it a sign of our times that last night, the Senate voted 60-40 to open debate on a health care bill and the CNN.com headline is “Michael Jackson items fetch $2 million at auction?

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday morning indicates that 38 percent of the public blames Republicans for the country's current economic problems.

BY AP Comments 0 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Former President Bill Clinton was joined by a couple of busloads of schoolchildren Friday when he toured the exhibits in the museum at his presidential library.

WASHINGTON--Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) just announced from the Senate floor--in a rare Saturday session--that she will vote to allow the Democratic championed health care ...

There is no question that reproductive health care has become a hot-button issue in health care reform. This is very unfortunate. But despite the emotions and sensitivity surrounding the topic of abortion, ...

(chattahbox)—Fox News conspiracy theorist-in-chief, Glenn Beck and his merry band of paranoid 9/12 teapartiers, have made ACORN the proverbial Republican bogeyman.

The tax hikes that so many states levied to plug holes in their recession-ravaged budgets this year could endanger a few incumbent governors' careers in 2010 when 37 gubernatorial contests are at stake.

University of Central Arkansas student Laura Hicky completed a summer internship with US Sen. Blanche Lincoln's office. SUBMITTED PHOTO WASHINGTON - Laura Hicky completed US Senator Blanche Lincoln's (D-Ark.

AP WASHINGTON - As the Senate prepares to take up legislation aimed at overhauling the nation's health care system, President Barack Obama and the Democrats are still struggling to win the battle for public opinion.