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With a deeper-than-ever split between Republicans and Democrats over abortion, activists on both sides of the debate foresee a 2016 presidential campaign in which the nominees tackle the volatile topic more aggressively than in past elections. Friction over the issue also is likely to surface in key Senate races. And the opposing camps will be further energized by Republican-led congressional investigations of Planned Parenthood and by Supreme Court consideration of tough anti-abortion laws in Texas. (Crary, 12/27)

Hillary Clinton, who arrived to loud applause here at one of three New Hampshire campaign stops Sunday, said prohibitively expensive education, lack of support for families coping with Alzheimer's disease, and the rising tide of opioid abuse are among problems she hears most commonly on the trail. (Lazar, 1/4)

Heading into a bruising U.S. Senate race expected to be one of the nation's most closely watched, Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan says she is confident she can work with New Hampshire's Republican-controlled Legislature to find compromise on politically charged issues even as she fights to unseat the state GOP's top elected official, Sen. Kelly Ayotte. ... Throughout the campaign, Hassan will need to work with Republicans in Concord on significant issues including reauthorizing Medicaid expansion and the state's growing drug abuse crisis. (Ronayne, 1/3)