BostonGlobe.com Political Headlines - November 15, 2012

• Paula Broadwell fell short of aims at Harvard: The biographer with whom former CIA ­director David Petraeus had an affair abandoned her bid for a doctorate from Harvard in 2007. Globe correspondent Callum Borchers and politics reporters Tracy Jan and Bryan Bender explain.

• Obama rips critics of UN ambassador: The president labeled as "outrageous" any Republican charges that Ambassador Susan Rice misled the public after the attack on a US Consulate in Libya on Sept. 11. Globe politics reporter Matt Viser details.

• The GOP's 'Hispanic problem': Republicans are using a multi-faceted approach in their search for a way to soften the party's hard edge on immigration. Globe columnist Juliette Kayyem writes.

• John Kerry should be secretary of state: Kerry has experience, has been a loyal Obama supporter, and importantly, doesn't have baggage as the president searches for a secretary of state. Globe columnist Joan Vennochi reports.

• Maine's King gives Democrats a 55-45 Senate majority: Angus King of Maine ran as an independent for the US Senate, but on Wednesday said he would caucus with Democrats. Globe Washington bureau reporter Bobby Caina Calvan covers. 

• New plan offered to cut cost of Medicare: The Center for American Progress released a plan that it said will stem the rising cost of health care without hurting seniors. Globe politics Tracy Jan elaborates.