Following up on yesterday’s reports hinting at the likelihood of a brokered Democratic convention in August, it’s worth keeping in mind that DNC Chairman Howard Dean apparently has some kind of plan to intervene. The narrow margin in delegates, and the growing likelihood that it will remain close, prompted concern on Wednesday from the chairman […]
Given the political events of the last several days, it’s a little too easy to overlook the fact that dozens of tornadoes ripped across Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky Mississippi, and Tennessee this week, leaving at least 55 dead and hundreds injured. It was, the AP reported, “the nation’s deadliest set of twisters in more than two […]
Reasonable people can disagree about the utility and efficacy of a federal stimulus bill right now, but on the whole, the Senate approach seems preferable to the deal reached between the White House and House leaders. The Senate version, for example, in addition to tax rebates, included an extension of unemployment benefits, increased subsidies for […]
After a rally in Manhattan on Tuesday night, Terry McAuliffe, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, was asked about the state of the candidate’s finances. “Look, if there’s one thing Hillary Clinton doesn’t have to worry about, it’s money,” McAuliffe said. At the time, that certainly made sense. Clinton raised over $100 million in 2007, outpacing every […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Stunning devastation in the Southeast: “Rescue crews, some with the help of the National Guard, went door-to-door looking for more victims a day after a cluster of tornadoes tore through the South, killing at least 52 people and injuring several hundred. Residents in five states tried to salvage what […]
In my personal experience, one of the more common points I hear from friends who support Hillary Clinton is that they want a return to the 1990s. The first Bush made a mess of things, and President Clinton got us back on track. The second Bush made an even bigger mess of things, so maybe […]
There’s been ample discussion in recent weeks about which Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, would be the stronger general election candidate against John McCain. Most of the recent polls seem to point to Obama having a slight edge in this department, though not all. But the trick at this point should be […]
John McCain is not oblivious to his predicament: he’s the first presumptive Republican nominee in the modern era to ascend despite opposition from the party’s far-right base. Indeed, after a month of contests, McCain has done quite well without the support of conservatives and traditional GOP voters, much to the party’s consternation. Going forward, the […]
No one ever wants to be labeled the “establishment candidate,” especially on the Democratic side of the aisle. The phrase just reeks of stale, dull detachment. “Insurgent candidates” are exciting and lead movements of motivated activists; “establishment candidates” are safe but lackluster, more likely to curry favor with lobbyists than liberals. “Insurgent candidates” want to […]
There are a total number of 4,049 Democratic delegates available in the presidential nominating process, making 2,025 the magic number for each candidate. If no candidate reaches the threshold in time, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will have themselves a good ol’ fashioned brokered convention in Denver this August. I’ve gone back and forth on […]