There were all kinds of rumors after the Iowa caucuses that Hillary Clinton’s campaign was poised to undergo a major staff shake-up. Soon after, the senator won the New Hampshire primary and Nevada caucuses, and the rumors disappeared. Apparently, the rumors were a month early. Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton replaced campaign manager Patti Solis […]
McCain campaign ‘eager’ for Bush’s embrace
The one factor that encourages me most about the 2008 presidential campaign is a simple desire for change. Only once in the modern (post-WWII) political era has a political party won three consecutive presidential elections, and the public’s desire to break from the last eight years couldn’t be much stronger. Dems can (and will) argue […]
Bush to Congress: Earmarks for me, but not for thee
In his recent State of the Union address, Bush told lawmakers, “The people’s trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks.” What he didn’t mention was his belief that the people’s trust in their government is entirely unaffected by the administration’s earmarks. President Bush often denounces the propensity of Congress to earmark money for […]
Is ‘momentum’ meaningful or a mirage?
The strategy for presidential candidates seems relatively straightforward: success should beget success. Win a contest, and parlay the victory into additional victories. It’s all about generating the “big mo.” It’s just a random thought, but I’m beginning to think no one much cares about momentum. Voters in New Hampshire didn’t care that Iowans preferred Obama […]
Dems continue to turn out in record numbers
I admit it; I’m a sucker for stories about record-breaking turnouts in Democratic primaries and caucuses. It’s been going on for a month, and it continued in full force yesterday. Dan Savage, in Seattle, compared the scene to images from a horror movie. The gym at Stevens Elementary right now resembles the Brooklyn Bridge scene […]
Obama exceeds expectations in Saturday contests
Barack Obama was expected to win yesterday’s Democratic contests, but I think it’s fair to say he exceeded expectations. Senator Barack Obama won decisive victories over Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington, Louisiana and Nebraska on Saturday, giving him an impressive sweep going into a month when the Democratic nominating contests are expected to favor […]
A funny thing happened on the way to McCain’s coronation
The results on Super Tuesday removed all doubt about who would win the Republican presidential nomination — John McCain’s lead was insurmountable. Senators who hate him began endorsing him, Mitt Romney was forced from the race, and the Arizona senator was suddenly free to shift his emphasis to a general-election strategy. It was a done […]
Obama wins big in Nebraska, Washington, and Louisiana
Expectations were fairly high going into today that Barack Obama would do well in the first round of post-Super Tuesday contests, so there was certainly the possibility of a letdown. Would Obama be able to follow through? It appears so. * Nebraska caucuses — 24 pledged delegates available With about 82% of the precincts reporting, […]
Huckabee scores upset, easily wins Kansas caucuses
It looks like Bob Dole’s support didn’t do much for the GOP frontrunner. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will win the Kansas Republican caucuses, CNN projects. With 76 percent of precincts reporting, Huckabee had 62 percent of the vote, compared with 22 percent for Arizona Sen. John McCain and 11 percent for Texas. Rep. Ron […]
Super Saturday in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington, and V.I.
It almost seems like a letdown after having 43 contests across the country on Tuesday — the biggest primary/caucus day in American political history — but this weekend should be pretty interesting as well. Especially given the stalemate on the Democratic side in the wake Super Tuesday, the rest of the contests in February might […]