Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter’s party switch is one of those developments that both reflects the depth of the problems facing the GOP and could begin a new chapter for some Democratic officeholders who will face additional political challenges down the road. Republican strategists are downright gloomy over the gleeful reaction of conservative activists to Specter’s […]
It certainly looks as if President Barack Obama can’t quite make up his mind on how to deal with calls within his party for a full-scale public investigation — with possible legal action — of Bush administration officials who approved of interrogation tactics that most Democrats regard as torture. The president made it clear initially […]
Former Congressman J.C. Watts is getting close to making a decision about whether to enter the Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial race, and usually reliable sources say that he is now much more likely than not to jump into the contest. Watts, who served four terms in the U.S. House before deciding not to seek reelection in […]
Are Sens. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) or Richard Burr (R-N.C.) this cycle’s Rick Santorum? The former Pennsylvania Senator began his 2006 re-election race down in the polls and never recovered. And while Bunning, Dodd and Burr have something in common with Santorum’s early standing, each hopes for a different outcome. Whether it’s trailing […]
Cheerleading has its place, including on a high school or college basketball court. But not when it comes to political analysis. Over the past couple of weeks, at least three Republicans — House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) and campaign consultant Tony Marsh — have raised the possibility of the […]
For the national media, Barack Obama isn’t merely the president of the United States. He’s so much more than that. Obama is a celebrity, and he and his family are covered that way. That means there is a heavy focus on the personal, making Obama the first “Entertainment Tonight president.” First, it was Michelle’s wardrobe. […]
The April 17, 2009 print edition of the Rothenberg Political Report is on its way to subscribers. The print edition of the Report comes out every two weeks. Subscribers get in-depth analysis of the most competitive races in the country, as well as quarterly House and Senate ratings, and coverage of the gubernatorial races nationwide. […]
House retirements are running a bit ahead of schedule this cycle, at least compared with where they stood in 2005 and 2007. And if they even approach the same numbers as in the past two election cycles, retirements could play a significant part in the eventual 2010 House battleground. Roll Call’s Casualty List now shows […]