Archive

The Case for a Crowded Field to Defeat Trump

by Nathan L. Gonzales March 3, 2016 · 9:25 AM EST

It’s too late to defeat Donald Trump, at least in the primaries. It’s too late for Republicans to unify behind a single Trump alternative. Now it’s a group effort to take down the celebrity businessman.

For the last nine months or so, the talk about the Republican presidential primary was about…

Cruz and Kasich Implausible Scenarios Keeping Trump on Top

by Stuart Rothenberg March 1, 2016 · 9:52 AM EST

The early primaries usually winnow presidential fields because each one tests aspects of a candidacy, and because only victories keep the money flowing.

But while this Republican field has winnowed, it hasn’t shrunk as much as some would like. Part of the answer involves the existence of super PAC…

Trump Is More Vulnerable Than You Think

by Stuart Rothenberg February 23, 2016 · 11:51 AM EST

Most in the national news media are talking about how Donald Trump is now the clear Republican frontrunner and will be nearly impossible to stop. They are only partially right.

Trump, who won South Carolina (and all of its delegates) with a little under one-third of the vote, certainly is the…

Obama Learns What You Sow in the Senate, You Reap in the White House

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 22, 2016 · 3:02 PM EST

If elected president, Republican Sens. Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio probably won’t keep much more more than the doorknobs from the current White House. But they could take away one valuable lesson from President Barack Obama: What you sow in the Senate, you’ll reap in the Oval Office.

Obama has the…

Don’t Call it a Push Poll: Bernie Sanders Campaign Edition

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 22, 2016 · 8:45 AM EST

Arguing about the term “push poll” is a biennial tradition and, thanks to the Bernie Sanders campaign, we get to do it once again.

On Thursday, ABC News wrote about a recent poll conducted in Nevada by a group that favors former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The headline, “Recording Suggests…

Scalia’s Death and the Fight for the Senate

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 19, 2016 · 3:00 PM EST

It already felt like this election was at full volume, but a Supreme Court vacancy has turned up the cycle to eleven.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death brings an additional layer of urgency and importance to the current and future Senate majorities and the race for president. But it’s…

Money Can’t Buy Love in GOP Presidential Primary

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 19, 2016 · 2:59 PM EST

All candidates says they’re in it until the bitter end, right up until the point when they drop out. That’s often because the presidential race requires money and money often requires winning. 
That’s one of the challenges of Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s campaign. His second place finish in New…

Minnesota 2: Democrats Try to Flip a District, Again

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 19, 2016 · 2:58 PM EST

Last cycle, comedian and HBO talk show host Bill Maher semi-randomly chose GOP Rep. John Kline of Minnesota for defeat. The congressman didn’t have much trouble winning re-election. But now Kline is retiring, and defending his competitive 2nd District is no laughing matter for Republicans. 

Josh Mandel, Running for the Senate in Ohio…Again?

by Stuart Rothenberg February 19, 2016 · 2:57 PM EST

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who fell short by 327,000 votes in his 2012 challenge to incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, is already looking toward a possible 2018 rematch with the state’s senior senator, according to two Ohio media organizations.

It’s understandable if that news brings a…

Report Shorts (February 19, 2016) California Senate, Indiana Senate, Maine’s 2nd, North Carolina,

February 19, 2016 · 2:56 PM EST

California Senate. Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez quit the race abruptly before a recent debate and announced his bid for re-election. His exit doesn’t impact Republican chances of taking over retiring-Sen. Barbara Boxer’s seat since they didn’t have much of a chance taking over the Democrat’s…