Inside Elections

2012 Senate Ratings (May 13, 2011)

May 13, 2011 · 10:43 AM EDT

Debt Limit Vote: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

by Stuart Rothenberg May 13, 2011 · 10:17 AM EDT

Forget the fights over health care reform, the extension of the Bush tax cuts and any other controversy previously billed by the media as The Big One. The vote on raising the debt limit is so politically significant that any other Capitol Hill fight we have witnessed of late pales in comparison.

House Ratings: New Iowa, Louisiana, Arkansas districts added

May 12, 2011 · 12:15 PM EDT

The entire election cycle on the House side is delayed due to redistricting. Without the new congressional maps, potential candidates remain on the sidelines and it’s very difficult to handicap races.

Over the last couple of weeks, Iowa, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma completed new maps. But…

2012 House Ratings (May 12, 2011)

May 12, 2011 · 12:14 PM EDT

Don’t Start Planning Obama Inauguration Yet

by Stuart Rothenberg May 11, 2011 · 10:58 AM EDT

While few are saying it openly, many I talk with sound as if there is no need to wait until November 2012 to declare President Barack Obama winner of a second term.

Given the killing of Osama bin Laden, the expected $1 billion war chest of the president’s re-election campaign, the…

New Mexico Senate: Open for Business

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 9, 2011 · 3:29 PM EDT

It looks like we’ve seen this movie before in New Mexico, but Republicans are hoping it’s a sequel rather than a re-run. 

For almost 30 years, the Land of Enchantment had the same two U.S. senators. Now, for the second time in three election cycles, an open seat gives the opposing party a…

Arkansas Districts: Delayed Gratification

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 9, 2011 · 3:28 PM EDT

The new congressional map in Arkansas is just a few weeks old but the parties already disagree on who will win the battle.

The Razorback State was a rare opportunity for Democrats to take advantage of the redistricting process, since they control both houses of the state Legislature and the…

Does Daniels Really Fit GOP’s Bill? Maybe So

by Stuart Rothenberg May 9, 2011 · 11:34 AM EDT

He is definitely not the person central casting would have sent to play the role of president of the United States. But is Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels at the right place at the right time?

Now that Indiana’s legislative session is over, Daniels promises to decide in a matter of weeks whether he…

Nevada Senate: Remains Toss-Up/Tilt Republican

May 5, 2011 · 9:30 AM EDT

Sen. John Ensign’s (R) previous retirement announcement took the punch out of his more recent resignation. Now that he’s gone, Republicans are looking to appointed-Sen. Dean Heller (R) to hold the seat.

The electoral track record of appointed senators is dotted with wins and losses, but the…

2012 Senate Ratings (May 5, 2011)

May 5, 2011 · 9:29 AM EDT