President News & Analysis

Is Ben Carson Really a Viable Presidential Candidate?

by Stuart Rothenberg February 11, 2015 · 10:11 AM EST

Just because something has not happened before doesn’t mean it can’t happen in the future.

Barack Obama and Barry Goldwater proved that point, and Hillary Rodham Clinton could soon be added to the list. Could Ben Carson, as well?

There has been plenty of chatter about Carson and his…

Democrats Might Need to Lose the White House to Win the House Majority

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 9, 2015 · 9:40 AM EST

“It’s going to be awhile,” wrote The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza recently, summarizing Democrats’ chances of obtaining a majority in the House.

But Democrats may not need years to dig out from their minority hole … if they are willing to surrender the White House in 2016.

Cillizza,…

Noah’s Ark and the Republican Race for President

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 6, 2015 · 1:59 PM EST

The race for president is in high gear even though the first primaries and caucuses are still nearly a year away. But instead of racing for delegates, candidates are scouring the country for money and consultants. 

This will be a “Noah’s ark” primary, according to one GOP strategist. Because…

Not Your Father’s (or Grandfather’s) GOP Field

by Stuart Rothenberg February 4, 2015 · 9:54 AM EST

None of the top-tier GOP contenders for the party’s presidential nomination have formally entered the race yet, but it’s already clear the field will be unique in the party’s modern campaign history.

Most Republican fields since 1952 have begun with between two and five serious contenders for the nomination.…

Why Hillary Clinton Should Fear Elizabeth Warren

by Stuart Rothenberg January 22, 2015 · 12:04 PM EST

If Hillary Rodham Clinton does not run for president in 2016, I’d certainly put my money on Sen. Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic nomination. And I think Warren might be able to give Clinton a run for her money if the freshman senator would challenge the former secretary of…

Can Jeb Bush Win the GOP Nomination?

by Stuart Rothenberg January 7, 2015 · 12:42 PM EST

I was surprised at the steps that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has taken toward entering the GOP presidential race.

I expected family considerations and his aversion to a nasty and prolonged race for the nomination to keep him out of the contest. Certainly, he’d like to be president,…

Draft Ben Carson Group Complicates Potential Presidential Campaign

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 5, 2014 · 9:47 AM EST

Ben Carson is openly considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, but an unaffiliated Super PAC trying to draft him into the race is making the effort complicated.

Last month, Buzzfeed detailed the fundraising and spending habits of the National Draft Ben Carson for…

The Stunningly Static White Evangelical Vote

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 18, 2014 · 10:04 AM EST

There’s plenty of discussion about the difference between midterm and presidential electorates, but there is one emerging constant: the white evangelical vote.

At least one interest group, Ralph Reed’s Faith & Freedom Coalition, claimed that conservative Christians played a “decisive role” in the recent midterm elections.…

No Guarantee Democrats Rebound in 2016

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 14, 2014 · 9:47 AM EST

After suffering heavy losses in the House and the Senate in the recent midterm elections, some congressional Democrats may breathe a sigh of relief now that President Barack Obama is entering his final two years in office.

But the approaching end of the Obama Administration doesn’t mean Obama…

Obama’s Midterm Loss Record Could Make History

by Stuart Rothenberg November 1, 2014 · 10:52 AM EDT

President Barack Obama is about to do what no president has done in the past 50 years: Have two horrible, terrible, awful midterm elections in a row.

In fact, Obama is likely to have the worst midterm numbers of any two-term president going back to Democrat Harry S.…