President News & Analysis

Can Mitt Romney Return to ‘Referendum’ Message?

by Stuart Rothenberg April 18, 2012 · 9:49 AM EDT

Three months ago, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had a very clear message: President Barack Obama had failed to turn the economy around or create jobs and, therefore, didn’t deserve another term.

It was a succinct, uncomplicated message, based on easily accessible unemployment and job numbers, as well…

Taking A Different Look At The Gender Gap

by Stuart Rothenberg April 10, 2012 · 11:58 AM EDT

I have found over the years that when a narrative works its way into the collective wisdom, there is no way of changing it. So my goal here is quite modest: to get at least a handful of people to pause, take a deep breath and simply chew over…

Mitt Romney’s Weakness Is Also Strength — or Is It?

by Stuart Rothenberg April 3, 2012 · 9:34 AM EDT

I’m not sure we have ever seen a candidate quite like Mitt Romney.

For years, ever since he started running against Sen. John McCain for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, Romney has tried to position himself to the right. In fact, four years ago, he succeeded in positioning…

In GOP Presidential Race, Fat Lady Finally Sings

by Stuart Rothenberg March 30, 2012 · 9:00 AM EDT

Finally, it’s over. The fight for the GOP nomination, that is.

It’s only March, but it seems as if the GOP race for president has been going on for an eternity. Now, however, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has won his party’s nomination and the right to take…

What Could Be Next in the Race for President?

by Stuart Rothenberg March 23, 2012 · 9:35 AM EDT

Mr. Irrelevant is the term given to the last player selected in the NFL draft, a reflection of the long odds he faces in making an NFL roster. Increasingly, former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) has become the Mr. Irrelevant in the GOP race for the presidential nomination.

Gingrich…

Who Else for Vice President but Marco Rubio?

by Stuart Rothenberg March 21, 2012 · 10:00 AM EDT

No, the fight for the Republican presidential nomination is not yet over. But if and when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney becomes his party’s standard-bearer, he’ll need to look for the right running mate to help him unify the party and breathe some excitement into the Republican ticket. In…

Wins, Delegates and the Long GOP Fight Ahead

by Stuart Rothenberg March 16, 2012 · 12:06 PM EDT

Driving into work on Wednesday morning, listening to parts of “Morning Joe” and “The Daily Rundown” on MSNBC on my radio, I was struck by how much I disagreed with all of the post-primary analysis.

The topic du jour, of course, was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s primary…

For Mitt Romney, a Good Night but Not a Knockout

by Stuart Rothenberg March 9, 2012 · 10:19 AM EST

More than two months after the race for the Republican nomination began in Iowa, the contest remains stuck. That’s both good and bad news for the leader in the Republican race.

No one in the GOP contest is able to overtake Mitt Romney, but the former Massachusetts governor…

Republican Roller Coaster Ride Continues

by Stuart Rothenberg March 2, 2012 · 1:54 PM EST

Has the Republican race reached a tipping point, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney re-establishing himself as the solid favorite for the Republican nomination and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) slipping awfully close to the “long shot” category? Probably.

Romney has won…

McKenna (R) Takes Issue with Santorum’s ‘Snob’ Remark

February 28, 2012 · 2:57 PM EST

In the middle of trying to win back Washington State’s governorship for the GOP for the first time in 30 years, state Attorney General Rob McKenna disagreed with former Sen. Rick Santorum’s recent criticism of President Obama and higher education.

“President Obama once said he wants everybody in…