Senate News & Analysis

Is Spending Creating a Consensus on Defense?

by Stuart Rothenberg September 7, 2011 · 11:02 AM EDT

It’s 11 weeks until the deadline for the supercommittee to reduce federal budget deficits by at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years or else trigger across-the-board spending cuts, including big cuts in defense.

As Americans shift their focus away from terrorism and toward the nation’s economic future, it’s…

Party Crashers All the Rage, Aren’t All the Same

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 19, 2011 · 9:33 AM EDT

Congressional job approval is at an all-time low, and there’s no shortage of anger aimed at the Beltway. There’s also no shortage of people looking to take advantage of the unpopularity of both Republicans and Democrats.

On the surface, Americans Elect, No Labels and Ruck.us might look like…

Wisconsin Senate: Thompson’s Return May Be Coming Too Late

by Stuart Rothenberg August 16, 2011 · 10:38 AM EDT

Each time a statewide election rolls around in Wisconsin, former Gov. Tommy Thompson’s name surfaces. And each time, Thompson — who was in the GOP presidential race for just more than four months in the middle of 2007 — refuses to rule himself in or out until, finally, he…

Blue Dogs and Elephants? Dad Can’t Escape Politics

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 10, 2011 · 10:19 AM EDT

Anyone with kids has spent a lot of time reading books with fewer than 10 words on a page. But as the political environment heats up, what looks like a harmless bedtime story can turn into a hidden political message or even astute political analysis.

At least, if…

Debt Ceiling Fight Is So Yesterday’s News

by Stuart Rothenberg August 9, 2011 · 10:45 AM EDT

Well, that was fast. Just days after Congress raised the debt ceiling and finalized a deficit reduction deal, reality slapped the nation in the face in the form of a 500-point drop in the Dow Jones industrial average.

Thank you. We needed that.

The economic news isn’t…

Will Debt Dance Be a Disaster for Incumbents?

by Stuart Rothenberg August 3, 2011 · 11:04 AM EDT

Congress, we hear from voters of all stripes on television and in print, is a disaster, unable even to address important questions let alone find good answers. Even with the deal to raise the debt limit and avoid a default, voters surely will punish all incumbents next November, won’t…

2012 Senate Overview (August 1, 2011)

August 1, 2011 · 3:16 PM EDT

The combination of retirements and GOP recruiting has already put the Senate in play. The GOP needs to gain three or four seats to win control (depending on which party holds the White House), and already five Democratic-held Senate seats are no better than toss-ups. The Democratic outlook would…

In Debt Debacle, Someone Will Have to Blink

by Stuart Rothenberg July 29, 2011 · 9:34 AM EDT

After months of posturing, promising and threatening, the endgame on raising the debt ceiling and shrinking the deficit is approaching.

But after talking during the past few days with a variety of participants and observers, I can find no consensus on exactly what the final result will be.

These Are the Dog Days for Rating Senate Races

by Stuart Rothenberg July 27, 2011 · 9:21 AM EDT

A veteran Democratic consultant once told me something very wise: 90 percent of what happens in a campaign has little to do with determining who wins and who loses.

The problem is that we don’t know exactly what the important 10 percent is.

I think of this…

The Center Can’t Hold if There Isn’t One Left

by Stuart Rothenberg July 22, 2011 · 12:25 PM EDT

It wasn’t that long ago that any talks leading to a possible major bipartisan deal would include names like former Sens. John Breaux (D-La.) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), former Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.), Sens. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and, yes, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).