Archive

Edwards, Clinton and Questions About Their Electability in ’08

by Stuart Rothenberg October 18, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

For weeks now, the campaign of former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) has been hammering away about New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s greatest alleged vulnerability: her electability. It’s a good strategy, at least in theory, since Democratic voters will not nominate someone for president who…

Say What? Obama’s Word Games

October 17, 2007 · 10:44 AM EDT

In at least one way, “incumbency” is like being pregnant. You can’t be “a little pregnant,” and you can’t be partially an incumbent.

But that pesky fact hasn’t gotten in the way of Sen. Barack Obama, or his campaign, and their awkward attempts to label Hillary Clinton as such.

On October 12,…

Say What? Obama’s Word Games

October 17, 2007 · 10:44 AM EDT
By Nathan L. Gonzales & Stuart Rothenberg

In at least one way, “incumbency” is like being pregnant. You can’t be “a little pregnant,” and you can’t be partially an incumbent.

But that pesky fact hasn’t gotten in the way of Sen. Barack Obama, or his campaign, and their awkward attempts…

Have the Republicans Picked Another Losing Fight on SCHIP?

by Stuart Rothenberg October 15, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

The Republicans’ circular firing squad is now assembled. All that’s left is for someone — President Bush, House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) or Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) — to yell the appropriate command: “Fire!”

With their House and Senate caucuses deeply divided,…

For Incumbents, 2008 Is Shaping Up as the Year of the Primary

by Stuart Rothenberg October 11, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

With a strong majority of voters dissatisfied with the performance of President Bush and Congress, and with seven in 10 Americans telling pollsters that the country is on the wrong track, it isn’t entirely surprising that a dozen serious primaries could develop for Republican House incumbents…

2008 House Ratings

October 10, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

Here are our latest House ratings. Any seats not listed are currently considered to be at limited risk for the incumbent party. Democrats currently hold a 233-202 majority in the House. For race-by-race analysis, you must subscribe to the print edition of the Report.




PURE TOSS-UP (5 R, 4…

Washington 8: Outcome of Northwest Rerun Could Rest on the National Mood

by Stuart Rothenberg October 9, 2007 · 10:16 AM EDT

Darcy Burner is back, and the former Microsoft employee is understandably optimistic about her rematch against GOP incumbent Rep. Dave Reichert.

Burner, 36, came out of nowhere to draw almost 49 percent against Reichert last year in a suburban Seattle district that has been inching away from…

Biden and Dodd: Still Looking for Their Opening

by Stuart Rothenberg October 4, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

As the World Series approaches, two U.S. Senators, Connecticut’s Chris Dodd and Delaware’s Joseph Biden, find themselves roughly in the same place that they were at the beginning of spring training: second-tier hopefuls for the Democratic presidential nomination regarded by journalists and most…

Nationwide Listening Tour for Clinton?

by Stuart Rothenberg October 2, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

While all the presidential candidates are talking about change, next spring might be just the right time for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) to dust off an old strategy to demonstrate a fresh approach.

Burdened with high personal negatives from the outset, Clinton may have an opportunity…

For President Bush, the Reservoir of Goodwill Is Bone-Dry

by Stuart Rothenberg October 1, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

About six weeks ago, an influential Capitol Hill Democrat told me he suspected that both Democrats in Congress and the White House were itching for a fight and, he said, if there was one in the fall, he certainly wanted it to be about the “kids’ health,” not about appropriations bills.

It now…