Archive

Want a Presidential Nomination? Then Run for It!

by Stuart Rothenberg March 19, 2007 · 12:05 AM EDT

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight the role of Hamlet, previously played by former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (D), will be played by Chuck Hagel.

After a few days of frenzied speculation about whether Hagel would seek the Republican nomination for president, the Nebraska Senator announced on Monday…

A Presidential Race on Speed

March 18, 2007 · 11:58 PM EDT

The following are excerpts from an op-ed piece in the Sunday, March 18, 2007 in the Los Angeles Times.

At this point in past presidential cycles, much of the campaign activity would be going on behind the scenes. Operatives would be focused on raising money, putting together state organizations in…

GOP Presidential Race Looks Unpredictably Unpredictable in ’08

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

Each presidential election cycle is unique, but you can count on certain developments every time. There are candidate boomlets, questions about the frontrunners, talk of deadlocked conventions and multiple scenarios of various credibility. Scenarios are a lot like opinions or blogs — pretty much…

For the Thousandth Time: Don’t Call Them ‘Push Polls’

by Stuart Rothenberg March 12, 2007 · 12:10 AM EDT

I probably sound like a broken record, but I’ve had it with people who still don’t know the difference between political polls and advocacy telephone calls.

Polls are methodologically rigorous public opinion surveys of generally 500 to 1,000 people intended to learn about and measure voters’…

New Print Edition: Florida 16 & North Carolina 8

March 9, 2007 · 3:44 PM EST

The new March 9, 2007 print edition of the Rothenberg Political Report is on its way to subscribers. Here’s a sample of the stories in this issue. To subscribe, just go to the website and click on the Google Checkout button to pay by credit card or you can send in a check.

Florida 16: Instant…

Maine Senate: Susan Collins May Be Vulnerable, but Don’t Underestimate Her

by Stuart Rothenberg March 7, 2007 · 11:15 PM EST

If you listen to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) talk for a few minutes, you are likely to think that she doesn’t have the toughness and quickness to hold off her likely Democratic challenger, Rep. Tom Allen.

Well, stop thinking that way.

I don’t know whether Collins will be able to swim against…

Kentucky Governor: Fletcher to Hit Airwaves

March 7, 2007 · 12:05 AM EST

Embattled Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) is set to launch a statewide media blitz next week in his effort to win renomination and ultimately reelection.

The governor’s first term has been marred by investigations into his administration’s hiring practices, resulting in Fletcher drawing two…

Too Much Smoke and Mirrors in Vilsack Campaign

by Stuart Rothenberg March 4, 2007 · 11:10 PM EST

If businessmen acted the way some candidates, campaign managers and press secretaries do, many of them would wind up in jail. After all, lying to, or at least intentionally misleading, investors and regulators can get you in big trouble.

But in politics, many of us have become so accustomed to…

How Much Will the ’08 Race Turn on Race?

by Stuart Rothenberg February 28, 2007 · 11:10 PM EST

During the past three weeks, three different African-American political insiders have commented to me that I have mistakenly failed to discuss “race” when talking about Sen. Barack Obama’s prospects for 2008.

They all thought that the Illinois Democrat’s race is an impossible burden for him and…

Connecticut 4: Democrats Eye Richter

February 27, 2007 · 12:12 AM EST

Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell (D), who drew an impressive 48% against Rep. Christopher Shays in 2004, finished with 48% again last year, demonstrating the depth of Shays’s appeal and his improved campaign. Democrats apparently will need an even stronger challenger next year, and while…