As recently as one month ago, Donald Trump was merely losing. Now he is flailing, trudging into the Independence Day weekend at the nadir of his presidency, trailing by double digits in recent polls and in danger of dragging the Republican Senate down with him. But there are still four […] Read more »
Why the Dukakis 1988 analogy is baloney
Most observers writing about President Donald Trump’s weak reelection standing note that George H.W. Bush was in a deeper hole yet managed to crawl out to win comfortably in 1988. They make the point that November is still months away, and things can change. But the 1988 case isn’t useful […] Read more »
How much sway do past Democratic nominees have? Unless you’re Barack Obama, not much.
Once they won the Democratic presidential nomination. But do their endorsements matter now? Unless your name is Barack Obama, not really. A national USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll asked likely Democratic voters whom among the party’s past presidential nominees would have the most influence on their vote today. Two-thirds named former president […] Read more »
Bush Made Willie Horton an Issue in 1988, and the Racial Scars Are Still Fresh
The tributes to former President George Bush in recent days have focused on his essential decency and civility, and his embrace of others, including even his onetime opponents. But the “last gentleman,” as he has been called, was not always so gentle. Mr. Bush’s successful campaign for the presidency in […] Read more »
Dissecting George H.W. Bush’s Unusual Electoral Record
President George H. W. Bush, who passed away last week, achieved a number of important accomplishments in public life: He signed into law both the Americans With Disabilities Act and Clean Air Act, and negotiated for the North American Free Trade Agreement. But his political career is also marked by […] Read more »
Tales and takeaways from 28 years of covering the Wisconsin Primary
Welcome to the most important Wisconsin presidential primary since Kennedy beat Humphrey — and maybe the wildest ever. I’ve only covered the last eight. This is one is in a league of its own, but there are threads that connect it to the past. CONT. Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel Read more »