… A once little-known set of national educational standards introduced in 44 states and the District of Columbia with the overwhelming support of Republican governors, the Common Core has incited intense resistance on the right and prompted some in the party to reverse field and join colleagues who believe it […] Read more »
On Economy, Americans Less Confident in Federal Leaders
Less than half of Americans (42%) have confidence in President Barack Obama on doing or recommending the right thing for the economy — the lowest figure Gallup has on record for him. New lows in confidence were also found for Democratic leaders (35%), while Republican leaders in Congress received the […] Read more »
Crossing Christie
… Before the bridge scandal, Christie was known as a governor who transcended New Jersey’s reputation for toxic politics and toxic dumps. He took on the exploding costs of the state’s pension system, reformed property taxes, and worked with his opponents in the legislature, and he provided decisive leadership after […] Read more »
Midterm 2014: Where Things Stand Now
Election Day 2014 is now almost exactly seven months away, which is both near and far. … So with the caveat that plenty can change, we know enough about the political environment, fundamentals, candidates and other factors that will impact 2014 to offer a new Crystal Ball feature this week: […] Read more »
Nine in G.O.P. Vie to Succeed Arizona Governor, With Party Identity at Stake
… In the weeks since Gov. Jan Brewer announced that she would not run for re-election, the already crowded field of Republicans looking to replace her has grown noisy, with nine candidates of widely varying interests and experiences vying for attention. The very definition of “Republican” in this state of […] Read more »
You Don’t Need a Weatherman
… It’s surprising how many people who avidly follow American politics don’t seem to appreciate that elections are both seasonal and cyclical in nature. The seasonal aspect is the more obvious one. Clearly in some years, or seasons, the wind is blowing in favor of one party. In other years, […] Read more »