Democratic leaders win surge of approval during Covid-19 crisis

The approval ratings of democratic leaders around the world have soared during the coronavirus crisis, but political scientists say it will not last – and warn that populist opposition parties, in particular, will bounce back strongly as it subsides. CONT. Jon Henley, The Guardian Read more »

Covid-19 Is Twisting 2020 Beyond All Recognition

… When the best-case scenario predicts 100,000 to 240,000 deaths, the pandemic reminds us just how important it is who holds the reins of power. This is especially the case when one crucial question will be whether widespread suffering, panic and economic collapse will destabilize the American political system and […] Read more »

How Will Biden Choose His Running Mate?

There will likely be months of debate over who presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden should pick as his running mate — and what criteria he should use in making that decision. We already know one such criterion: Biden has pledged to choose a woman. But what else is he looking […] Read more »

How Fox News can turn Democrats against their eventual nominee

… One often overlooked factor that increases divisiveness in party primaries is opposing partisan media outlets. Conservative media such as Fox News and radio commentators like Rush Limbaugh can increase divisiveness among the (surprisingly many) Democrats who regularly watch or listen to their programs. CONT. Glen Smith (U. of North […] Read more »

In God We Divide

A steady religious realignment has reshaped the white American electorate, turning religious conviction — or its absence — into a clear signal of where voters stand in the culture wars. As mainstream Protestant denominations have declined over the past half century, there has been a hollowing out of the center […] Read more »

Could Biden’s Weakness With Young Voters Hurt Him In The General Election?

One of the defining features of the Democratic primary has been the age divide among voters — those 45 and over have overwhelmingly backed former Vice President Joe Biden, while those under 45 have generally supported Sen. Bernie Sanders. Now that Biden is the likely Democratic nominee, many political observers […] Read more »