The midterm elections that handed losses to many Democrats across the country haven’t resulted in much change for President Obama’s approval rating – it has barely moved in over a year and remains at 43%. … While Obama’s recent job approval isn’t high by historical standards, his second-term numbers overall […] Read more »
Comparing Wave and Calm Elections
Is there something magical and mystical about the number five in elections? After the tsunami of 1994, there were five straight elections that were “calm elections” (1996-2004) and then five straight elections that could be considered wave elections. … Well, the answer is no. There is nothing magical about two […] Read more »
Economy, Anxieties about Terrorism and Ebola Fueled Midterm Discontent
Despite months of employment growth and the lowest unemployment rate since July 2008, more than 6-in-10 Americans think that the country is on the wrong track (62 percent). This negative judgment is fueled by continued economic concerns, coupled with more recent anxieties about the threats of Ebola and terrorism. The […] Read more »
No Guarantee Democrats Rebound in 2016
After suffering heavy losses in the House and the Senate in the recent midterm elections, some congressional Democrats may breathe a sigh of relief now that President Barack Obama is entering his final two years in office. But the approaching end of the Obama Administration doesn’t mean Obama won’t be […] Read more »
Little Enthusiasm, Familiar Divisions After the GOP’s Big Midterm Victory
After a sweeping midterm election victory on Nov. 4, the Republican Party retook full control of Congress. But the public has mixed reactions to the GOP’s big win – much as it did four years ago, after Republicans gained control of the House though not the Senate. The post-election survey […] Read more »
Obamacare Wasn’t to Blame for Loss
Charlie Cook thinks President Barack Obama and the Democrats ruined their prospects by failing to focus on the economy in 2009-2010…. There was a Twitter fight today over that, so I’m going to hit it Twitter-style: CONT. Jonathan Bernstein, Bloomberg View Read more »