“How many of you would consider yourselves fiscally more conservative but socially more liberal?” As I travel around the country speaking to groups of business executives about public opinion and U.S. politics, I often pose that question to the audience. People look around the room, nodding approvingly, feeling validated that […] Read more »
America Isn’t Really Set Up For Third-Party Presidential Bids
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s dalliance with a 2020 presidential run as an independent has sparked outrage among many in the Democratic Party who are worried he’d divert votes away from their nominee and help President Trump get re-elected. Schultz could give voters tired of Washington gridlock an alternative choice […] Read more »
Does the Democratic nominee need to out-Trump Trump? … and other presidential questions for the Democrats
In my last column, I raised three questions Democrats need to answer about the kind of nominee they want in 2020. Do they want an insurgent outsider, do they need someone with experience and must they have a woman and/or African-American on the ticket? In this column, I look at […] Read more »
The Coming Democratic Drama Over Medicare for All
As more Democrats propose moving beyond the Affordable Care Act, the party may be steaming toward the same iceberg that sank Republican efforts to repeal the law. The GOP’s drive to rescind the ACA ran aground in part because it pitted the party’s predominant ideology against the material interests of […] Read more »
Is There Room in 2020 for a Centrist Democrat? Maybe One or Two
Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks chief executive contemplating an independent run for president, stated it as a plain matter of fact: For someone with his views — a distinctly white-collar blend of conservative fiscal instincts and liberal social values — there is no suitable political party. That would come as […] Read more »
The Year of the Green Wave
Running a political campaign, even for a House seat, can take a lot of money. This is especially true if the district happens to be competitive, and this cycle saw extremely high spending and engaged donors, especially on the Democratic side. Thanks to data compiled from the Federal Election Commission […] Read more »