Archive

A Critical Few Weeks for Democrats? It Could Get Worse

by Stuart Rothenberg November 18, 2013 · 9:24 AM EST

No wonder some Democratic strategists are nervous about the next few weeks.

President Barack Obama’s job approval numbers have taken a dive in two recent polls, and party insiders fear that every other poll released in the foreseeable future will show that the rollout of the president’s health…

Why Most Postmortems of Virginia’s Gubernatorial Race Are Wrong

by Stuart Rothenberg November 14, 2013 · 9:56 AM EST

The dust has settled (mostly) from last week’s elections, so I thought it time to present a very different assessment of what happened in Virginia than the snapshot I’ve seen from others.

For example, Democracy Corps and Women’s Voices, Women Vote Action Fund distributed a wholly self-serving…

For Some Candidates, Home Is Where the Opportunity Is

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 12, 2013 · 10:23 AM EST

We all know that candidates and members don’t have to live in a House district in order to run or even represent that area. And I’ve written about a number of top-tier Democratic hopefuls this cycle who don’t live in the district where they are campaigning.

But there is a new category of…

Michigan Senate: Open Season

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 8, 2013 · 3:30 PM EST

Michigan hasn’t had an open U.S. Senate seat in almost 20 years. Given that, it’s surprising that Democratic Sen. Carl Levin’s decision not to seek re-election hasn’t brought a flood of candidates into the race, from both parties. In fact, Republicans and Democrats apparently have already…

Nebraska 2: Mr. Terry’s Wild Ride

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 8, 2013 · 3:29 PM EST

With Lee Terry it’s either feast or famine. The Republican congressman has represented Nebraska’s 2nd District for over a dozen years and each re-election seems to be either a laugher or a barnburner.

Every two years, Terry seems to do just enough to earn another term. But Democrats are…

RPR Report Shorts (New Jersey 3, Alabama 1, North Carolina 6)

November 8, 2013 · 3:28 PM EST

Alabama’s 1st District. Well-funded establishment candidate Bradley Byrne won Tuesday’s GOP primary runoff, 52 percent to 48 percent, over under-funded anti-establishment candidate Dean Young in the special election to replace former Rep. Jo Bonner (R). Byrne is the heavy favorite to win the…

Victory Is in the Eye of the Beholder in New Jersey, Virginia and Alabama

by Stuart Rothenberg November 8, 2013 · 9:51 AM EST

Tuesday’s election results offer something for everyone.

Democrats can look at Virginia and conclude that Republican “extremism” on social issues like abortion, contraception and guns, combined with the deep divisions that appeared in the Alabama 1st District GOP primary results, continue to…

New Jersey’s 3rd District Now Open, Now a Tossup

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 7, 2013 · 2:32 PM EST

GOP Rep. Jon Runyan’s retirement takes New Jersey’s 3rd District from the outskirts of the competitive race conversation to close to the epicenter.

Democrats have had their eye on the seat, considering President Barack Obama carried the district with 52 percent, although Runyan didn’t look…