Wright Controversy Affects the Polls By Michael Barone
Is the bottom falling out for Barack Obama? It's too early to say that, but there are some disturbing signs. On the positive side, superdelegates still are breaking his way.
Commentary by Michael Barone
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May 3, 2008
April 26, 2008
Popular Vote Gives Clinton an Edge By Michael Barone
One thing many people haven't noticed about Hillary Clinton's 55 percent to 45 percent victory over Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania primary is that it put her ahead of Obama in the popular vote.
April 19, 2008
The Rules Are Changing for Obama By Michael Barone
Barack Obama seemed puzzled. Angrily puzzled. The apostle of hope seemed flummoxed by the audacity of the question. At the April 16 Philadelphia debate, George Stephanopoulos, longtime aide to Democratic politicians, was asking about his longtime association with Weather Underground bomber William Ayers.
April 12, 2008
Uncle Sam Pays? Sure, Whatever By Michael Barone
"It's the economy, stupid." Those immortal words of the political philosopher James Carville in 1992 have been reverberating increasingly in the 2008 campaign. Polls show the economy as the top issue for voters, far ahead of Iraq.
April 5, 2008
The Democratic Tribes at War: A Commentary By Michael Barone
Exit polls have shown that the contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has produced deep divisions among Democratic constituencies. It looks something like tribal warfare.
March 29, 2008
Missing a Generation By Michael Barone
Most people's views of the world are shaped by the times in which they came of age. That's why we speak of a baby boom generation or a Generation X. But some people miss out on the formative experiences of most of their peers.
March 22, 2008
Will Wright Damage Obama's Millennial Support? by Michael Barone
It's a generational thing. That was the theme of Barack Obama's speech last Tuesday, in which he both failed to renounce and at the same time separated himself from the man he has described as his spiritual mentor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
March 15, 2008
The Importance of Fallon's Fall: By Michael Barone
The abrupt resignation of Adm. William Fallon as the head of Central Command almost got lost amid the breaking news of Barack Obama's victory in the Mississippi primary and Eliot Spitzer's resignation as governor of New York.
March 8, 2008
Clinton Has Only One Plausible Path to the Nomination: A Commentary by Michael Barone
Barack Obama won 11 out of 11 primaries and caucuses from Super Tuesday to Feb. 19. Hillary Clinton won three out of four contests on March 4.
March 1, 2008
Throw Out the Old Electoral Maps in 2008: A Commentary by Michael Barone
It's time to throw out that old map with the red states and blue states. The map that implies that all but a handful of states will definitely vote Republican or Democratic and that the real contest will be decided in Florida or Ohio or whatever.
February 16, 2008
A Super Fight Down the Road: A Commentary by Michael Barone
It's appropriate that our two major political parties are depicted as different animals. Forty days and forty nights out from the Iowa caucuses, the elephant and the donkey seem very different indeed. The Republicans have been split on attitudinal lines, between varying strains of conservatism and moderation.
February 9, 2008
The Verdict of Super Tuesday: A Commentary by Michael Barone
Well, Super Tuesday is over, and now we have two major party presidential nominees. That's the lead sentence I thought five weeks ago I'd be writing for this column. But the 33-day round of caucuses and primaries that seemed likely to produce decisions after 23 states voted on Super Tuesday have failed to deliver.
February 2, 2008
The Parties Change Places: A Commentary by Michael Barone
Just shy of a month ago, after the first votes were cast in Iowa and New Hampshire, it seemed that the Republican Party faced a fluid and fractious nomination contest, while the Democrats faced a clear-cut choice between two not particularly adversarial candidates. What a difference a few weeks can make
January 25, 2008
South Carolina Has Set the Stage for General Election: A Commentary by Michael Barrone
South Carolina: In 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000, it was the state that, with its early primary, determined the winner of the Republican nomination for president.
January 19, 2008
Mostly Decent Politics: A Commentary by Michael Barone
My campaign and election memories go back to 1960, when I was one of the few who backed John Kennedy at an election night party that my parents were throwing.
January 12, 2008
The Political Landscape After Iowa and New Hampshire: A Commentary by Michael Barone
Five elections. Five winners. Barack Obama (Iowa Democratic caucus), Mike Huckabee (Iowa Republican caucus), Mitt Romney (Wyoming Republican caucus, held Jan. 5 when no one was watching), Hillary Clinton (New Hampshire Democratic primary) and John McCain (New Hampshire Republican primary).
January 5, 2008
Iowa: A First Cut for the Real Contenders: A Commentary By Michael Barone
As this is written, the final numbers are not in, but the results of the Iowa precinct caucuses are clear.
December 29, 2007
Lessons From The Surge: A Commentary by Michael Barone
There are lessons to be learned from the dazzling success of the surge strategy in Iraq.
December 22, 2007
Looking for Mr. Right: A Commentary by Michael Barone
On the issues, not very much separates the front-runners for the Democratic nomination. What's interesting is that all of them are running well to the left of the only Democratic presidents in the last 40 years, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
