Grand Slam

Barack Obama’s speech was in a big park, and he hit it out of the park. He did three things at once: Delivered the soaring, inspiring rhetoric that Democrats love and Republicans mock Showed middle-class Americans he is one of them Challenged McCain forcefully and directly, without sounding nasty and negative. Expectations were ridiculously high.…

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WRAL’s “Headline Saturday”

Be sure to turn on the television tomorrow at 7:30 P.M. and check out Carter and I on WRAL’s “Headline Saturday.” We’ll be talking about the Democratic and Republican conventions and, as usual, all things political. Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.

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The Clinton-Slayer

It was a remarkable scene: Bill and Hillary Clinton sitting up in the stands, watching as Barack Obama took over their Democratic Party. The Clintons stepped aside with good grace. For Bill especially, ceding the spotlight has never been easy. But here is the real lesson of last night: Barack Obama is a tough, canny…

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Shallow Strikes, Again

Bev Perdue says it’s terrible, shady, and awful: The Republican Party, Washington branch, is attacking her in ads. President Bush, himself, she says, has taken time off from dealing with Georgia and Iraq to orchestrate the ads – just to be sure she doesn’t get elected (Bev Perdue Committee email, 8/28/08). But there’s one problem:…

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Reality Check

Political insiders always overestimate how much attention voters are paying to campaigns. Here was my reality check this week. I was talking to a fellow who does some work at my house. He’s a bright guy, a hard worker, successful in his trade, devoted to his family and his dogs. He knows I do something…

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A Catfight, Or: Anti-God in Boston

Kay Hagan must be catching up with Liddy Dole: Because Liddy just pulled out a mallet and whacked Kay over the head. She says Kay’s raising money from the Godless Americans political action committee in Boston (home of the Pilgrims). Kay whacked back, That’s nothing; Liddy’s raising money from George Bush supporters. Liddy’s spokesperson responded:…

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The Year of the Woman

Michelle I’ll go out on a limb and agree with Gary and praise Michelle Obama. Even odder, Albert the Pollster, a died-in-the-wool Republican, says she hit a home run. Albert says undecided voters are set-in-stone determined to get shed of Bush-McCain – and all that’s holding them back are their doubts about Obama. That, ‘He’s…

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Why Hagan Is Ahead

It’s called television advertising. Say what you want about the onset of the online age. TV ads are still the most powerful weapon in politics. The Public Policy Polling survey that showed Hagan slightly ahead surprised a lot of insiders. It wouldn’t if they had been watching TV. The ads attacking Liddy Dole are brilliant.…

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To All the Young People on Shore

To all the young people on shore thinking Barack Obama’s the political savior who’s going to lead them to the Promised Land and change America – watch out. This is politics. You don’t remember, but President Nixon promised change – and gave us Watergate. President Reagan – a great president – promised change and whipped…

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Remain Calm. Attack.

Some Democrats are in despair. The national polls are even! The Republicans are up to their usual dirty tricks! Obama has to do something! Relax. But not too much. Of course the polls are even. No surprise. The country is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. And Obama is a fresh new face, with all…

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