National Republicans
Tucker Versus Tillis
‘Tillis Tanking, Tucker Rising Among Primary Voters,’ the headline read. The poll by Public Policy Polling showed Garland Tucker had gained on Thom Tillis again, now trailing Tillis by just 7 points in the Republican Primary. (Tillis 38%, Tucker 31%, Undecided 31%). Worse for Tillis, his popularity with Republicans had plummeted for the second time…
Read MoreSizing up the Democratic field
Size matters in politics. Yes, physical size: Think Trump looming over Hillary in their debates, or Reagan vs. Carter or George H.W. Bush vs. Dukakis. But just as important is political size, psychic size – call it heft, command presence or the aura of leadership. The Presidency is a big job. To get there, a…
Read MoreTwo Polls and Thom Tillis
Back in 1989, not long after John McLaughlin began doing polls, I asked him to poll for Jesse Helms’s campaign. 29 years later I asked John to do a poll to find the answer to one question: Could Garland Tucker defeat Thom Tillis in the Republican Primary for Senate? We found that – with Republican…
Read MoreFire first, facts last
Civic debate in America has become little more than a fast-draw contest, as demonstrated anew by the runup and the reaction to the Mueller Report’s release. Our motto: Ready, fire, aim. We hardly notice that our real enemy has taken dead aim. And hit his target squarely. The enemy is Vladimir Putin. His target was…
Read MoreThe Earth Shifted
When Mark Harris bowed out of the Republican Primary for Congress in the 9th District Dan Bishop had to make a decision quickly – a State Senator, Bishop had a little name identification in Charlotte but he wasn’t well known in the rest of the District. He decided he’d run but with the election only…
Read MoreJust wait…
Over coffee this week, a couple of Democrats were bemoaning the news on the Mueller report. “Trump will have a field day,” one said. The other groaned, “We’ll never hear the end of it from the Trump-lovers.” But a wise head reassured them: “Don’t worry. It won’t be long before Trump steps on his own…
Read MoreCool the Hot Takes
Nothing could have inflamed America more than releasing the Mueller report “summary” during the NCAA’s Round of 32. In the middle of the Carolina game! You half expected Ernie Johnson, Clark Kellogg, Kenny the Jet Smith and Charles Barkley to spend halftime analyzing the fine points of collusion and obstruction of justice. Trump and the…
Read MorePelosi Saying No
Last month in an internet ad run by his campaign during the shutdown President Trump said: ‘I want to be able to show Senate Democrats a list of the many American voters that will NOT be happy if the Wall isn’t built. I need YOUR NAME on the list. Sign our official petition to the…
Read MoreMoving Pelosi
Before the government shutdown President Trump, defying the Democrats, walked out of a meeting and announced he’d continue the shutdown “for months or even years” – but Nancy Pelosi didn’t budge and then Ann Coulter, aghast when Trump folded and reopened the government, tweeted Trump was a ‘wimp’ and the Daily Caller added ‘Trump Caved.’…
Read MoreStoned and Stonewalled
Friday wasn’t Trump’s best day. Before dawn, Roger Stone surrendered to the FBI. Mid-afternoon, Trump surrendered to Nancy Pelosi. Stoned and stonewalled in less than 12 hours. Trump looked corrupt, clueless and – worst of all for him – weak. Corrupt because, even if there wasn’t a criminal conspiracy with Russia, there was a coverup.…
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