National Republicans
Unforced errors
This election should be a slam dunk for Hillary Clinton. But turnovers are keeping the game too close. She is superbly qualified to be President. She has long fought on the right side of progress. Her opponent is one of the most despised, dreaded and dangerous men ever to run for President. But then (always)…
Read MoreJiggering the Districts
Laying in bed reading a short biography of Abraham Lincoln by James McPherson, one of those lost jewels of history popped up: McPherson wrote how before the 1858 election the Illinois politicians redrew state legislative districts to favor Democrats – which made a difference because back in those days United States Senators weren’t elected by…
Read MoreHis Own Character
If Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz had run an ad like this back during the primary Donald Trump might not be the Republican nominee for President. Link to ad. Delegates Unbound (which is one of the Republican ‘Never Trump’ groups) has set out to make the case Donald Trump doesn’t have the…
Read MoreFamine on the Potomac
Britain’s vote to get out of the EU sent tremors through the financial markets in London and New York – stocks plummeted, banks tottered, billionaires fled to high ground – and, in the meantime, reports of Donald Trump’s flagging fundraising sent a shock wave through the Republican Political Class in our nation’s capital. Summer and…
Read MoreTrouble in the Suburbs
Here’s one reason it looks like Donald Trump may cause Republicans heartburn this fall: 30% of the voters in North Carolina almost always vote for the Republican candidate and 35% almost always vote Democratic. Conservative Rural Democrats are the first (and smallest) group of swing voters and they’re a blessing to Republicans. They’re only around…
Read MoreSome Folks Never Learn
Senator Richard Burr’s campaign has a rare decorum: There’s been no name calling, no finger pointing and no rants which has to appeal to voters who’re fed up with politics. But sometimes your friends, meaning to be helpful, can land you in a soup. One night last election (in 2014) as I was sitting in…
Read MoreStuck in the Mud?
I turned on Fox News and there was Donald Trump arms waving at a rally giving a vintage broadside. I thought, This is getting old. Two polls last week showed Trump trailing Hillary Clinton by 9 points and 12 points nationally. Another poll showed Trump’s Unfavorable rating rising to 70%: And here in North Carolina…
Read MoreRe-Runs
Back during the Presidential Primary Donald Trump would go on a tear and give the Washington Insiders hell and watching him was enjoyable – but, now, watching Donald Trump berating Pocahontas the way he berated Lyin’ Ted and Little Marco is like watching the same TV program over and over again. I guess Trump would…
Read MoreLooking Back: The Master of the Deal
When George Holding took his final poll on the Wednesday before the election he led Renee Ellmers by almost 30 points. Then, three days later, on Saturday Donald Trump jumped into the primary with both feet – and endorsed Ellmers. In a way Trump’s move was a surprise: Ellmers had initially supported John Kasich and,…
Read MoreLooking Back: The Mastermind
I imagine it happened this way: After the Republican Leaders in Congress went down to the White House and made the ‘Omnibus Budget Deal’ with President Obama they then called a caucus of Republican Congressmen to get the votes to pass it. The Leaders explained to the rows of Congressmen how the deal was not…
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