All Decoder
Iowa's GOP governor opposes Ted Cruz. Will that matter?Terry Branstad's opposition to Cruz come's from left field, and it might suggest that state issues have lost their pull in national elections.
Would Trump gain or lose from Sarah Palin support?Donald Trump rarely misses the opportunity for a short-term media storm, but with Sarah Palin's diminished public spotlight and popularity, the move could be risky.
Lindsey Graham endorses Jeb Bush. Does that matter?Mr. Bush’s campaign is in dire straits and Senator Graham’s support is unlikely to change that. But there are tactical reasons why it makes sense.
Jeb Bush's new ad is great. It also reveals his campaign's weakness.Jeb Bush has been caught off guard by pockets of American society venting their anger in ways different from any time he can recall.
Ted Cruz didn't disclose bank loan. Does it matter?The legal implications are probably modest. But as for the 2016 presidential race, the loan revelations about Ted Cruz could indeed make a difference.
Nikki Haley gets stiff GOP blowback. Why are some in her own party upset?Judging from the reaction to Gov. Nikki Haley's comments, it is clear that immigration is becoming a conservative litmus test.
What happens if Hillary Clinton loses the Iowa caucusPrimary results in Iowa and New Hampshire are generally seen as the barometer for likely presidential nominees, but the Sanders-Clinton battle could buck the trend.
Rand Paul quits upcoming GOP debate. Smart move or desperate?Polling at 3 percent, the Kentucky senator lost his spot at the primetime event, as did Carly Fiorina. Rather than be relegated to the undercard debate, he opted out.
Is Joe Biden a secret Bernie Sanders supporter?Joe Biden was quick to qualify his apparent preference for Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton – his decision not to run for president appears to explain a lot.
What Donald Trump left out of his NFL offensiveTrump's criticism that the NFL has gone 'soft' needs to be seen in the context of his difficult business relationship with the game of pro football.
Is Marco Rubio making his move (finally)?Many of Marco Rubio's closest supporters saw his early campaign as lacking focus, but they may have been misreading his intentions.
How Jeb Bush became afterthought in the 2016 presidential raceJeb Bush is at 3.3 percent in the polls. Ever since summer, he's been on a steady, slow slide.
Does Donald Trump want to make stuff from China more expensive?Donald Trump proposed slapping a 45 percent tariff on Chinese exports to the US.
The meaning of the Ted Cruz 'birther' talkPresidential candidate Ted Cruz doesn’t seem to have a network of legislative and political allies working to delegitimize claims that he was not born in the US.
Does 'GOP establishment' really exist?The 'Republican establishment' is a coalition of disparate party actors, with different goals and motivations. The miracle is getting all those groups to agree on anyone.
How Ted Cruz's new immigration ad trumps Donald Trump's adThe ad’s careful construction may be yet more proof that Sen. Ted Cruz is attempting to slipstream behind Donald Trump while snatching some of his voters.
The most unusual part of Donald Trump's new adYes, we know the video of fleeing immigrants is from Morocco, not Mexico. But the ad also says Donald Trump would 'take' ISIS's oil. Easier said than done.
Why Donald Trump, at last, is running his own political adsTrump's done just fine in national polls without the usual trappings of a campaign, including campaign ads. But now the Iowa caucuses are looming.
White House Christmas playlists: Did Obama and Biden choose those songs?President Obama's playlist confirms that he 'is the only American president you could reliably trust to DJ a party.' Joe Biden's list is, well, just so Joe Biden.
Donald Trump crushes new poll. But there are reasons for cautionDonald Trump is leading with 39 percent of the GOP primary vote. But with primaries about to begin, the dynamics could shift in several important ways.
