All Decoder
Presidential debates: Game-changers or time-wasters?Presidential debates rarely make a difference in the outcome, according to the last half century of polling results. But rarely doesn't mean never, and oops moments can be critical. Ask Rick Perry.
How would Donald Trump have handled the attack in Libya?In his latest incarnation as foreign policy expert, Donald Trump blames the Obama administration for a 'debacle' in Benghazi and for not claiming the spoils due the 'victor' in Libya.
Presidential debate: what to look for beyond who wins or losesPolitical spin coming out of the presidential debate Wednesday will be fierce. But the savvy viewer looks for more than winner and losers. Here's a guide to viewing the presidential debate.
Mitt Romney's debate challenge: keeping Karl Rove on boardIf Mitt Romney can't turn things around at Wednesday's debate, some observers speculate that he could see an exodus of donors and other supporters – including GOP mastermind Karl Rove.
New Romney op-ed hits Obama on Middle East: Is that fair?Mitt Romney pivots off the 'jobs' issue and criticizes President Obama's Middle East policy – from Syria and Iran to Israel and Egypt. The tactic is perhaps meant to remind voters that the GOP traditionally has owned defense-and-security matters.
For Obama and Romney, time to play 'The Debate Expectations Game'Team Obama characterizes Mitt Romney as a fantastic debater. Team Romney notes the president's public-speaking prowess. Both sides are enumerating challenges for their guy ahead of the first debate, in hopes of then exceeding expectations.
What does President Obama need to do in the debates?President Obama doesn't need a decisive win as badly as Mitt Romney does in the upcoming debate – but he can't afford any missteps, either.
Is '47 percent' comment sinking Mitt Romney's polls?Gaffes don't typically have much effect, but Mitt Romney's secretly recorded remarks may have staying power. His polls started falling soon after his words went public – and continue to drop.
Ann Romney on Jay Leno: How did she do?Ann Romney appeared on 'The Tonight Show,' and while she wasn't polished, she humanized Mitt quite well. The question is: Why wasn't she doing this in July? Now, it might be too late.
Polls show Obama with big leads in Ohio, Florida. Could they be wrong?Polls out Wednesday show President Obama ahead of GOP nominee Mitt Romney in the key states of Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania. But there are a couple things to say about these surveys.
What does Mitt Romney need to do in the presidential debates?The first debate on Oct. 3 looms large as Mitt Romney's last, best chance at turning the presidential race around. Here are a few ways he might do it.
Why is Mitt Romney saying nice things about Bill Clinton?In a well received speech on foreign aid at the Clinton Global Initiative Tuesday, Mitt Romney was effusive in his praise of Bill Clinton. There could be several reasons for that.
Is Mitt Romney's Ohio bus tour a waste of his time?Yes, no Republican has won without Ohio, but it is doable, and polls show the state is looking increasingly out of reach for Mitt Romney, who might be better off spending his time in Florida.
President Obama on 'The View': Should he have skipped it?For the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly, Obama was in New York for 24 hours. He appeared on two TV shows but met one-on-one with no world leaders. A missed opportunity perhaps, but the election is in six weeks.
Is Bush making a comeback? Why two Democrats mention him uncritically.Former President Bush appears invisible to the Romney campaign and others in the GOP, but two Democratic Senate candidates, from Virginia and Arizona, show him in ads touting their bipartisanship.
- 'SNL' depicts undecided voters as dumb. Is that right?
'When is the election?' and 'Who is running?' are two of the undecided voters' questions in an 'SNL' parody. The truth is these voters are less partisan, less engaged, and just now making up their minds.
Obama and Romney on '60 Minutes': What were the defining moments?Both President Obama and Mitt Romney tried to give detailed answers to tough questions in separate '60 Minutes' interviews. If you're an undecided voter, you should watch the whole program.
Ann Romney tells Mitt's critics to 'Stop it.' Will they listen?Presidential campaigns may be hardest on the spouses. In a radio interview Thursday, Ann Romney revealed how much the sniping from Republicans has hurt.
Battleground state polls: Are there any positives for Mitt Romney?Curiously, the polls of battleground states show President Obama leading Mitt Romney by wider margins than do national polls. The question of which are more accurate could be crucial.
Romney, Obama, and 'redistribution': How much do US taxes reallocate wealth?The federal tax system is 'progressive' – meaning wealthier people pay taxes at a higher rate than others. It is, in effect, a wealth redistribution mechanism. But it's not new to Obama, or even more pronounced under him.
