All Politics
Where did the mammoth US budget deficits come from?Let's go back about a decade, when budget surpluses were predicted for the foreseeable future. Somehow, the math went terribly wrong, by trillions of dollars. Here's an accounting of what happened.
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.
Romney tax plan: Is it 'mathematically impossible' or not?One study said Mitt Romney's tax-reform numbers don't add up. Another says they do. The reality: It depends a lot on the assumptions made about how deeply Romney is willing to cut tax breaks for the rich, including incentives for investment.
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.
Who are the '47 percent'? Half don't earn enough to pay federal income taxes; many pay other ways.
Rep. Scott Rigell: Maverick GOP freshman in the eye of a political stormObama is hitting Virginia Beach, Va., Thursday for a reason: It's one of the hottest political ad markets in the country. Its congressman, Scott Rigell, is out to change Washington's 'toxic mix of partisanship, no facts, weak ideas.'
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.
FocusCan GOP survive its 'minority problem'?Polls show that the GOP continues to be 'the party of old, white men' – and that could be decisive in the 2012 presidential election. Demographics suggest that the party must change, and soon.
Could you live in 150 square feet? Cities try out micro-housing.Micro-housing aims to diversify downtowns and give workers the chance to shorten their commutes, but not everyone likes the idea. San Francisco weighed such a proposal Tuesday.
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.
- Court decision produces twist in Wisconsin union fight
After a ruling that struck down parts of Wisconsin's collective-bargaining law, unions are calling to renegotiate contracts. Separately, an appeals court took up the constitutionality of the law Monday.
- '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 opens up lead over Romney with NASCAR voters: Another straw the wind?A new poll shows 49 percent of NASCAR fans would vote for Barack Obama. Does this mean a core conservative constituency has shifted away from Mitt Romney? Not really.
Economists' surprising election-year request: Raise taxes, please!In a survey of economists who work mostly for banks and businesses, a majority said some additional tax revenue is needed, along with spending cuts, to reduce the federal budget deficit.
