2010 elections

Why Democrats must pass healthcare reform

Joan Walsh — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:01:00 PST

As we were editing Salon's Bogus Stories of 2009, I couldn't help thinking about the current impasse, among liberals, over the healthcare reform bill. It wasn't just that Sarah Palin's death panels were a bogus story -- yet one that hijacked the healthcare debate for weeks. Right now a fledgling bogus story can be seen on cable news every hour or so: The Democratic Party is about to self-destruct over healthcare reform.

The end of Giuliani's political career?

Alex Koppelman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:45:00 PST

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will reportedly announce Tuesday that he's decided not to run for the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. He'd already opted not to run for governor against incumbent David Paterson.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, version 2.0

Alex Koppelman — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:10:00 PST

If you just compared it to the sentiments being expressed by other Republicans, the statement that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist released in response to a Senate vote in favor of a Democratic healthcare reform proposal wouldn't seem that unusual.

DNC pounces on GOP senators

Thomas Schaller — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:23:00 PST

Well, that didn't take long.

Joe Wilson's fame lives on

Mike Madden — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:19:00 PST

A year ago, no one outside of South Carolina -- and not that many people in South Carolina -- had heard of Rep. Joe Wilson. One brief outburst later, he's a conservative hero, speaking at tea party rallies at home and in Washington and inspiring the GOP faithful to join him in the Republican crusade against the Obama administration and all it stands for (socialism, mostly).

Blue Dog vulnerability in 2010

Thomas Schaller — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:15:00 PST

Though attention this week is squarely on dissenters and holdouts on the Senate side, Isaac Wood of UVa's Crystal Ball has a nice, detailed post about the status of House Blue Dog Democrats, how they voted on healthcare bill, and in general who among these 52 Blue Doggies may be vulnerable next November.

Blue Dog retirement wave coming?

Thomas Schaller — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:15:00 PST

There is a significant amount of buzz today about Bart Gordon's announcement that he will retire from Congress at the end of his term.

Is the public option worth fighting for?

Joan Walsh — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:08:00 PST

Influential liberals have begun arguing a funny kind of liberal Catch-22: The health insurance "public option" is already so diluted, it's no longer worth fighting for. Got it? Because liberal Dems got played by conservative Dems, they should forfeit the entire game.

The GOP's Tea Party problem

Alex Koppelman — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:38:00 PST

Republicans may have been working to co-opt the Tea Parties that have been so popular on the right, but fundamentally the movement always had soem anti-GOP feeling at its core. And while the protests may still end up helping Republicans next year, in part by getting conservative voters, to borrow a phrase, fired up and ready to go, there are some signs that the whole thing could still end up badly for the party.

Santorum "taking a look" at 2012

Alex Koppelman — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:42:00 PST

If you worried, even for a second, that the Republican presidential primary might turn boring come 2012, you can rest easy. If nothing else, the possibility that former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., will be jumping into the race should make things interesting.

Sestak picks up big endorsement in race against Specter

Alex Koppelman — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:05:00 PST

When Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties and became a Democrat, he immediately got the support of his new party's leadership, including President Obama, for his upcoming re-election fight. But now another party leader has given Congressional liberals room to back the man challenging Specter in the Democratic primary next year, Rep. Joe Sestak.

Thanks to Perry, Texas gubernatorial race could get pretty weird

Gabriel Winant — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:13:00 PST

You might assume that Texas politics would still be a wild and woolly business, full of eccentric candidates who’d pull all kinds of crazy stunts to squeak by each other. Like how Lyndon Johnson lost one stolen election for the Senate and, having learned his lesson, probably stole the next one himself. Or like Gov. Lee "Pass the biscuits, Pappy" O’Daniel, the flour-peddling model and namesake for the politician character in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" But modern Texas has settled into a situation of relatively quiet Republican dominance. Despite the best efforts of novelty-singer and 2006 independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman, there hasn’t been a genuinely close general election for a Senate seat or the governorship since the mid-1990s.

The Democrats' problem with black voters

Alex Koppelman — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:31:00 PST

The African American vote is vital to the Democratic Party. That's a truism of American politics, has been for some time now, but it was especially true in 2008, though not just in the way people usually think. The black voters who came out in droves in order to elect Barack Obama president didn't just vote for him; they gave Democrats in down-ticket races a major boost as well.

Hey, Minnesotans, miss Norm Coleman? Good news!

Gabriel Winant — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:30:00 PST

Nearly six months ago, Al Franken was sworn in as the junior senator from Minnesota. For his defeated opponent, former Sen. Norm Coleman, it was the end of a long, hard road -- a road full of legal challenges, ballot challenges, financial challenges and, one can only assume, profound personal challenges.

Is it tea party time in Texas?

Mike Madden — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:24:00 PST

Rick Perry strode across the stage last Wednesday night and leaned over into the microphone. This was his moment to shine; two dozen of his fellow Republican governors, and a couple of hundred big GOP corporate donors, were gathered at a barbecue to celebrate Republican victories and look ahead to more to come in 2010. And Perry, the governor of Texas, wants very much to make sure he's celebrating next year, despite what could be a nasty primary challenge from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to secure the Republican nomination.

Can populism be liberal?

Michael Lind — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:05:00 PST

Is a Jackson revival under way? I'm referring not to the late King of Pop but to the 19th century populist president whom his opponents called "King Andrew." According to Michael Barone, in the 2010 elections Republicans have a chance to knock Democrats out of as many as three dozen insecure congressional seats in "Jacksonian districts."

RNC considers instituting a purity test

Alex Koppelman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:24:00 PST

Some conservatives want the Republican Party to strive for ideological purity in its platform and choice of candidates. Others want to make it official policy.

The best campaign ad ever?

Alex Koppelman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:29:00 PST

James Perry wants to be the next mayor of New Orleans, but right now, he's an underdog. And because of the city's unique election schedule -- the primary's being held next February -- he doesn't have much time to introduce himself to voters.

Intra-party feuds fuel Senate primary campaigns

Gabriel Winant — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:50:00 PST

Generally speaking, primaries are where ideological fights play out. And it looks like we may have some interesting battles to watch next year in a few key Senate races. Both parties are now split by fights over whether it's better to support compromises to achieve shared goals or go down fighting. These divisions, in turn, are fueling some pretty heated show-downs.

How the GOP got its groove back

Mike Madden — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:20:00 PST

Finding the epicenter of the looming Republican comeback is pretty easy, at least this week. As it happens, you can drive there from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in less than 30 minutes, and with only two turns. Once you get to the massive golf and spa complex with signs warning pedestrians and bicyclists to stay off the road, you're in the right place.