ALBANY—An analysis of election returns shows two red spots in New York, a state that otherwise got much bluer last week.
In Niagara County, John McCain lost to Barack Obama by 357 votes, compared to George W. Bush, who in 2004 lost the county to Senator John Kerry by 461 votes. (You, too, Read More
Officially, Valerie Jarrett appeared on this morning’s “Meet the Press” to discuss Barack Obama’s transition effort, which she is helping to lead. But hours later, her turn in the national spotlight took on added significance, with the news that Obama apparently wants Jarrett to succeed him in the United States Senate. In hindsight, she might Read More
Determining when the 2008 presidential race actually began is an inexact science, but a strong case can be made for the early summer of 2004. John Kerry and George W. Bush were locked in a tight battle in that year’s election, but several developments back set in place some of the fundamental dynamics that have Read More
Over the course of 86 long and futile years, fans of the Boston Red Sox convinced themselves that they were victims of a curse, incapable of winning the World Series because of their franchise’s decision to trade Babe Ruth. But the Red Sox finally broke the curse in 2004 and followed it up with another Read More
Eight years ago, when he first sought the presidency, John McCain presented himself to the country much the way he is presenting himself now—as a battle-scarred American hero who had endured unspeakable physical and mental abuse for his country and who had emerged from it to pursue a life of courageous and principled public service. Read More
The main strategic knock on the last night’s primetime G.O.P. convention session was its decided lack of red meat-attacks on Barack Obama. Instead, the evening was given over to building John McCain’s biography and to framing his campaign as a principled crusade that rises above partisan politics.
Good enough, but with Sarah Palin slated Read More
Twice in the television era have the pre-scripted proceedings of a national political convention been badly disrupted – and both times it proved catastrophic for the party that put on the show.
In 1968, chaos in the streets and on the floor of Read More
DENVER—"There’s my girl!" Chevy Chase bellowed as Madeline Albright walked into the backroom of the Vanity Fair-Google party on Thursday, August 28. The towering comedian, who was clad in a blazer, T-shirt and jeans, bent down to embrace his old friend. They discussed plans to get together—Mr. Chase promising an e-mail from "his people"—mugged for Read More
A quick review of the most prominently featured speakers over the first three days of the Democratic convention – which ones helped, which ones hurt, and which ones did neither.
Monday:
To follow Bill Clinton as a speaker is almost impossible on any occasion, let alone after a speech as strong and stunning as his endorsement of Barack Obama.
But the speech delivered so doggedly by John Kerry—as the cable anchors talked over him—was analytically sharp and politically compelling. He gave himself the satisfaction of denouncing Read More
