In a December 1 commentary, University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato examined the race for the U.S. Senate state-by-state. He finds that the odds of Democrats keeping control have improved.
A December 1 AARP poll found that three-quarters of people favor discouraging attack ads and full disclosure of those paying for them.
In a November 30 commentary, Brookings Institution political scientist William Galston examined the decline in Barack Obama’s support since 2008 in terms of demographic groups. Young people and Latinos show the largest declines.
A November 29 Harris poll found that in key swing states about an equal percentage of people oppose the Tea Party as support it. Support is highest among the elderly and those with little education. Occupy Wall Street has about the same level of support, 39 percent, but a smaller level of opposition, 27 percent. Its support is greatest among the young and well-educated.
Also on November 29, Pew released a poll showing sharply declining support for the Tea Party, which appears to be hurting the GOP.
And in a November 29 commentary, historian Robert Dallek examines the reasons why John F. Kenny and Ronald Reagan are the most popular presidents of the postwar era. It’s not what they did, he says, but what they said and stood for.
In a November 21 paper, Harvard economist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz estimated that Barack Obama’s race cost him 3 to 5 percentage points of the vote in 2008.
On November 14, the Congressional Research Service published a report on the citizenship requirement to be president of the United States.
On October 31, the Congressional research Service published a report on lobbying practices in the executive branch and options for change.
I last posted items on this topic on November 29.
Bruce Bartlett is an American historian and columnist who focuses on the intersection between politics and economics. He blogs daily and writes a weekly column for The Fiscal Times. Bartlett has written for Forbes Magazine and Creators Syndicate, and his work is informed by many years in government, including as a senior policy analyst in the Reagan White House. He is the author of seven books including his new book: The Benefit and the Burden.
