Who will inherit Trump's backers? Certainly not Jeb Bush. And Trump has criticized others by name, too, should Trump leave the field, Ted Cruz would be a likely beneficiary. He is considered an immigration hardliner, like Trump. And Cruz is showing Trump respect, and Trump has already shown us that he has a good memory for respect and slights.

Larry Sabato

Categorized in : Politics

Every election is determined by the people who show up. by Larry Sabato

Every election is determined by the people who show up.

election determined people

The Constitution remains brilliant in its overall design and sound with respect to the Bill of Rights and the separation of powers. But there are numerous archaic provisions that inhibit constructive change and adaptation. These constitutional bits affect the daily life of the republic and every citizen in it.

republic design rights

The presidential candidates are offering prescriptions for everything from Iraq to healthcare, but listen closely. Their fixes are situational and incremental. Meanwhile, the underlying structural problems in American politics and government are systemic and prevent us from solving our most intractable challenges.

iraq government offering

Politics is a good thing! by Larry Sabato

Politics is a good thing!

A dangerous thesis has taken hold among many in the GOP: that it might be better to lose the '06 election and re-group. In American history, when a faction in the majority party decides the party is tired and could benefit from some time in the wilderness, the voters usually oblige. Most recently, the latest issue of Washington Monthly includes a cover story featuring seven such articles from prominent Republican strategists, insiders and commentators.

tired party taken

If we really want to make progress and achieve greater fairness as a society, it is time for elemental change. And we should start by looking at the Constitution, with the goal of holding a new Constitutional Convention.

progress goal want

Shockingly, the Bidens donated under $1,000 to all charities combined every year for the ten years prior to 2008.

biden charity years

I doubt God would want to touch America's tax code, since it is already located in the third rung of Hell.

doubt want america

Because of the structure of the contemporary American party syste... by Larry Sabato

Because of the structure of the contemporary American party system, every president is polarizing.

structure party president

We all live in the moment, and we often mistakenly believe that what is true today was true always. Not so in politics, and especially in Congressional elections.

live-in-the-moment today believe

The Republicans I've been talking to have said, 'Oh, the public is cynical about indictments, they happen so often.' Well, that's whistling past the graveyard, because the average voter is only going to remember that one of the big Republican head honchos in Congress was indicted. They won't remember the name or position, but they'll remember it says Congress is corrupt and maybe the majority party is corrupt.

party average past

People are trying to decide whether the man-made disaster is wors... by Larry Sabato

People are trying to decide whether the man-made disaster is worse than Mother Nature's disaster.

mother men people

The big news, delicious tidbits, pearls of wisdom -- nicely packaged, constantly updated... What political junkie could ask for more?

news pearls political

The national media will talk about national problems because it's something that everyone in all 50 states can understand, but the reality is these are minor factors. These are local races. ... The issues tend to be less ideological than for Senate races or races for president. ... It's about potholes and streetlights.

media race reality

Maybe he gets on TV to whine about the debate, but he uses the rest of the time to say, 'Here's what I stand for,' then suddenly people start paying attention. Democratic activists will actually know who he is.

We're going to have to retire the word 'unprecedented' during Trump's presidency, it's becoming the new normal. And disgraceful, of course.

I think everybody is looking at Barbara Comstock race and saying,' How in the world does Barbara Comstock win ?'.

With Trump, it will be so much more difficult for Comstock this t... by Larry Sabato

With Trump, it will be so much more difficult for Comstock this time.

Maybe scholars in 2063 will have more to work with, and that's no... by Larry Sabato

Maybe scholars in 2063 will have more to work with, and that's not a flip statement.

It isn't critical to have every ambassadorship filled, but you want all the major ones filled as quickly as possible, if for no other reason than that, in those countries where there's no American ambassador, it looks as though they're low priority. They interpret it that way.