Recent News

Third GOP debate sets off wave of anxiety

The uncertain terms of the next Republican debate are setting off a wave of anxiety among middle and bottom tier campaigns, with several lashing out at the Republican National Committee for failing to provide clarity on how many candidates will appear on stage.

The departure of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker from the 2016 presidential campaign helps to answer the question of who won’t win the GOP nomination, but with 15 candidates remaining, it’s a challenge to get a good feel for where the race stands now and where it might go from here.

The New York Times helps to clarify the issue with its look at who it believes is winning at the moment, developed by looking at ... Read More >>

The polls get most of the attention, but they’re not the most important part of the early stages of a presidential campaign. The better guide to who’s really winning is known as the “invisible primary,” in which candidates compete for support from their fellow politicians, from party leaders and from donors.

GOP insiders: Jindal and Pataki quit next

Bobby Jindal and George Pataki are the next two quitters in the Republican field.

That’s the assessment of Republicans in the POLITICO Caucus, our weekly bipartisan survey of the top activists, operatives and strategists in Iowa and New Hampshire.

After facing attacks in two debates and dealing with controversies almost daily, business executive Donald Trump has maintained a big lead in New Hampshire, while the rest of the Republican presidential field has been shaken up over the past two months.

A couple of articles this morning look at some of the unusual elements of the 2016 Republican presidential campaign. In the Washington Examiner, James Antle suggests the race is breaking new ground:

Republican White House race moves into uncharted territory

Something unprecedented is going to happen in the Republican presidential race next year. That’s not a prediction of a specific outcome, but a statement of fact about the options available.

The modern Republican primary process has never produced a nominee like Donald Trump, ... Read More >>

The first two casualties of the 2016 presidential campaign were predictable. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker began with high expectations, especially Walker.