In Sunday night’s debate, Donald Trump entered as a universally recognized dead candidate. How could anyone survive such self-inflicted wounds? He was coming off of a terrible debate performance focused more on defending how wealthy he really was rather than expounding on pressing issues. His performance featured a gratuitously stupid challenge to a former Miss Universe. And…
The two seasoned warriors came out tonight to mix it up. Both showed they were ready to serve as either President or Vice-President. Tim Kaine has served in government at “all levels” and Mike Pence has successfully governed his state. Their philosophical differences were clear and Americans have a choice. Kaine came right out punching…
In the election of 2016, the candidates for President are: Republican, The Emperor Nero of Rome, narcissistic, extravagant, and tyrannical. He felt the burn almost 2000 years ago. Democrat, Catherine de Medici of Florence but Queen of France. Competent, respected by many, hated by most. Libertarian Dr. Timothy Leary, a famed toker, splits his residence…
Yes, Hillary Clinton beat the dragon the other night. She won on points and brought her game. Trump started out very strong but was overwhelmed about half way through and fizzled. He did not implode but maybe if the debate had gone on five minutes longer… As I wrote late Monday night after the debate,…
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump came out swinging right away tonight. There were no knockout punches but each landed some good ones against the other. I think each did well with their own constituencies and emerged tonight as a plausible next President. I believe Clinton won the debate on points – clearly better prepared to…
Like beauty, pornography, and soul, it is hard to define authenticity. As Supreme Court Justice Byron White noted, “you just know it when you see it”. But it is the sine qua non for any successful presidential candidate. Americans demand a President they can relate to and, even more importantly, one who can relate to…
I have been polling professionally for 32 years now and I have been engaged in the day-to-day polling of Presidential races since 1992. That is a very long time but one thing has not changed: the annoying media coverage of every minute of every day of every campaign. It is the moral equivalent of the…
Here is a polling question for history fans: If the election were held today and the candidates were Republican Nero, Democrat Catherine de Medici, and Libertarian Timothy Leary, for whom would you? An impossible match up but, in some ways, a real one. None of these are credible or beloved characters from history – at…
I am not a physician nor do I play one on TV. But I have had “Walking Pneumonia” four times in my life – in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986. (Since that time a powerful pneumonia shot has been developed, generally good for ten years or so, and I have been blessed). But my point…
As I write this column, the presidential race is pretty much tied. Both candidates are stuck somewhere between the high 30s and low forties in national polls and, contrary to the views of some pundits, the states do not produce a clear winner just yet either. Yes, indeed, Hillary Clinton now “leads” in several battleground…