Brookings: Topics - Political Conventions

The Political Geography of Virginia and Florida: Bookends of the New South

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this analysis of what they term “the battleground states,” William Frey and Ruy Teixeira crunch the demographic and voting numbers to determine which voters will decide the 2008 presidential contest in Virginia and Florida.

The Political Geography of Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri: Battlegrounds in the Heartland

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The McCain Paradox

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On Thursday, Republicans wrapped up their convention in St. Paul, Minnesota with John McCain’s acceptance speech. He delivered an honorable but paradoxical acceptance speech, writes William Galston, pledging to end bipartisanship rancor in Washington while allowing his campaign to choreograph a convention filled with highly charged personal attacks against the Democratic nominee.

Palin's Impact On Presidential Race Analyzed

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate has energized the Republican base. E.J. Dionne joined David Brooks on All Things Considered to discuss Palin’s impact on the 2008 election and how she changes the race.

Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:11:42 GMT

Sarah Palin, Alaska's governor and the GOP vice presidential nominee, addressed the Republican convention in a speech widely acclaimed by her audience, but delivered amid criticism about her length of executive service in government. Darrell West analyzes the content of her speech and the tenor of her performance—and concludes she did what she was supposed to do.

Politicians Cry Poor as They Dig Deep for Log Cabins

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Fullilove reflects on speeches at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in which many speakers focused on their own humble beginnings.

The Post-Convention Bump

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:57:34 GMT

Candidates typically gain popularity with voters immediately following their party conventions. But, as Darrell West explains, this “bump” in popularity is generally short-lived. This election cycle is no different and, he says, people won’t really know where the candidates stand until a few weeks after the Republican convention.

Sarah Palin: A Good Surprise

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An old expression in politics asserts, “There is no such thing as a good surprise.” Ron Nessen says that John McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate was a surprise; possibly, a rare good surprise. While the McCain-Palin ticket comes with a number of risks, argues Nessen, overall it provides the Republicans with more positives than negatives.

Obama Delivers an American Promise

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Although Barack Obama's speech did not rise to the heights of his 2004 convention speech, writes William Galston, the nominee reached out to portions of the electorate that have been unresponsive to Obama's eloquence and high-flying idealism. He said, in essence, I share your values.

Reflections on a Historic First

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Senator Obama’s nomination is one for the history books, marking a key moment for African Americans and the country. Hugh Price reflects on the nomination, race relations, and the symbolism of a spectacle that evoked pride, awe and astonishment. The New Millenium, he says, has finally arrived.

The Republican Platform

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:44:08 GMT

Looking forward to the Republican National Convention, Darrell West thinks that there could be disagreements on some planks of the party’s platform. On issues like abortion and torture, Senator John McCain has broken with the Republican Party and taken a slightly more moderate stance.

Obama's Stadium Acceptance Speech

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:43:34 GMT

Barack Obama has often addressed record crowds across the country. The Democratic Party’s nomination speech in front of 75,000 people at Invesco Field will signal that he’s thanking the crowds that nominated him, Darrell West says, not just the party insiders.

Celebrities at the Conventions

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:39:53 GMT

From Chuck Norris to Bruce Springsteen, celebrities are prominent in this 2008 presidential election season. Darrell West says that both parties enjoy celebrities, with Democrats getting more Hollywood attention and Republicans pulling from among stock car racers and other athletes.

The 2008 Presidential Election Ad Wars

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:57:47 GMT

John McCain’s campaign released an ad showing video footage from the Democratic presidential primary of Joe Biden criticizing Barack Obama’s experience as a leader. Darrell West says that these kinds of attack ads will play a prominent role in the 2008 election and that he expects the Democrats to fight back.

Candidate Issue Index: Transportation

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes presents the presidential candidates' positions on transportation issues, including federal transportation financing, telecommuting and public transit. This chart is part of a series of issue indices to be published during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

A Convention Surprise?

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:45:04 GMT

One lesson that can be learned from the 2008 presidential campaign is that common wisdom, the polls and the pundits can be wrong. Darrell West says that every time the experts think they have this election figured out the voters do something very different.

The Clintons at the Convention

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:19:03 GMT

Looking forward to the appearances of Bill and Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention, Darrell West says that their speeches could be a positive for the party. West explains that a number of voters that supported Hillary during the primary still need to be convinced to support Barack Obama.

What the Delegates Can Learn From Denver

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What will delegates take away from the Denver convention? Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley write that Denver is the shape of things to come. Denver and its region’s leaders collaborate across borders and program areas as a full-fledged metropolitan area. Metro areas are the true engines of our national economy and Denver gets it.

Painting the Mountain States Blue

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Democrats plant their blue flag in America's newest, most geographically expansive "swing" region - the fast-growing, increasingly diverse, no-longer-reliably-Republican Intermountain West.

Biden: Does it Matter?

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With the announcement of Senator Biden as Barack Obama's vice president, Obama "chose someone whose strengths complement rather than underscore his own," writes William Galston. Although Biden is an ideal candidate, will he make a difference in the upcoming election and what does this mean for John McCain?

Obama's Running Mate

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:19:35 GMT

Just days before the 2008 Democratic National Convention, presidential candidate Barack Obama named Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies, explains how Biden adds to the Democrat’s ticket.

Vice Presidential Candidates

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:05:32 GMT

Some experts believe that a presidential candidate's choice of a running mate is not very important, because people generally vote the top of the ticket. However, Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies, says that this year the vice presidential candidates will play a significant role in the race between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.

Democratic Convention Outlook

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

William Galston joins Markos Moulitsas and John Podesta on The Diane Rehm Show to discuss the impact of selecting Senator Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate and how the Democratic Party will try to define their candidate and unify the party at the National Democratic Convention.

The 2008 Political Conventions

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:10:15 GMT

As Democrats gather for their 2008 convention in Denver, Governance Studies Vice President Darrell West says the conventions allow the political parties to showcase their candidates, and engage the broader American public in the hot-button issues that propel the presidential race.

The Political Geography of the Intermountain West: The New Swing Region

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Long viewed as a GOP stronghold, the Intermountain West states have recently elected a number of Democrats in statewide races. In this analysis of what they term “the new swing region,” William Frey and Ruy Teixeira crunch the demographic and voting numbers to determine which voters where will decide the 2008 presidential contest in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Examining the Negative 2008 Presidential Campaign Ads

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A series of campaign ads from John McCain and Barack Obama are drawing attention on both the political and pop culture stages. Darrell West joins Judy Woodruff and Evan Tracey on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer to discuss their themes and the spending behind them.

Mountain Megas: America's Newest Metropolitan Places and a Federal Partnership to Help Them Prosper

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this report, the authors describe and assess the new supersized reality of the Intermountain West and proposes a more helpful role for the federal government in empowering regional leaders’ efforts to build a uniquely Western brand of prosperity that is at once more sustainable, productive, and inclusive than past eras of boom and bust.

Is Obama the New Reagan?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Although Barack Obama may often be compared to John F. Kennedy, Darrell West argues that Ronald Reagan poses the more interesting parallel. Like Reagan, Obama is an outstanding orator whose national political rise coincides with a grass-roots movement demanding fundamental change in America.

Candidate Issue Index: Fiscal Responsibility

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Isabel Sawhill presents leading presidential candidates' positions on issues of fiscal responsibility, including: taxes, government programs and budgetary process issues . This chart is part of a series of issue indices to be published during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

A Report on the 2008 Presidential Nomination Ads

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Few aspects of campaigns attract as much discussion as television advertisements. Yet many observers are not happy with the quality of information presented in ads or the tone of political discourse. In looking at campaign ads in this year’s presidential nominating election, Darrell West finds that ads were more negative than in previous races.

Tackle Social Security First

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The next president and new Congress face a daunting set of challenges come January 2009: Iraq war, troubled economy, global climate change, looming government debt, taxes, health care reform and rebuilding infrastructure, all vying for immediate attention. Such a long "to do" list presents two possible tactics: tackle the hardest problem first or get the easy ones out of the way. Alice M. Rivlin and John W. Kingdon prefer the latter and would start with Social Security.

Presidential Candidates Should Address Looming Budget Deficits

Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With Congress poised to approve a budget blueprint that offers no relief for long-term deficit woes, Isabel Sawhill says that it’s time for presidential candidates to discuss ways to reshape the nation’s fiscal priorities and return to a more responsible path. Right now, she writes, little is being done to prevent a disaster.

Candidate Issue Index: Children

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Compiled by Brookings Institution experts, this chart is part of a series of issue indices being published during the 2008 Presidential election cycle. In this index, candidates' views on children's issues are presented.

The Tax System: Too Complex, Unfair and Outdated

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stimulus checks are a bright note in this year’s tax season. But, William Gale asserts, the annual tax-filing ritual is otherwise complicated and outdated. He recommends that the presidential candidates advocate changes like streamlining tax incentives and allowing some taxpayers to pay without filing returns.

Candidate Issue Index: Iraq

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Candidate Issue Index: Health Care

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Health care is a major issue in the presidential campaign. The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, led by Dr. Mark McClellan, presents presidential candidates' positions on coverage, costs, quality, market-based reforms, technology and portability. This chart is part of a series of issue indices being published during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

Candidate Issue Index: Immigration

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Candidate Issue Index: Climate Change

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have clashed over strategies to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and achieve energy independence. As part of a series of charts examining the candidates’ positions, Opportunity 08 compares their views on energy and climate change.

Candidate Issue Index: Trade

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lael Brainard presents leading presidential candidates' positions on trade issues, including NAFTA and other free trade agreements; China; and assistance to workers displaced by globalization. This chart is part of a series of issue indices to be published during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

Pathways to the Middle Class: Ensuring Greater Upward Mobility for All Americans

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Middle-class prosperity is the cornerstone of the American Dream. Americans believe that through hard work and education families can enter the middle class and keep on climbing. However, recent evidence shows that, even with a rebounding U.S. econom

Taming the Deficit: Forge a Grand Compromise for a Sustainable Future

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Currently projected deficits are unsustainable and pose serious risks to the economy, make us dangerously dependent on other countries, impose a "debt tax" on every taxpayer, send the bill for current spending to future generations, and weaken the government's ability to invest in the future or respond to emergencies. The next President will have to act to meet the deficit challenge.

Ending Oil Dependence: Protecting National Security, the Environment and the Economy

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Plug-in hybrid engines, biofuels and other technologies can help end the United States' oil dependence in a generation. Doing so would provide important national security, environmental and economic benefits. A broad political consensus and game-changing technological advances create the conditions for dramatic change. Yet Presidential leadership and robust policies will be needed. There are no simple or short-term solutions.

Meeting the Dilemma of Health Care Access: Extend Insurance Coverage while Controlling Costs

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Health care is the nation's largest-and, in many respects, most important- industry. It is a large share of the nation's economy and a major source of employment, to be sure, but, by improving people's health and reducing disability, it promotes productivity across the economy and improves quality of life. The dollar value of Americans' improved health over the last three decades approximates the value of all other economic growth combined, and much, though not all, of that gain is traceable to improved health care.

Tackling Trade and Climate Change: Leadership on the Home Front of Foreign Policy

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For the next President, effective leadership abroad will depend largely on marshalling bipartisan support for foreign policy at home. Combating terrorism, constricting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, reducing global poverty, promoting an efficient, equitable world trading system, and reversing the process of climate change are all issues that require far more effective diplomacy and skillful management of U.S. domestic politics.