- Richard Greene
- 23 Oct 06, 10:25 PM
President Bush is trying to get Americans to on focus the economy, only days after the University of Virginia's popular political science newsletter pointed out how surprising it was that voters are angry at Congress given the record-setting stock market, low inflation and high productivity. (Apparently the president reads the same newsletters I do!)
Conventional wisdom has it that incumbents do well when the economy is strong, and - while there is debate about how many Americans are reaping the benefits of big-picture economic success - gas prices are falling, which should help the Republicans.
Or should it?
Remember, there was shock across the world when President Bush's supporters told pollsters in 2004 that were more important to them than terrorism, the war in Iraq - or the economy.
Only two years later, perhaps the president should not be surprised that his supporters stuck with him when the economy was weak but the Republicans appeared morally strong - and that they have their doubts about the party amidst the current sexual and financial scandals, even if the economy is roaring ahead.
Richard Greene is the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News website's Washington reporter
- Jamie Coomarasamy
- 23 Oct 06, 08:02 PM
All you American politicians looking for the right hair, the right suit, the right teeth, forget your fancy Washington image consultants and pay a visit to Bill Graves. He's the barber of - the Democrat trying to dislodge three-term Montana , one of the most vulnerable Republicans this year, thanks - in large part - to his rather-too-close financial relationship with the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
feature Tester - a state senator and farmer - getting his distinctive flat-top hair cut at the Riverview barber shop in the northern town of . When I went to meet the man behind the most famous follicle formation in Montana politics, Bill Graves was full of the joys of election season. He apologised for not having tea and crumpets at the ready, offered to give me and my long-haired producer, Michaela, buzz cuts (we both politely refused) and then reflected on the fact that people were no longer asking for flat-tops - but for "Testers". How about that for mutual advertising?
As the tag line - or buzz line - of the advert makes clear, the cut is all about showing that Jon Tester is someone who "looks like Montana". That's a pretty important quality in a state where you forget your roots at your peril. In a way, the Democrats' most damning accusation against Burns is not that he accepted money (which he later gave back) from a dodgy character, but that this proved he had "gone Washington" - and forgotten the good folk of Montana.
The charge has the potential to undo decades of good work on the authenticity front for Conrad Burns. Although he was born in Missouri, Senator Burns was a cattle auctioneer in Montana and the first general manager of the Billings rodeo, 39 years ago. He was at this year's rodeo at the weekend, presenting an award for rodeo ethics. He got a pretty good cheer from the crowd. No questions here about his ethics - or, indeed, about his Montana credentials.
But there were at the candidates' debate in Great Falls the night before. The senator had a response. He'd travelled back to Montana so much, he said, that Northwest airlines had recently awarded him his 2,000,000th air mile. Oh - and he'd worn out the seat of his trousers (jeans, I'm sure) on those planes.
So, people of Montana: worn-out jeans or a flat-top? The choice is yours.
Jamie Coomarasamy is a Washington correspondent for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News.
- Katty Kay
- 23 Oct 06, 03:57 PM
Democrats are keeping a close watch on how they play in the South next month, looking for signs the political landscape there could be shifting in their favour. They have been out of favour in the South for ages and sense they could be making inroads into this Republican territory.
First on the Democrats' list of hopefuls is , running for the US Senate in Tennessee. His bid is historic because he could become the first black senator elected from the South. He's personable, moderate and tough on defence, which is essential to winning high-testosterone Southern votes.
But what's really getting Democratic strategists excited about Mr Ford is the nature of his campaign. He is playing the religion card with ease and that's something Democrats realise they have to learn to do to poll well with Southerners. He is running a TV ad recorded in a church and handing out photo business cards with the 10 Commandments printed on the back. OK, it's not very subtle but it does seem to be working.
Add two more close Senate races in Missouri - a border state ( and ) - and Virginia ( and ) and you have mutterings of a new sunny southern landscape.
Less high-profile but perhaps more significant are the gubernatorial races. If things go their way on election night, the Democrats could end up occupying governors’ mansions across the Southern states.
That said, even the most optimistic Democratic strategists concede this doesn't signify an automatic change in the South's political make-up for 2008.
America is still a few election cycles from the day when Southern states will once again back a Democrat who is not one of their own for the White House.
Not since John F Kennedy in 1960 has the party been able to send a Democrat to the White House who did not come from the South.
But could that change next cycle? As one seasoned party operative told me with a broad smile, "Of course if we get a Democratic governor in Arkansas and our candidate in '08, we could park Bill down there for six months. Now that wouldn't be so bad, would it?"
Katty Kay is a presenter on
- The Reporters
- 23 Oct 06, 03:23 PM
New York Times: With many Republicans gloomy about their prospects next month, George W Bush has become the party's optimist-in-chief.
Washington Times: Emotions are running high in Tennessee, where voters could decide which party controls the Senate.
Newsweek: The polls suggest a tidal wave sweeping the Democrats into power, but Jonathan Alter is not convinced it's going to happen.
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