Charlie Cook - National Journal Column

Learn or Languish

November 15, 2008

What did we learn from this election? Read on

Obama's Short Coattails

November 10, 2008

It's fascinating that an election as historic and momentous as Tuesday's, one that resulted in the election of the first African-American, indeed the first minority, president in history, is also one of the most complicated and nuanced in memory. Read on

Obama Heads For The Goal Line

November 1, 2008

It has been 38 years since the Grateful Dead recorded "Truckin'," the song whose lyrics capture this campaign so well: "What a long, strange trip it's been." We haven't had a presidential election in 40 years with as many unexpected twists and turns and weird dynamics. Read on

Obama Swinging For The Fences

October 25, 2008

For a political analyst, the normal posture this time of year is much like a baseball umpire's: hunched over, peering carefully as the ball approaches the plate, watching for whether it breaks left or right, whether it's coming in high or low. Read on

Back to Back GOP Train Wrecks

October 18, 2008

If this election really is a choice between one nominee who should have become president eight years ago and another who should become president eight years from now, more voters certainly seem to be betting on hastening the future's arrival than on clinging to the past. Read on

Going Obama's Way

October 11, 2008

John McCain needed a breakthrough during Tuesday night's debate. If he got it, I must have been watching the wrong channel. Read on

A Tie Goes To The House

October 4, 2008

What if the Electoral College ended up tied, 269-269, prolonging this Alice-in-Wonderland campaign? That's what would happen if Barack Obama won every state that went for Al Gore in 2000 plus Colorado, or if Obama carried every state that John Kerry won in 2004 plus Iowa, New Mexico, and fast-changing Nevada. Read on

GOP's Senate Stock Falls

September 27, 2008

Early last year, some notable Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle speculated that the Democrats just might gain enough seats in 2008 to hit 60 votes, a filibuster-proof majority on strict party-line votes. At the time, the prospect seemed pretty outlandish. Read on

McCain Stalls As Economy Falls

September 20, 2008

The 2008 presidential campaign is entering a critical phase. Yeah, political analysts say that all the time. But right now, it happens to be true. The bounces have finished bouncing, and this race has returned to even.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain's post-convention momentum has run out of steam. In fact, no one seems to have momentum for the time being. Read on

A Shot of Excitement From Palin

September 13, 2008

Republicans who were depressed just two weeks ago seem to have a new lease on life. And their prospects might be rising along with their morale. Read on