Bob Said:

Electoral Math: Are the Democrats the Front Runners for '08?

We Answered:

There's no question but that at present the Democrats have the edge. Just today, as a matter of fact, new polling data indicates that support for the president has reached new lows. During the height of the Vietnam War resistance, 60% of Americans said it was a mistake. Today, 62% of Americans have said Iraq is a mistake.

Even more interesting -- before the November elections, 70% of Republicans favored being in Iraq. Today, only 45% do. That's less than half of the party. None of this augers well for the Republicans. So, right now, you're right -- the Democrats have a decided edge.

But one thing you need to remember is that two years is an eternity in politics. Any number of things can go wrong. If the Democrats are serious about maintaining credibility they must try to forget about partisan snipes at Bush, and present themselves as a serious party of government. That means they have to work to achieve meaningful reforms in education, wages, health care and the other areas of domestic policy. This is the Democrats' strong suit -- and they have to put it on.

Also, if they nominate Obama or Rodham-Clinton in 08' they're going to be shooting themselves in the foot. Obama has no experience at the national level, and he'll never be able to sell himself as a credible leader to Mr. & Mrs. America. Hillary, on the other hand, is too much of a lightning rod. No matter what she does, or how she tries to position herself, she'll always be a symbol of left wing over-reaching in the Red States (She is seriously detested in Ohio -- a MUST WIN state for both parties).

He's not going to run, but I actually beleive the Democrats' best chance to win is with Joe Lieberman who has serious credibility in Red and Blue States; and who could easily run the board.

So the real outcome in '08 will depend on whether the new Democratic Congress can provide real government, and whether they can pick a candidate with real "gravitas".

Cheers, mate.

Vera Said:

Can a conservative please explain Republican strategy?

We Answered:

<crickets>

Wade Said:

Do 16 Years of Electoral Trends Favor the Democrats in 2008?

We Answered:

I think the legacy of the failures of the Bush administration will change the political landscape enough to assure a democratic super majority in congress and also a democratic president.

Warren Said:

Electoral Math: Do the Southern States Matter Anymore?

We Answered:

everyones vote counts thus they matter

Jamie Said:

Why did McCain pass over Susan Collins, Elizabeth Dole, Jodi Rell and Linda Lingle?

We Answered:

Except for Liddy Dole, any of them would have been a better pick; she's 70 years old, and that would have raised big concerns about two very old candidates. She may never have been a governor, but I would argue running the Red Cross gave her executive experience chops that nobody could question.

Scary Palin is young, has this aw-shucks appeal, and is sufficiently right-wing to please the conservative base that may not feel McCain is sufficiently evangelical.