Hillary talks God and the economy

The sub-text of Hillary Clinton’s event in Columbia was that black voters shouldn’t feel bad about not supporting Obama.  Clinton had prominent New York Congressman Charlie Rangel, the most powerful African-American in Congress, and former New York City mayor David Dinkins vouch for her and the opening speaker, a local female black politician, urged the audience not to vote on “pure emotion” but in the best interests of the community.

Rangel repeatedly hit Obama on the question of whether he is ready. He declared that Democrats should vote for “someone who could...

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Can the conservative coalition be put back together?

David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter and a current Giuliani adviser, has a great piece in The New York Times spelling out why the conservative coalition is so split with social conservatives, fiscal conservatives and national security conservatives all ticked at each other.  Whoever the Republican candidates is, is going to have decide whether it is worth trying to duct-tape the coalition together or if there is enough time to build a new election-winning majority between now and November.

I’m off to watch Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaign here in Columbia, South Carolina. The polls show Hillary closing the gap a little and even if she loses South Carolina the current campaign narrative favours her. Obama needs to not only win South Carolina but to get back on the front foot.

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The Republicans debate

Tonight’s Republican debate in Florida is the last best chance for the contenders to move their numbers before primary day. All the candidates have needs but perhaps none more than Rudy Giuliani, currently third in most polls, who has to win in Florida. Expect to see Giuliani dust off his prosecutorial skills. Another thing to watch for is what Mike Huckabee does. His campaign has lost some altitude since he failed to win in South Carolina but he could play a crucial role tonight in going after Mitt Romney who is performing...

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How hard will the Obama team hit back against Bill's attacks?

The Washington elite and the press corps think that Bill Clinton’s role as attack dog in chief is unbecoming of a former president. But it is effective. Bill’s stature means that every charge he makes instantly becomes headline news and enters the political bloodstream.

Steadily, the Obama campaign is upping their rhetoric against Bill. First, it was John Kerry talking about the Swiftboating of Obama—Swiftboating is the name for the 2004 ads that called Kerry’s Vietnam service into question—but stopping short of calling the former president out by name. Then,...

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Can McCain and Obama both win?

At first blush, it is hard to see why Barack Obama and John McCain draw from the same well of support. Obama is the candidate of youthful vigour, McCain is—as he likes to say—older than dirt. Obama was against Iraq from the start, McCain has been one of the war’s most eloquent advocates. Obama is a liberal, McCain a conservative. But as I found in New Hampshire, there is a poll of cross over voters who drawn to both men because of their desire to reach beyond party, their characters and their frankness....

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Topic A: The Economy

Columbia, South Carolina

The Fed’s dramatic rate cut and the economic turbulence that caused it have thrust the economy to the centre of the political stage. Indeed, the only thing competing with it for time on the morning shows is Heath Ledger’s death. This shift to economic issues is to the benefit of Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s small bore policy wonkery comes across as reassuring amidst all this uncertainty and her campaign have her giving a speech on the economy today in South Carolina in an attempt to drive the conversation. The focus on...

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Rudy on the ropes

While all the focus is on the Democrats in South Carolina, the Republicans are gearing up for their primary in Florida on Tuesday which will be decisive for Rudy Giuliani’s prospects as he has bet everything on the state. The latest poll suggests that Rudy’s gamble is not paying off: he is tied for third and comfortably behind John McCain and Mitt Romney.  The St Petersburg Times headline accompanying the poll is brutal, “Bye, Bye Rudy” it screams. 

Watching Giuliani being interviewed on the cable shows right now you see a candidate who is panicking. He was pandering like mad to Florida voters with talk of a national catastrophic insurance plan but didn’t seem the confident, commanding persona that he normally does. Thursday night’s Republican debate will be his last chance to turn things around.

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The stakes in South Carolina

For the Obama campaign, South Carolina is do or die. If Obama loses a third consecutive contest, he’ll limp into Super Tuesday and be easily picked off by the Clinton machine. But if he wins, he’ll have triumphed in two of the three major early contests and be right back in the race.

What is also crucial for Obama is how he wins in South Carolina. The Clintons are currently playing psychological games with Obama and to judge by the candidate’s testy reaction when a New York Times reporter asked him...

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Welcome to Americano--adding an extra shot to your daily Coffee House fix

Americano will be covering the US elections from now until we have a winner on the morning of the November 5th. This afternoon, I’m heading off to America and will be reporting from the trail in South Carolina, Florida and the Super Tuesday states. Check back for all the latest from the campaign and thanks for reading.

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