On October 1st, we’ll experience our 12th ever Vice Presidential debate when Ohio Senator J.D. Vance meets Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in New York City. While VP debates are a frequent object of ridicule, history shows they draw a sizable TV audience; and thus have an appreciable effect not only on the rest of the campaign, but also on how voters view those candidates … [Read more...] about #2 vs. #2: A History of Vice Presidential Debates
George H.W. Bush
Grabbing the Torch: How Vice Presidents Handled Their Own Conventions
The Olympics may be over but the real passing of the torch doesn’t happen until Thursday night. Vice President Kamala Harris’ shortened campaign may be unique, but her larger situation is not unprecedented. Harris is tasked with taking over the party, while at the same time showing respect to the outgoing President she served. It’s a conundrum four of her Vice … [Read more...] about Grabbing the Torch: How Vice Presidents Handled Their Own Conventions
Where Biden Stands, Compared to His Predecessors, on the Eve of His First Midterm
It’s nearly that time again, as we’re less than two weeks away from the 2022 midterm elections. The reason we referred to them as midterms, of course, is that they occur at the midway point of each President’s term – effectively serving as a kind of exam to test each incumbent President. The conventional wisdom, then, is that the higher a President’s approval ratings, the … [Read more...] about Where Biden Stands, Compared to His Predecessors, on the Eve of His First Midterm
Four Months Out From Midterms: Joe Biden’s July 4th and How It Compares to His Predecessors
You don’t need me to tell you Joe Biden is in trouble. With the President approaching his second July Fourth in office, inflation is at its highest level in a generation, his social spending bill remains stalled in the Senate and the latest Gallup Poll found his approval rating to be just 41% (FiveThirtyEight’s average is even lower). As a result, Democrats trail … [Read more...] about Four Months Out From Midterms: Joe Biden’s July 4th and How It Compares to His Predecessors