If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Political Commentary

Most Recent Releases

White letter R on blue background
January 17, 2008

Vetting Obama: An Inside Report by Robert D. Novak

With Barack Obama nipping at her heels in Iowa, Hillary Clinton went on the state's public television Dec. 14 to say: "I've been vetted. ... There are no surprises." That was the first use in presidential campaign politics of an unusual word.

White letter R on blue background
January 16, 2008

Michigan's Meaning: GOP Chaos: A Commentary by Dick Morris

The GOP race has now descended into total chaos. Mike Huckabee, John McCain and now Mitt Romney have each won an important primary or caucus and lost two others.

White letter R on blue background
January 16, 2008

Resort at the Top of the World: A Commentary by Froma Harrop

There was another Hillary in the news last week. It was Edmund Hillary, the mountaineer who in 1953 became the first human to reach the top of Mount Everest -- alongside his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay. The New Zealander had died at 88.

January 16, 2008

Wanted: A "Suck It Up" Candidate: A Commentary by Michelle Malkin

I need a man. A man who can say "No." A man who rejects Big Nanny government. A man who thinks being president doesn't mean playing Santa Claus.

January 16, 2008

Race in the Race: A Commentary by Susan Estrich

It was probably inevitable. A woman running against a black: How could gender and race not be an issue? Even if she was running as the most experienced candidate and he was running a campaign to transcend race, dynamite ultimately explodes.

White letter R on blue background
January 14, 2008

Man to Beat: McCain's Cross-Party Appeal: A Commentary by Dick Morris

John McCain is starting to look like the candidate to beat for the GOP nomination. Not long ago, he was dismissed, unable to compete with Rudy Giuliani's star power.

January 14, 2008

Not Straight Talk: An Inside Report by Robert D. Novak

Two days before his decisive victory in New Hampshire, John McCain was asked by Tim Russert on NBC's "Meet the Press": "Do you believe that voting against the Bush tax cuts was a mistake?" Sen. McCain replied quickly, "Of course not."

White letter R on blue background
January 12, 2008

GOP Candidates Go Supply-Side: A Commentary by Lawrence Kudlow

The New Hampshire primary may not have confirmed who's going to win the GOP nomination (or the Democratic nomination, for that matter). But it just may have told us where voting Republicans stand on the economy and supply-side policy.

White letter R on blue background
January 12, 2008

Women vs. Oprah - No Joe for McCain - Poor Huck: Inside Report by Robert Novak

The absence of Oprah Winfrey from the frantic four last days of the New Hampshire primary campaign after her heavy schedule in Iowa backing Sen. Barack Obama may be traced to heavy, unaccustomed post-Iowa abuse of the popular entertainment superstar by women.

White letter R on blue background
January 12, 2008

The Political Landscape After Iowa and New Hampshire: A Commentary by Michael Barone

Five elections. Five winners. Barack Obama (Iowa Democratic caucus), Mike Huckabee (Iowa Republican caucus), Mitt Romney (Wyoming Republican caucus, held Jan. 5 when no one was watching), Hillary Clinton (New Hampshire Democratic primary) and John McCain (New Hampshire Republican primary).

White letter R on blue background
January 11, 2008

Looking at What's Not Working: A Commentary by Susan Estrich

The most interesting thing about the Republican race for president, at least so far, is not what's working, but what isn't.

White letter R on blue background
January 10, 2008

Clinton as Truman, McCain as Lazarus, Obama-Mania, Hucka-boom or Bush, and the Presidential Players: A Commentary By Larry J. Sabato

First, we at the Crystal Ball want to get one thing straight with our readers. We are for change. We have worked for change our whole lives.

White letter R on blue background
January 10, 2008

Clinton's Campaign Remains in a Tailspin: A Commentary by Michelle Malkin

Don't let the "Comeback Gal" spin fool you. Despite the unexpectedly close finish in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton's campaign remains in a tailspin.

White letter R on blue background
January 10, 2008

Now Barack Better Brace for Barrage: A Commentary by Dick Morris

Hillary Rodham Clinton's stunning comeback victory in New Hampshire duplicates the feat of Bill Clinton who overcame the draft and Gennifer Flowers in the Granite State primary in 1992.
But Hillary did Bill one better.

White letter R on blue background
January 10, 2008

The Clinton Style: An Inside Report by Robert D. Novak

Late on Tuesday afternoon, when exit polls indicated Sen. Barack Obama would defeat Sen. Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary, there was palpable relief from many Democrats.

White letter R on blue background
January 10, 2008

And the Winner Is…:A Commentary by Susan Estrich

Hillary.Hillary? Hillary? The woman who was declared dead, the staff that was declared fired, the campaign that was pronounced over and done and broke.

White letter R on blue background
January 10, 2008

The Coming Attack on Barack: A Commentary by Joe Conason

"They will try to Swift Boat me," said Barack Obama in the days before the New Hampshire primary, looking forward to the Democratic nomination that he still believes will be his, with a prediction both accurate and chilling.

White letter R on blue background
January 8, 2008

The Wisdom of Crowds: A Commentary by Froma Harrop

"Crowding out" sounds like a bad thing. The Bush administration uses that fearsome term in denying recent requests by Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and no doubt other states to expand Medicaid to families not considered poor.

January 7, 2008

Mitt's and Hillary's Problems: An Inside Report By Robert Novak

Mitt Romney and Sen. Hillary Clinton wanted to use Saturday night's televised presidential debates to further their respective goals: keep Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama from winning Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.

White letter R on blue background
January 6, 2008

Goldilocks Needs Tax-Reform, Not Populism: A Commentary by Larry Kudlow

Yes, corporate profits are slowing and jobs are softening. Despite 52 months of ongoing jobs gains and 1.3 million new payrolls in the past year, December jobs registered only 18,000 and the unemployment rate ticked back up to (a still historically low) 5 percent.