NJ Topics Presidential Race

National Journal Coverage
Al Franken

New Minn. GOP Chair Begins Rebuilding Effort

After a dismal 2012, there's no "silver bullet" for the Minnesota GOP, says its new chair, Keith Downey. But a 2014 comeback, Downey believes, is still within reach if the weakened party can regain its footing in time to capitalize on a few big opportunities. That comeback won't come solely from be...
pod thumb

Play of the Day: Rounding Up a Tough Week for the White House

Fast forward to 4:20 to see why the IRS is on edge this time of the year.
Watergate Committee hearings

Watergate: When Congress Worked

The back-stabbing, press-leaking, hyper-partisan members of the committee investigating Nixon, which began hearings 40 years ago, still made history. Here’s how. 
Kevin MaCarthy

The GOP Energy Tent Is Slowly Getting Bigger

House members like Rep. Kevin McCarthy are still avid fossil-fuel proponents, but they’ve begun to advocate for renewables, too. 

Poll: How Damaging Is the IRS Controversy to Obama?

Most Republicans and half of Democrats say the issue will haunt the president.

Poll: Will the Benghazi Controversy Hurt a Possible Presidential Run by Hillary Clinton?

Says one Republican, "The 3 a.m. call came, and she was sleeping. Not a stellar example of leadership."
Gina McCarthy

Senate Committee Approves Gina McCarthy EPA Nomination Along Party Lines

Senate Republicans on Thursday eased their opposition to the nomination of Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency—but her confirmation by the full Senate is not yet assured.
Obama announcement on IRS

You Want Angry? I'll Show You Angry, Obama Says on IRS Scandal

Facing criticism from Republicans, the president reasserts his authority by pushing out the IRS's acting commissioner.
Business Education

House to Tackle Student-Loan Rates

House Republicans are preparing to pass legislation that would remedy, once and for all, the looming problem of student-loan interest rates.
Peter Wehner, Yuval Levin, and James Capretta

Some Republicans Don’t Believe Austerity Is Enough

Strategists and wonks are urging House leaders to refocus their economic message on ideas that the middle class actually care about. 
Chris Christie

The Coming GOP Civil War Over Climate Change

Science, storms, and demographics are starting to change minds among the rank and file. 
Mark Sanford

If Democrats Can’t Beat a Confessed Adulterer, What Chance Do They Have?

Mark Sanford’s win in South Carolina shows how difficult it will be for liberals to reclaim control of the House. 
Barack Obama,  Laura Chinchilla

Why Mexico Will Always Play Second Fiddle

Like all presidents, Barack Obama says he wants a better relationship with his neighbors to the south. Then events get in the way. 
Illegal Immigrants

Poll: Will the Senate Immigration Bill Get 70 Votes?

Republicans say it won't, while Democrats are more divided.

Poll: Which Senator Is Most Likely to Change His or Her Vote on Background-Check Legislation?

Democrats look to Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.
Gang of 8

Can Bipartisan Cooperation Save Us From Stalemate?

Polarization and the breakdown of the committee system have helped spawn the “Gang of Eight” and its cousins.
dollar bill

Heading Off the Coming Retirement Disaster

Half of Californians are on track to retire in or near poverty. The state's new retirement plan model could change that.
Obama and Clinton

Why Benghazi is a Blow to Obama and Clinton

Both parties are wrong about the scandal: It’s not Watergate and it’s not nothing.
*TEST*

Inside The American Crossroads And Koch Post-Mortems

Conservatives identify what went wrong in 2012 -- and how to fix their problems.
Obama

The Diminishing Returns of Big-Data Campaigning

What if we were all wrong about the Obama campaign’s vaunted technological advantage?
Terry McAuliffe

Terry McAuliffe's Woman Problem

If McAuliffe can't change his image as a Mad Men-era spouse, he will have to hope people go for policy over personality. Just like they did in South Carolina.
John Kerry in Russia

Mitt Romney Was Right: Russia Is Our Biggest Geopolitical Foe

Obama meets with South Korea’s president, but it’s Kerry’s sit-down with Putin that matters.   
Hillary Clinton

Play of the Day: A Look at 2016

Fast forward to 3:10 to see Fallon compare the two on important issues.
White House

Weighty Politics: Why Haven't We Seen Heavier Presidents?

Chris Christie said his weight-loss surgery was for personal reasons, not politics. But overweight politicians haven't made it to the White House for a long time. 
Hillary Clinton

Abortion Rights Activists Looking to Hillary Clinton As 2016 Champion

Abortion rights activists fuming over President Obama’s opposition to making emergency contraception accessible to women of all ages could have an ally campaigning for the Oval Office in 2016: Hillary Clinton.

Poll: What Are the Chances Congress Will Pass a Major Tax-Reform Bill?

A majority of Insiders say prospects are poor.

Poll: What Impact Will the Boston Bombings Have on Immigration Reform?

Neither party’s Insiders expect much of an effect.
Unemployment

Why No One’s Winning in Washington

Republicans needed to move to the center. The Democrats needed to fix the economy. Oh well.
Tim Holden, Vice President Biden

Play of the Day: Joe Biden's Plane

Fast forward to 4:25 to see the reaction after Vice President Joe Biden got home after Air Force Two broke down in Flagstaff, Arizona.
John Boehner

Why Isn't Boehner a Target in Congressional Elections?

Democrats haven't gotten around to demonizing the House speaker the way Republicans have with Nancy Pelosi.
afghan troops

Play of the Day: The Politics of Defense Contracting

Fast forward to 5:25 to see how Colbert thinks the government can repurpose the tanks.
Gabriel Gomez

Why Gabriel Gomez (Probably) Isn't Scott Brown

The general election matchup in the race to fill Secretary of State John Kerry's old Senate seat is set, and everyone wants to know: Is Republican Gabriel Gomez the next Scott Brown? The short answer: Probably not. The winner of Tuesday night's Republican primary has a compelling backstory, and Rep...
Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell Wants to Be the Republican Party's Chief Tech Innovator

The 71-year-old GOP leader's campaign sees closing the data gap with the Democrats as a key to reelection.
Gary Peters

Gary Peters To Announce Senate Bid

Rep. Gary Peters will announce this week that he's running to replace retiring Sen. Carl Levin, sources tell The Hotline, giving Democrats another top recruit in a state critical to their hopes of keeping the Senate next year.
Colbert Busch

Black Voters Are Key to a Colbert Busch Win in South Carolina

The Democrat is airing a radio ad accusing Mark Sanford of voter suppression.
American dream

The American Dream, Downsized

The middle class now worries more about holding on for dear life than about climbing the ladder to riches. 
Oil refineries

What If Oil Lasts Forever?

New technology and a little-known energy source suggest that fossil fuels may not be finite. This would be a miracle—and a nightmare.
Reid's picks: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Max Baucus's Sudden Retirement Puts Pressure on Former Montana Governor

It's Schweitzer or bust for Democrats as they hope to hold a pivotal Senate seat.
Paul LePage

The Hot Mic Rule

One might think that after President Obama and Mitt Romney got caught on a hot mic, politicians would learn an important lesson about politics: In an age of smart phones, there's no such thing as an off-the-record speech. Five years later, Obama is still taking flack for surreptitiously recorded co...
Boston suspect search

Boston Suspects Demonstrate the Thin Line Between Amateurism and Terrorism

U.S. Muslims fear a backlash. ‘It can’t get worse than this,’ says one community organizer.
Barack Obama, John McCain

Why John McCain Is Barack Obama’s New Best Friend

The two have their eyes on history as they transcend years of friction. The upshot could be good for the country.
Senate Dems with Angus King

‘Independent’ in Name Only

He promised to chart his own course, but a National Journal vote analysis shows that Sen. Angus King of Maine aligns with Democrats. 

Poll: Should John Boehner Allow Immigration Legislation to Go Through the Committees?

Insiders from both parties see regular order as the smart move. 

Poll: Will the Gang of Eight’s Immigration-Reform Proposal Help Your Party?

Democratic and Republican Insiders have high hopes, but for different reasons. 
NRA Protest

Why the Senate Vote May Signal 2016 Problems for the Gun Lobby

The outcome of Wednesday’s dramatic Senate vote on expanding background checks simultaneously demonstrated the difficult geography confronting gun-control advocates in the Senate and the potentially daunting math facing gun-rights proponents in the Electoral College.
Barack Obama

In Boston, Obama Finds His Voice and the Nation's: 'We Will Run Again'

Standing ovations greet Obama at interfaith service where he vows: "We will run again."
Harry Reid

Democrats Search for Next Move After Major Gun Defeat

After the Senate dealt a blow to one of President Obama’s top second-term priorities, voting down a bipartisan measure to expand background checks on gun purchases, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pledged that, “This was just the beginning.”
Fred Upton

5 Things Immigration, Gay Marriage, and Gun Control Have That Climate Change Doesn't

The amount of change happening in Washington is impressive, but this kind of sea change can’t happen right now with energy and climate policy. Here's why.
White House after Boston

Without a Suspect in Boston Marathon Bombing, Obama Has a Heavy Burden

We knew who bombed Oklahoma City and who killed Kennedy within hours. What a president goes through when there is no culprit.
Martin Richard

Why Boston Bombings Might Be Scarier Than 9/11

Killing Americans at play resonates differently than attacks on economic and military targets.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller

Insiders: Rocky, Johnson Retirements Viewed As Most Damaging

Democratic members of National Journal's Insiders panel said this week that West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller's retirement was most damaging to their party's prospects of retaining the seat. The Insiders Poll asked which 2014 Senate retirement hurt the incumbent party the most, with nearly half of...
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley

The O'Malley Factor

Can Gov. Martin O'Malley ride his Maryland success to the White House? 
Marie Arrasate, left, and Joan McGarr

It's Easy to Fix Social Security

Unlike Medicare and Medicaid, it's simple arithmetic. If only the politics added up. 

Poll: Which Senate Seats Are Likeliest to Flip?

Insiders say those of Democrats Tim Johnson and Jay Rockefeller are the most vulnerable.

Poll: Is It Politically Advantageous for Obama to Cut Medicare and Social Security?

Insiders from both parties say it is, though more Democrats are skeptical. 
McAuliffe

To Beat Terry McAuliffe, Virginia GOP Turns to Anti-Romney Playbook

The Democratic nominee once made an outlandish claim that would make Mitt cringe.
Rep. Greg Walden R.-Ore.

Is the GOP Preparing to Attack Dems on Social Security?

Are Republicans preparing to cudgel Democrats with, of all things, Social Security? That was the explicit impression left by Greg Walden, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, during a Wednesday interview on CNN. The Oregon congressman said President Obama's budget – which...
Obama

Newly Engaged Obama Makes Slow, Uncertain Progress on Agenda

Deals are within reach on guns, immigration, and even deficit reduction.
Kim Jong-Un

Play of the Day: The Looming Threat of Kim Jong Un

Fast forward to 4:20 to see Ferguson show why Kim shouldn't be strapped for money.
Jay-Z and Beyonce

How to Get to Cuba If You're Not Beyonce and Jay-Z

The duo's trip sparked congressional outrage, but it's probably legal.
Budget

What to Expect in Obama’s Budget

Apart from the president’s plan to formalize cuts that he has already proposed, what else can Americans expect from a budget that’s roughly two months late and that follows both parties’ congressional budget proposals?
Mark Pryor

Dem Insiders See Pryor As Most Vulnerable

Democrats on National Journal's Political Insiders panel choose Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Kay Hagan, D-N.C., as the party's most-endangered member in 2014. This week's Insiders Poll shows Republicans agree Hagan is most vulnerable, but they pick Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, as second on the list...
Belogolova family

Why Washington and Moscow Still Don't Trust Each Other

I left the USSR in 1991. Going back showed that Cold War stereotypes don’t fade—even with time.

Poll: Which Senate Incumbents Are Most Vulnerable?

Democratic Insiders say it's Mark Pryor or Kay Hagan, while Republicans point to Hagan by a wide margin.

Poll: Even Democrats Say the NRA Is Beating the White House on the Gun Debate

Insiders from both parties see Obama struggling on the issue.
Gay Marriage

Why the Culture Wars Now Favor Democrats

Gay marriage, gun control, immigration—the wedge issues now divide Republicans.
Rep. John Fleming, R-La., once operated 30 Subway restaurants and had a stake in 130 UPS stores, from Mississippi to Texas.

Fleming Won't Join Cassidy In La. Senate Run

Rep. John Fleming, R-La., will not run for the Senate in 2014, he said in a statement today, citing fellow Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy's official entry into the race Wednesday and the necessity of party unity ahead of what is expected to be a tough battle against incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Land...
Elizabeth Colbert

On Day One, Sanford Discovers Challenges of Taking On a Female Candidate

On just his first day as the Republican nominee for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District seat, former Gov. Mark Sanford is discovering the challenges of running against a female candidate, adding to the difficulties faced by a man in the process of resurrecting his political career after admi...
White House Easter Egg Roll

Play of the Day: Egg Rolls and Panda Mating

Fast forward to 3:10 to learn what surprising things an overzealous kid found at the White House Sunday.
Rep. Steve Israel

House Democrats See Potential Gains in 2014 Without Obama on the Ticket

DCCC officials say they have found a silver lining amid much pessimism about the 2014 midterm elections.
Mitch McConnell

The Secret Republican Plan to Repeal 'Obamacare'

Mitch McConnell knows how to unwind Obamacare. And he doesn't think it's too late to do it.  
Joe Garcia Colorado

Democrats Recruiting Tipton Challengers

At least two Democrats are considering running against Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., next year: state Sen. Gail Schwartz and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. Multiple state Democrats confirmed Schwartz and Garcia are being recruited to run in the state's 3rd Congressional District. Schwartz, a two-term senator a...
Champagne

How Booze Could Save a Political Career

It’s too early for Republicans to pop the bubbly in Pennsylvania. But it might be time to put the champagne on ice.
John Boehner, Eric Cantor

A Republican Divide in Sharp Relief

There's a growing split between the party's elites, based in D.C. and New York, and the increasingly vocal grassroots.

Insiders Agree Democrats Will Nominate Clinton in 2016

Repulicans are torn between Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush.
Rick Perry

The Man Who Could Turn Texas Blue: Rick Perry

By opposing Medicaid expansion, the governor could hurt the GOP in a must-win state.
Reince Priebus

The GOP Disconnect on Economic Policy

The RNC may want to send a few extra copies of the election postmortem to Capitol Hill. Judging by the budget blueprints put forth by congressional Republicans, they didn’t get the memo.

Have Democrats Found Another Manchin in West Virginia?

Though for the last several weeks, Democratic hopes of retaining Sen. Jay Rockefeller's seat in 2014 have looked bleak, it seems party operatives may have finally found their unicorn in West Virginia: a wealthy, pro-coal, pro-business Democrat in the style of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V. Attorney Nick Preservati has spoken with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee about running for the seat, in conversations that the committee found "encouraging," according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.
Rick Perry

Rick Perry: The Presidential Candidate Ahead of His Time

The Texas governor ran an awful campaign in 2012.  But his platform is now belatedly being embraced by party leaders.
Sen. Joe Manchin

Have Democrats Found Another Manchin in West Virginia?

Though for the last several weeks, Democratic hopes of retaining Sen. Jay Rockefeller's seat in 2014 have looked bleak, it seems party operatives may have finally found their unicorn in West Virginia: a wealthy, pro-coal, pro-business Democrat in the style of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V. Attorney Nick P...
Martin O'Malley

Will Martin O’Malley Be the Howard Dean of 2016?

The Maryland governor's progressive legislative accomplishments would enable him to make a play from the left in 2016.
Rand Paul

Seeking a Bigger Audience, Tea-Party Hero Embraces Immigration Reform

Rand Paul suppports legalizing undocumented immigrants, signaling an interest to expand his following beyond the tea party movement.
Netanyahu and Obama

Personal Frictions Loom Over Obama's Trip to Israel

It is widely believed that this American president and Israeli prime minister simply don’t like each other. And the personal always has a bearing on the policy.
Hillary Clinton

6 Reasons for Hillary Clinton's Gay-Marriage Move

Hint: None of them have to do with a potential presidential campaign.
Reince Priebus

Why the RNC's Reforms Don't Solve the GOP's Problem

The Republican Party's base still controls the debate in Washington.
Hispanic voters

GOP Can't Win Latinos Over Immigration

Earlier this winter, Ann Coulter brought her usual light touch to the question of the Hispanic vote. The author of Godless: The Church of Liberalism argued in a column that Republicans who support immigration reform in an effort to court Latinos are wasting their time. “It’s not clear that amnesty wins any Hispanics,” Coulter wrote, “apart from the ones who can’t vote (because they’re illegal) and their ethnic ‘spokesmen,’ whose power increases as the Hispanic population grows.” Hispanics gravitate toward Democrats, she insisted, because they believe in more government, and no immigration courtship will seduce them.
Trump CPAC

Race-Baiting, Godlessness, and Elitists at GOP’s CPAC

The conservative conference is an annual reminder of the GOP's image problem.
Romney

Mitt Romney's CPAC Speech Was As Lackluster As His Campaign

But the former presidential nominee's speech was a reminder of his political mistakes during the 2012 presidential campaign. 
Paul Ryan at CPAC

Paul Ryan's CPAC Speech: Too Busy to Talk 2016

Mitt Romney's running mate focuses on selling the GOP's budget, not his vision for the party.
Rand Paul

Why John McCain Doesn't Matter Anymore

The GOP is now more open to isolationists and deficit hawks like Rand Paul than to traditional pro-defense Republicans.
Hispanic voters

Republicans Can't Win Latinos With Immigration Reform

From big government to gay rights, America's fastest-growing demographic bloc aligns with Democrats. 

Republican Insiders Doubt a Grand Bargain Will Be Reached

But then again, so do Democrats. Plus: Neither party expects to gain much much politically from the upcoming budget process.
Bill Flores, Scott Garrett

The Rightward March of the Republicans

Republicans in Congress were supposed to moderate their message. It's not happening.
Rand Paul and Marco Rubio at CPAC

Let the 2016 Primaries Begin: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul Duel at CPAC

The two leading Republican presidential contenders offered very different ideas for the GOP's future.
Roger Ailes

Why Are Conservatives Calling Obama Lazy?

The meme--tossed around by Roger Ailes and John Sununu--is astounding on many levels. 
Romney family

The Romneys, The Family That Just Can’t Quit Politics

Mitt may be out of politics, but his family isn't.
Joe Lieberman

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman Back in Washington for ‘Internationalism’ Project

In recent years, a number of prominent lawmakers have either renounced their party or been excommunicated.
Would an 'Angry' Obama Be More Successful?

Humility or Cynicism? Whatever is Driving Obama is Better Than Nothing

Obama’s sudden burst of public outreach coincides with a drop in his approval ratings.
Paul Ryan

House GOP Confident on Paul Ryan’s Medicare Plan

The House Budget Committee chairman’s plan to balance the federal budget in 10 years would have been, until recently, cause for House Republicans to fret. But emboldened by last year’s elections, the House GOP believes it can adopt his new proposal and avoid backlash at the same time.
Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan's Obamacare Repeal Fantasy

Even with Obama in the White House until 2017, the Wisconsin Republican's new budget relies on repealing most of the Affordable Care Act.
Patty Murray

Dueling Budget Plans Help Define Both Parties

By the middle of this week, Americans will once again be plunged into the wildly different world views of Republicans and Democrats as the two parties release competing budget proposals within hours of one another.
Obama at presser

It’s Obama’s Economy—at Last

We only seem to be back. It’s a far less equal economy—and big dangers loom for the president’s legacy. 
Gov. Mike Beebe

Why the Republican Plan to Reform Medicare Could Really Make It More Expensive

Republicans like Paul Ryan want more market competition in federal health care programs. Trouble is, those plans don't save money.
Risk

How Republicans Can Win the Senate

Right-wing candidates can take the red states, but in 2014 that won't be enough.
Netanyahu

How Bibi Beat Barack

Obama desperately wants peace in Israel. Too bad there’s nothing he can do to force it.

Will a Bargain Be Struck to Reverse the Sequestration Cuts?

In Washington, all financial skirmishes lead to the same place.

Dardenne Says He's Not Taking Steps Toward a Senate Bid

Louisiana's Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne may be considering a bid against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, but he isn't taking steps towards turning those considerations into a reality, he told Hotline On Call in a phone interview on Thursday. Dardenne has been mentioned as a potential contender for Landrie...
Bob Ney

Disgraced Ex-Congressman Attacks John Boehner in New Book

Imprisoned for his role in the Abramoff scandal, former Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio has some scores to settle.
Jeb Bush

Jeb Bush's Real Immigration Problem

Quite the awkward re-launch for a man considered a serious student of policy and a top GOP hope for 2016. 
Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La.

Boustany Says He Won't Challenge Landrieu

Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., has decided not to run against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, less than three weeks after floating the possibility of his candidacy, his spokesman said Monday. "While Congressman Boustany is honored to have been encouraged to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, he remains...
Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney Isn't Done Proving Why He's Not President

One silver lining for Republicans: The GOP’s presidential nominee in 2016 will be much more politically savvy.
Marco Rubio

Republicans Need to Think for Themselves, Even in Election Years

Fixing the GOP would be a lot easier if its officeholders would stop trying to spot potential purer-than-thou primary opponents over their right shoulders.
Gina McCarthy

Gina McCarthy, Obama's 'Green Quarterback,' Has a History of Working With Industry

Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, has been called the president's "green quarterback." But she also has a reputation as a political pragmatist who works well with industry and listens to concerns. If confirmed she will become the face of Obama’s sweeping ambitions to tackle climate change as a legacy issue and will write rules to force the coal industry to change its ways. 
Sandy Potomac river flooding

Can Climate-Change Denier Ken Cuccinelli Win a Swing State?

In storm-battered Virginia, the Republican candidate for governor still doubts the science.
McConnell Boehner

How the House Holds the Senate GOP Hostage

Upper-chamber Republicans prefer a more circumspect approach, but they are increasingly defined by their hard-line House counterparts.
Mark Warner

Mark Warner's Evolution on Same-Sex Marriage

Of the 40 Senators who signed onto an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to strike down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, one name stands out among those up for reelection in 2014: Sen. Mark Warner. The Virginia Democrat released a follow-up statement in which he explained his reasoni...

Previewing the Sunday Shows

With President Obama and congressional Republicans unable reach a deal to avoid budget sequestration, both parties will send representatives to the Sunday Shows to discuss the impact of the cuts and cast blame. Speaker John Boehner will give the House GOP's perspective on Meet the Press, while Dire...
Bernanke

Does Ben Bernanke Care Too Much About Jobs?

Critics say the Fed chair has tried so hard to get Americans back to work that he may cause another financial crisis.

Which Party Really Owns the Sequester?

Neither party's Insiders think they’ll face strong pressure to undo it. And Democrats are more bullish than Republicans on the tea party's role as political asset.
Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais

Opinion: Great Recession Turning Millennials Into Their Great-Grandparents

Consumers born from 1982 to 2003 are more frugal and restrained. Businesses should take notice.
Wall Street

Risk Is the Sequester's Only Certainty

You might have to wait longer in an airport line if the guillotine falls as scheduled Friday on $85 billion in federal spending. Your nearby national park might close earlier, and your schools might lose teachers.
Dr. Harry Chen

Why Medical Providers Don't Mind the Sequester

A grand bargain to reduce the budget deficit would sting health care providers. The sequester, by contrast, won’t really hurt.

On the Move

Angela Rye launches a new lobby shop, Impact Strategies. Domingo Herraiz is Motorola's new VP of North American government affairs. Campaign insider Tharon Johnson joins McKenna Long & Aldridge.
Rick Scott

Florida Governor's Embrace of Medicaid Money Undercuts GOP Attacks on 'Obamacare'

Republicans who seemed united against "Obamacare" just two years ago suddenly find some prominent party leaders taking a different tack.
Obama on Sequester

What Unites Obama's Coalition — and What Could Divide It

One conclusion that jumps from the Pew Research Center/USA Today national survey released Thursday is that the coalition that reelected President Obama last fall remains in step behind him — and is largely unified behind the key elements of his increasingly aggressive second-term agenda. But the poll also suggests that failure to generate more-rapid economic recovery could nonetheless strain the powerful coalition Obama has assembled.
Broun

Broun Logs Surprisingly Moderate Score in Vote Ratings

Rep. Paul Broun stands out among his fellow Republicans in the Georgia delegation, many of whom are considering challenging him for Sen. Saxby Chambliss' seat in 2014. Broun was the first -- and so far only -- to announce a bid for the Senate. He has received perhaps the most national media attention, though the bulk of it has centered on his sometimes controversial rhetoric. And he is by far the least conservative, according to National Journal's 2012 Vote Ratings.
Mitt Romney

What Would President Romney Do?

For those convinced that President Obama doesn’t deserve any blame for the fiscal gridlock, let’s do a thought experiment. Let’s imagine that Mitt Romney was elected president and was dealing with the same Congress that Obama has faced so much trouble with in getting legislation to avert sequestration and myriad fiscal emergencies. Would a President Romney be confronting the same crisis?
Barack Obama SOTU

Can This Congress Be Saved?

National Journal’s annual vote ratings show a Congress as paralyzed and polarized as ever. But better days may lie ahead.
Rep. Chris Gibson, R-N.Y.

As Most Liberal House Republican, Chris Gibson Says He 'Gets Things Done'

The representative from upstate New York placed the furthest left of all House Republicans in National Journal’s 2012 ideological vote ratings.
Chuck Hagel

Are Chuck Hagel’s Views Outside the Mainstream?

Defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel will have his second chance at confirmation next week, when the Senate returns to session. But in assessing why the GOP opposition has been stronger and more unified than expected, pundits largely missed the most significant reason his nomination has stalled. 

Opinion: How the Next America Will Get the Biggest Bang for Its Buck

The White House’s College Scorecard will provide a pathway for minority students to make wiser decisions about their education investments.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

'Most Liberal' Label Probably Won't Hurt Sen. Tom Udall

With New Mexico voters shifting to the left, his 90.7 percent composite liberal score for 2012 will likely have little effect on his reelection bid next year.
US-Mexico Border

The Hidden Obstacles to Legal Immigration Reform

If you think questions of legalization, border security, and fundamental party politics are the biggest obstacles to immigration reform, think again.

Fleming Goes After Landrieu on Taxes

Rep. John Fleming, R-La., seems to be moving closer to jumping into the Senate race, sending out a statement Friday criticizing Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu for saying that the government has to "bring more revenues." "In order to get 'more revenues' to Washington, liberals like Mary Landrieu wil...
Rep. Greg Walden

New NRCC Chairman, House Republicans Hope to Lead Party Rehab

House Republicans have a conflict of interest. What worked for them in 2012, when the GOP conference comfortably retained its majority, saw the party's presidential nominee and a slew of Senate candidates crash to a disappointing defeat. Rather than just stick with what worked for them, new National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., made it clear in an interview on Thursday that his colleagues realize they need to assist the national party's rehabilitation.
Orrin Hatch

New Language for Old Ideas in GOP Medicare Proposals

In the months leading up to last November’s elections, politicians were engaged in a linguistic war over how to describe Republican Medicare-reform plans.
Marco Rubio cameras

Can Marco Rubio Live Up to the Hype?

He's the GOP's Barack Obama, a fresh-faced politician with an immigrant name, a playlist full of rap, and a collection of fawning press clips. The challenge: He's selling the same old party message.

GOP Insiders Give Obama's State of the Union a Solid C

Democratic Insiders give Sen. Marco Rubio's response Tuesday night the same grade.

Boustany Considering Senate Bid

Add Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., to the list of potential challengers to Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in 2014. Boustany's campaign declined to say whether the congressman is actively looking at the race, but noted that "many local officials and community leaders approached Congressman Boustany to...
Hurricane Sandy Wreckage

Why Conservative Economists Will Like Liberal Senators' Plan to Tax Carbon

A pair of Democratic senators just announced legislation that would tax carbon emissions and use the proceeds to fund clean-energy projects and provide rebates to consumers. They know the bill is almost certain to fail in the GOP-majority House. When it does, it will set the stage for the executive...
Romney and Obama Debate

Free Trade: Obama Takes Up Romney's Banner

How the president could tally more political victories than the experts think.
Marco Rubio

In GOP Shift, Rubio Shows Power of Español

By delivering the Republican response to the State of the Union speech in Spanish, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Tuesday broke through an increasingly powerful language barrier between the political establishment and the nation’s fastest-growing demographic.
SOTU

The Most Important Policies In President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address

Everything you need to know from 2013's State of the Union address, from health care and the budget to immigration and guns.
Marco Rubio

In a Shift for GOP, Marco Rubio Demonstrates the Power of Spanish

By delivering the Republican response to the State of the Union speech in Spanish, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Tuesday broke through an increasingly powerful language barrier between the political establishment and the nation’s fastest-growing demographic.
Obama at State of the Union

Nothing Big or Bold About Obama's State of the Union Address

For all his swagger and political capital, the president subtly acknowledged the limits of what he can accomplish--even while promising in his State of the Union address to create “a rising, thriving middle class.”

Full Text: President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Speech

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow citizens:
Obama State of the Union 2012

Missed Opportunity? Obama May Avoid Spending-Cut Debate in Speech

When President Obama takes to the podium Tuesday night for the State of the Union, he’s expected to give scant attention to one of the most pressing issues facing Washington: the upcoming $85 billion in spending cuts.
Voter booth

What 3 Voting-Age Maps Tell Us About White America

A deep Next America analysis of raw census maps show shifts in the voting-age population, further evidence of a dominant white, aging population that gives way to a young, diverse cohort.
Barack Obama, John McCain

Who's Stronger on Syria, Obama or McCain?

Obama's caution was a selling point in 2008 against McCain. Syria is showcasing another clash of their temperaments.

Iowa Republicans: GOP Has a Karl Rove Problem

Iowa Republicans are channeling Ronald Reagan in their response to Karl Rove's Conservative Victory Project, set up to derail "unelectable" candidates like GOP Rep. Steve King before they can win primaries and spoil the party's general election chances. Rove, they say, is not the solution to the pro...
Hispanics for Obama

Obama Reelection Push Ratcheted Its Wooing of Hispanics

Overwhelming Hispanic support for President Obama was hardly preordained in 2012. He had to work hard for their votes.

New Poll Shows Hillary Clinton, Marco Rubio More Popular Than Obama

Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most popular American politician, while John Boehner is the least, according to a new Quinnipiac poll.
Barack Obama

There’s No Such Thing as Political Capital

The idea of political capital—or mandates, or momentum—is so poorly defined that presidents and pundits often get it wrong. With Obama’s State of the Union upon us, it’s time to rethink the term.
Jan Brewer and Barack Obama

Why the GOP's Resistance to Medicaid Expansion Is Eroding

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer wants her state to join the expansion, key to Obama's health care reform. Will other Republican governors follow suit?
Barack Obama and Xavier Becerra

Obama and Democrats Kiss and Make Up

A president criticized for not showing his party enough love is now hitting the fundraising circuit.
George W. Bush

Bush's Immigration Failure Offers Obama a Lesson

The failed 2006 effort to revamp laws serves as a cautionary tale for the current push.

Insiders Diagnose the GOP's Woes

There was no shortage of opinions among National Journal's Political Insiders about what was ailing the Republican Party after losses in last year's elections, although Insiders of different stripes tended to have different takes. Six out of ten Democratic Insiders pegged "policy prescriptions" as the area in need of the most improvement, while Republican Insiders were far more divided, with messaging, the need for more charismatic leaders and better policy prescriptions all popular answers. Which one of the following would you say is the area in which the Republican Party needs the most improvement?   Democrats (106 votes) Republicans (90 votes) Message 21% 33% Charismatic leaders 1% 23% Policy prescriptions 57% 21% Better campaign technology 2% 6% Other 20% 17%
Yes We Can Obama Rally Grant Park

With New Support Base, Obama Doesn't Need Right-Leaning Whites Anymore

For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of the culturally conservative white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.
Ed Koch

How Ed Koch Remade Liberalism

The late New York mayor wasn't just a character, but a transformational figure.

Harkin's Departure Jolts Hawkeye State Politics

Take one long, last look at Iowa. Two years from now, the state's long-static political landscape could be nearly unrecognizable. Plenty of dominoes have yet to fall following Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin's decision to retire next year, but when they do, they'll fall fast -- and the effects will likel...
Drone Strike funueral

Targeted Killings: Obama’s Endless War

Even as it pulls forces out of Afghanistan, the Obama administration wants to continue high-tech targeted killings in the war against terrorists.
Barack Obama

Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites

For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of losing right-leaning white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.

Insiders: Immigration Reform Likely to Pass Congress

They’re divided over what the Republican Party needs to do to improve its standing. 
George W. Bush

On Immigration, What Obama Can Learn From Bush's Failed Efforts

The failed 2006 effort to revamp immigration laws serves as a cautionary tale for the current push.
McCain

If You Want a Friend in Washington…Don't Call John McCain

At Hagel's confirmation hearing, the Arizona senator hammers his "old friend" in a ritual display of D.C. hypocrisy.
arizona-mexico border

Crime and Punishment

The Senate’s main struggle with immigration reform will be making the punishment fit the crime.
John Boehner

Why Immigration Reform Could Die in the House

The fate of immigration reform will rely on many House Republican members who have never even stretched their muscles on minority outreach, and that might be too much to overcome.
Russia adoption

Russian Adoption Ban Is Personal for Some U.S. Lawmakers

As a mother of two adopted children and the wife of a man adopted from overseas, Sen. Mary Landrieu knows a thing or two about adoption. 
60 Minutes Obama Hillary

Don't Bet Against Hillary Clinton in 2016

Those closest to the secretary of state say Clinton honestly doesn't know whether she will seek the presidency. They also wouldn't bet against it.
Ted Cruz

GOP Senator: We Are the Party of the 47 Percent

Freshman Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Saturday chided the GOP over its 2012 electoral losses, saying "Republicans are and should be the party of the 47 percent," a clear allusion to the remarks caught on video by presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the campaign.

Report: Battle Over Coveted Obama Technology

President Obama's team has been lauded for the campaign they ran in their nearly-4-point victory over Mitt Romney last year, and no aspect of the campaign has received more praise than Team Obama's use of technology. As Sasha Issenberg chronicled in a three-part series for MIT Technology Review, the sophistication with which the Obama campaign applied digital, data and analytics far surpassed Romney's operation and offered a blueprint for campaigns -- both Democratic and Republican -- for years to come. But, according to a report in The Verge, a divide has developed among those who helped develop the Obama campaign's digital operation.
Tom Harkin

Harkin Retiring from Senate

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin will be retiring after his term ends in 2014, the Associated Press reports, a decision that sets up another competitive battleground state Senate contest and a potential pickup opportunity for Republicans. 
Inauguration Photos from the Capitol

Worried GOP? Paul Ryan Has a Plan

Paul Ryan urges party unity in speech at National Review Institute summit.
Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden

7 Reasons Why I'm Praying for Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton to Run in 2016

Bill Clinton's reaction alone is enough to make a reporter plead to high heaven.
Bobby Jindal

One Tough-Talking Nerd: Bobby Jindal Brands Himself as Republican Reformer

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is hoping that a fast-talking, brainy policy wonk can be elected president.
Man sitting at a bar drinking

A 12-Step Program for the Republican Party

The GOP has finally admitted it has a problem winning over voters. Here’s a 12-step program to get the party back on track.
GolmacherOpener

The Waxman-Berman Machine Finally Shuts Down

For more than two decades in Southern California, if you wanted to run for office, you had to deal with the team of Howard Berman and Henry Waxman. That era is officially over with Berman’s loss last fall.
Robert Wexler

Robert Wexler, Going It Alone

Former Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., talks about advising President Obama in 2008, the fate of the House, and life as a freelance peacemaker.
Syria Violence

Kerry’s Task: Closing the Arab ‘Pandora’s Box’

His tenure at State may well be defined by how he handles a vast new jihadist haven.
Newt Gingrich

Gingrich to Republicans: Think Different

The ex-House speaker rebukes Romney and says the GOP's future lies with its governors.
Angry Obama

Why (and How) Obama Might Be Raising Expectations Too High Again

The president's newly confrontational approach might feel better, but it's a capitulation to the times that may backfire.
John Kerry

Why John Kerry Is the Ultimate Comeback Kid

He’s the right man for the Secretary of State job, but he has to be sure not to get "Swift-Boated" again.
Obama greets supporters at a campaign event

Opinion: Obama’s Electoral Coalition Is Now His Policy Coalition

As demonstrated in the exit polls and rehashed in countless articles since the election, Barack Obama’s decisive reelection victory was a triumph for a still-emerging, majority Democratic Obama coalition, which we said in a pair of preelection Next America articles would define a new civic ethos, or consensus on the role of government, for the nation.
Reince Priebus

GOP Plots Path Back to Power

With President Obama’s second inauguration still ringing in their ears, Republican national party leaders are hunkering down for three days of soul-searching.
Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton

Joe Biden vs. Hillary Clinton? A Look Back at Their Last Face-Off

Wondering what a Clinton-Biden matchup would look like? Look no further than the 2008 campaign archives.
Play of the Day! 1-22-13

Designing Women, Fruit Ninja, Ranch Dressing: Mitt Romney's Inauguration Day

Most of the late-night shows were off the air Monday night because of Inauguration Day. But Stephen Colbert pointed out the hypocrisy at taking a day off because of a fake celebration. "Everybody was obsessed with something they kept calling 'The Second Inauguration of Barack Obama.' " Colbert whi...
Abortion Protest at Supreme Court

As Roe v. Wade Turns 40, Foes Focus on State Capitols

President Obama’s reelection bid emphasized abortion rights more than any other presidential campaign in history, but the battle will be most heated in the states.
Obama and Boehner

Is Obama Trying to Destroy the GOP?

The president pokes at the GOP and asks citizens to put the pressure on. Is he trying to destroy the opposition party?

Pennsylvania Dems Search For Right Candidate To Challenge Vulnerable Corbett

  Midway through his first term, Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Corbett appears vulnerable, and Democrats are hoping to make him the first one-term chief executive since the state's governors became eligible for second terms in 1970. While numerous Democrats reportedly are considering bids,...
minorities key to election 12

Why the GOP's Faith in Older, White Voters Won't Hold Out for Much Longer

The GOP's strength is older white voters. But to win elections, it needs to appeal to youth and minorities.
Jerry Brown

How the Democrats Are Taking Over California

Demographic shifts and coastal liberalism have given huge power to Democrats. They control the state – but there's restlessness on the left.
Steven Chu

The Education of Steven Chu

The Nobel physicist was brought in to transform the energy economy, but faced political battles.
Jerry Brown

Why the Democrats Are Golden in California

Demographic shifts and coastal liberalism have given huge power to Democrats. They control the state – but there's restlessness on the left.
Harry Reid

Democrats May Be Their Own Worst Enemy on Guns

A bloc of Democratic senators could be President Obama’s biggest threat in passing stronger gun-control laws.
Aretha Franklin

The Inauguration? Meh.

The first time was special. Four years later, Barack Obama is a politician who represents "continuity and an unrealized dream."
Obama

Expect Obama to Be More Aggressive in His Second Term

Obama's forceful moves on controversial fronts represent a calculated gamble that the evolution of the U.S. electorate has reached a critical tipping point. 
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona

Exclusive: GOP Targets Seven House Democrats It Calls Vulnerable

Vowing to expand their majority, House Republicans have identified seven Democrats they consider top targets for the midterm elections, according to a National Republican Congressional Committee memo obtained by National Journal.

Iowa Dem Chair: Harkin Likely To Run Again

With indications this week that Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, might be leaning toward a re-election bid, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky told Hotline On Call she thinks it's unlikely he will vacate his seat in 2014. "The indications -- the fundraising indications, the chatter, indicates to me th...
Marco Rubio

Rubio Tries to Outduel Obama on Immigration

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s newly unveiled proposal for sweeping immigration reform looms as a daunting leadership test for a freshman member of Congress on the fast track to the 2016 presidential campaign.
Gun show

Poll Finds That Obama’s Base Overlaps With Gun-Control Coalition

As President Obama readies a new push for gun-control legislation, he will rely on the support of the same political coalition that thrust him into a second term last November: young people, minorities, and college-educated women.
Follow National Journal