The World Health Organization this week officially declared a public health emergency in response to the rapidly spreading Zika virus in Latin America. While a majority of Americans show some concern about the virus, they also think the media overhypes such outbreaks.
DES MOINES — Well, that’s settled. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will not be the 2016 Republican nominee for president.
At least not if recent history is any guide. It has been 16 years since Republican caucus-goers here have accurately picked the eventual GOP nominee for president. In other words, not once in this entire century has Iowa picked the winner for Republicans.
Whoever wins the nominations, the most successful campaigns of 2016 provide us with a clear picture of where the center of gravity is today in both parties and, hence, where America is going.
With just the first round of the presidential contest over, most voters still think the next occupant of the White House is likely to be a Republican.
Donald Trump was absent from Fox News' Republican debate Thursday night, presiding at his own event seven minutes' drive away featuring cameo appearances by the two previous Iowa Republican caucus winners exiled now to the undercard debate, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum. But the issue Trump raised to high-decibel level at his announcement last June was front and center at the main event: immigration.
Random thoughts on the passing scene:
Will this November's presidential election come down to a choice between a felon and a pied piper?
When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
Thirty-one percent (31%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending January 28.
Even as the 2016 election season officially begins in Iowa today, voters still express skepticism about the fairness of elections in this country.
Of all the many things said about Donald Trump, what was said by Roger Ailes, head of the Fox News Channel, said it all in just two words: "Grow up!"
It is amazing how many people have been oblivious to this middle-aged man's spoiled brat behavior, his childish boastfulness about things he says he is going to do, and his petulant response to every criticism with ad hominem replies.
Democrats and Republicans in Iowa gather this evening to vote, and so begins the formal process for choosing the next president of the United States.
Full disclosure: If New York's primary were held today, I'd vote for Bernie Sanders.
Iowa Republicans choose their presidential favorites on Monday, but right now belief among GOP voters nationwide that Donald Trump will be the party’s eventual nominee is again at its highest level to date.
The conservative movement is starting to look a lot like Syria.
Baited, taunted, mocked by Fox News, Donald Trump told Roger Ailes what he could do with his Iowa debate, and marched off to host a Thursday night rally for veterans at the same time in Des Moines.
Senators Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have missed lots of on-the-job time in the Senate while they run for president. Kentucky Republicans worry about Senator Rand Paul's reelection to the Senate this year if his presidential bid falls short. Governors John Kasich and Chris Christie have been a long way from home in their bids to move up to the White House. How do voters feel about politicians who hold onto one elective job while seeking another?
From someone whose title is senior political analyst you might be expecting a forecast of who will win the Iowa caucuses next Monday night. Will Donald Trump voters turn out in enough numbers to give him the narrow win over Ted Cruz that polls indicate he has now? Will Hillary Clinton withstand the challenge and excitement generated by Bernie Sanders?
Voters continue to believe the middle class gets the short end of the stick economically.
It’s generally been considered legal for American citizens born outside the United States like Republican Ted Cruz to run for the presidency, but voters aren’t all that enthusiastic about such candidates.
As the 2016 presidential race officially begins, both party contests are in a place that we, and many others, did not expect them to be. On the Democratic side, frontrunner Hillary Clinton faces a stern challenge from a stronger-than-expected foe, Bernie Sanders. And the Republicans could be on the verge of nominating Donald Trump. Still, no votes have been cast. Pulling down the curtain on a contest yet to begin is both premature and foolish.
The FBI has been investigating Hillary Clinton's use of a private e-mail server while secretary of State in order to determine whether she mishandled classified information, with some reports suggesting the Democratic presidential front-runner may be indicted. Most voters still believe it’s likely Clinton broke the law by sending and receiving classified information through the server, but they are far less convinced that serious charges will be brought against her.
