Pick of the papers
If you want to partake in something more satisfying than staring at pictures of the early rounds of the Olympics tiddlywinks, then you could browse through any of multiple Barack Obama articles in today’s papers
read more...»US election: fancy a beer?
If you have not been looking at the developments in the race for the White House in microscopic detail over the summer break, today’s Guardian news section contains a useful overview of the post primary campaign. And there’s a bit of analysis from me in this post as well
read more...»US elections focus
As I’ve said before on this blog, it is almost inevitable that all US A2 exams will carry a question or two on the 2008 race for the presidency, and for this reason alone students should keep abreast of the latest developments stateside.
But the race for the White House can also be fun to follow purely for the intrinsic benefits of learning more about the motivations of American voters. Here I draw your attention to a twin set of articles in this week’s Economist
read more...»Thin and nasty
An aspect of the science of psephology I have hitherto been unfamiliar with is the salience attached to the body mass index of candidates. But according to a report in today’s paper, Barack Obama might be too fit to appeal to an obese nation
read more...»The importance of swinging
New series of articles starts this week in the Economist focusing on the states that may detrmine the outcome of this year’s race for the White House
read more...»Offensive? Possibly. Ludicras? Most definitely
One of the features of the US campaign this year is the massive spread of internet based material - and exposure to it by voters - produced by individuals and teams seemingly completely independent of the candidate or party teams. This song by rap artist Ludicras attacking McCain has kicked up a storm in America due to the extreme nature of the lyrics. Even Obama has denounced its contents as ‘outrageously offensive’
read more...»US election turns negative
As many pundits have predicted, the campaign has got personal as the two presidential candidates struggle to win support with their positions on the major issues
read more...»John McCain’s ‘celeb’ ad
Barack Obama comes under fire in a new campaign commercial from his Republican opponent for being a celebrity rather than someone who is ‘ready to lead’
read more...»The importance of the vice-presidency
Essential reading in the Times newspaper on the running mate and the office
read more...»Democrat scandal: potential Obama VP nominee out of the running over alleged love child
Mainstream media organisations have picked up on a story the National Enquirer has been running for some months. It is alleged that John Edwards, whose wife is dying of cancer, has a mistress and has fathered a love child
read more...»Obama’s foreign mistake?
When one of my students told me that Barack Obama was planning a foreign tour during the summer of election year I thought I’d misheard him. American presidents rarely visit Europe, never mind presidential candidates. But the exercise designed to make him look more presidential may prove to be a tactical error
read more...»Running mate profiles
Further to my posting about the possibility that McCain will release news of who his running mate is going to be, I have come across a great guide in the New York Times to potential running mates
McCain’s Hispanic difficulty
Earlier this summer I wrote an article for tutor2u’s first past the post magazine entitled ‘Raw Hispanic Power?’ which spotlighted the potential role Hispanics could play in this year’s presidential contest. This week’s Economist contains a story which updates us on how John McCain and Barack Obama are doing in courting the Hispanic vote
read more...»USA: a nation divided by wealth
Whilst scanning the Guardian site for updates on the American election I came across a couple of fascinating reports that I think will be of interest to those who want to understand what America is
read more...»American politics update
Undoubtedly one of the best exercises to get into American politics is to watch the campaign for the election 2008 unfold
read more...»American Politics “homework”
Following the US elections closely over the summer should be an exercise that will bear fruit for students of US Politics
read more...»What are the Democrats for?
There is an excellent review of Paul Krugman’s new book “The Conscience of a Liberal: Reclaiming America from the Right” by Eyal Press in the London Review of Books.
read more...»The election (of) race
Barack Obama’s race was a non-issue it seemed until about March time. What role will it play in the election?
read more...»Obama’s number two
A brief look at the main contenders for the VP spot on this year’s Democratic ticket - including this writer’s prediction
read more...»Stimulus package
Another video from the barely political gang
read more...»Clinton claims victory
Too late to make the morning papers is the story of Hillary’s important win in the Pennsylvania primary
read more...»Pennsylvania or bust?
This week attention turns to the Keystone State, as the Democrats gear up for a potential showdown in the last big primary
read more...»John He Is
Whatever Barack can do John McCain do better? Perhaps not!
read more...»Yes We Can!
Here is the original Barack Obama promotional video on You Tube which has attracted so much attention
read more...»
