-
Pollsters Look to Cellphones to Reach Voters
Tweet Share on Facebook November 16, 2010 Comment (1)What might be coming to your cellphone in time for the 2012 elections? Questions from political pollsters. "If we don't do that in 2012 or '14, this industry is going to collapse because too much of a percent of the vote won't be tracked," says Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies. At issue is counting Hispanics and voters up to 35 years old who have switched exclusively to cellphones, a trend that's expanding to all groups. Without counting them, polls won't be as accurate as they were in the 2010 elections. The problem, says McInturff, is that the law bars automated dialing of cellular phones. And only the richest pollsters and clients can afford human dialing. So he wants an exemption for candidates-only to use auto-dialing for their polls. That would keep the door closed to marketing. But even then, say other pollsters, it might not work because cellphone users don't like to participate in long surveys. That's why pollsters like U.S. News contributor John Zogby have turned to the Internet to ask their questions. "The cellphone phenomenon is only going to grow, and culturally it's not acceptable to do long surveys. That's an invasion," says Zogby.
-
Political Reporters Look Ahead to 2012 Presidential Election
Tweet Share on Facebook November 15, 2010 Comment (1)That collective "phew, glad that's over" feeling after one of the nastiest midterm elections seems to have skipped over political news junkies. While politicians, their aides, and voters are taking a welcome break from the action, newshounds are already seeking the next big story. "In a normal election," says C-SPAN's Steve Scully, "there would be withdrawal. But this was no ordinary election." Scully, who hosts Washington Today, hasn't put down his BlackBerry and iPad, as he's always searching the Internet for the schedules of potential 2012 presidential candidates and controversial House and Senate floor action. "The real politics of the 112th Congress is just beginning. And only 722 days until the next election. And 14 months to the Iowa caucuses," he gushes.
-
Zogby: Timing Off for Unconvincing Obama
Tweet Share on Facebook November 12, 2010 Comment (5)Pollster John Zogby updates our weekly Obama Report Card with a grade on the president's performance. Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis, and interaction with major players to come up with a grade and some comments that capture how he sees the president's week ending.
-
New JFK Theory: CIA, Pentagon Behind Assassination
Tweet Share on Facebook November 12, 2010 Comment (22)The 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's election is leading to a resurgence in attention to his assassination and the conspiracies about who did it. The latest entry comes from author James Douglass, in his new book JFK and the Unspeakable. His theory: The Pentagon and CIA plotted to kill JFK because they were upset that the military hawk had turned dove and wanted to end the Cold War, not win it. Douglass concludes that JFK was shot not from the top of the Texas School Book Depository but from the front of the car. He suggests Lee Harvey Oswald was set up to take the blame, that he didn't shoot Kennedy, and that he was gunned down before he could tell his tale. And, he writes, Oswald's killer, Jack Ruby, was in on the plot and supplied JFK's unknown killer.
-
CNN's Blitzer Does the 'Dougie'
Tweet Share on Facebook November 11, 2010 Comment (2)Wolf Blitzer really can bust a move. And even better, he can do it "Dougie" style.
Breaking out of his comfort zone, "The Blitz" appeared at the Soul Train Awards Wednesday night as a presenter where performer Doug E. Fresh showed him the moves to his hip-hop dance, the "Dougie," that's sweeping the nation.
-
Michele Bachmann's Plan to Fix the Economy
Tweet Share on Facebook November 11, 2010 Comment (17)Rep. Michele Bachmann, the spotlight-grabbing Tea Party leader in the House, has spent months pushing for changes to the tax code and federal spending to bring the deficit into line and now that she's in the majority party, she believes that those goals are finally "achievable." In remarks she was to give to the annual American Spectator Robert L. Bartley Dinner this week before she fell ill, Bachmann said is time to get going on her agenda, many elements of which there is support among Republicans in the House and Senate.
-
Ralph Reed: Obama Would Benefit From Christ-like Leadership
Tweet Share on Facebook November 11, 2010 Comment (4)Democrats would have had fewer losses on election Tuesday if President Obama had embraced a "Christ-like model of leadership," says Ralph Reed, founder and chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition. Reed, who used to run Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition, says a good leader is one who provides not just the "bread, but also the bread of life" for his constituents. "Even if you bring the capital-gains tax down to zero," create more jobs, and turn the economy around, he argues, Obama still needs to give an "eternal" set of values, such as opposing abortion and same-sex marriage. So who would be a Christ-like GOP challenger to Obama in 2012? Reed says his friend, Sarah Palin.
-
Indiana's Mitch Daniels Eyeing 2012 Bid
Tweet Share on Facebook November 10, 2010 Comment (11)Mitch Daniels, the cautious conservative populist governor of Indiana, is taking the first steps to a likely 2012 Republican presidential primary bid, according to associates. An E-mail provided to Whispers by a very close Daniels confidant says that the successful two-term governor is seriously contemplating a run as he considers his options for 2012.
-
Running Rep. Jean Schmidt Takes Two Wins
Tweet Share on Facebook November 10, 2010 CommentOhio Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt was successful in two races last week: Re-election and the annual Marine Corps Marathon, finishing sixth in her division.
-
5 Big Changes John Boehner Brings to Speakership
Tweet Share on Facebook November 9, 2010 Comment (10)Like a character out of Mad Men, likely incoming House Speaker John Boehner is about to bring old-school cool and political wrangling back into fashion. "He's so cool, every man should hate him," says Tea Party organizer Dick Armey, who calls Boehner the "Dean Martin of politics."
