http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/Analysis and perspective about what's happening in the political realm.en-usTue, 23 Apr 2013 02:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/04/can-boston-be-unifying-event-our-nation-needs/62699/No matter what the investigation yields, lawmakers should fight the urge to politicize the tragedy.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 23 Apr 2013 02:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/04/can-boston-be-unifying-event-our-nation-needs/62699/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/04/republican-advantage-on-politics-the-big-sort/62526/The decline of swing districts and the rise of partisanship spells trouble for House Democrats.Charlie CookTue, 16 Apr 2013 02:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/04/republican-advantage-on-politics-the-big-sort/62526/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/04/second-term-jinx/62355/Ike, Nixon, Reagan, Clinton—presidents historically fumble the end of an eight-year term. With a hostile Congress, Obama faces a similar fate.Charlie Cook, National JournalMon, 08 Apr 2013 16:21:28 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/04/second-term-jinx/62355/Oversight - On PoliticsWhite Househttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/rebuilding-gop/62067/From Rubio and Paul to CPAC and Priebus, the party's reinvention is the best show in town.Charlie CookMon, 25 Mar 2013 16:37:21 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/rebuilding-gop/62067/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/gop-keeps-getting-whiter/61947/While the country is becoming more racially diverse, Republican congressional districts are becoming less.Charlie Cook, National JournalMon, 18 Mar 2013 17:36:26 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/gop-keeps-getting-whiter/61947/Oversight - On PoliticsJ. Scott Applewhite/APhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/sequestration-hits-obama-polls/61805/Voters blame Republicans for the sequester, but it's hurting the president too.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/sequestration-hits-obama-polls/61805/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/threat-republicans/61663/A new poll shows the majority of Americans believe the party is "out of touch" and "too extreme."Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/03/threat-republicans/61663/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/why-obama-should-be-quiet-immigration/61512/By taking strong public positions, the president torpedoes his own priorities.Charlie Cook, National JournalMon, 25 Feb 2013 17:32:02 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/why-obama-should-be-quiet-immigration/61512/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/death-swing-seat/61345/The numbers just don’t add up for the House to switch to Democratic control anytime soon.Charlie Cook, National JournalFri, 15 Feb 2013 15:34:15 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/death-swing-seat/61345/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/huge-hispanic-support-obama-was-no-sure-thing/61225/The president's reelection campaign had to ratchet up its efforts to woo the Latino vote.Charlie Cook, National JournalMon, 11 Feb 2013 17:16:50 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/huge-hispanic-support-obama-was-no-sure-thing/61225/Oversight - On PoliticsWhite House photohttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/pay-no-attention-anemic-economy/61081/A scaled-back gun-control bill has a chance of passing Congress, but lawmakers can’t forget about the economy.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/02/pay-no-attention-anemic-economy/61081/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/one-thing-both-parties-have-common-wimping-out-tough-votes/60928/Senate Democrats and House Republicans both want to steer clear of difficult and potentially politically costly stances.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 29 Jan 2013 02:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/one-thing-both-parties-have-common-wimping-out-tough-votes/60928/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/gop-just-doing-math-frightening/60771/The party's strength is older white voters. To win elections, it needs youth and minorities.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 22 Jan 2013 02:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/gop-just-doing-math-frightening/60771/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/congressional-republicans-are-striking-out/60660/John Boehner and Co. have to recognize that their style of play isn’t going to win them many games.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 15 Jan 2013 02:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/congressional-republicans-are-striking-out/60660/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/chris-christie-reality-check/60518/New Jersey governor's new bipartisan image is good politics, tooMichael Catalini, National JournalMon, 07 Jan 2013 17:16:07 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2013/01/chris-christie-reality-check/60518/Oversight - On PoliticsL.E.MORMILE / Shutterstock.com file photohttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/12/gop-must-modernize-its-campaigning-now/60223/Rehabilitation effort can start with a new campaign apparatus for 2016.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 18 Dec 2012 02:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/12/gop-must-modernize-its-campaigning-now/60223/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/12/history-favors-2014-gop-comeback/60061/The midterm elections will prove interesting for Democrats.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/12/history-favors-2014-gop-comeback/60061/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/12/one-pollster-republicans-should-listen/59922/Glen Bolger pointed out some of this election’s paradoxes recently.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/12/one-pollster-republicans-should-listen/59922/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/what-do-americans-want-fiscal-cliff-deal/59730/People want to reduce the deficit, but care more about jobs and education.Molly Ball, The AtlanticTue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/what-do-americans-want-fiscal-cliff-deal/59730/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/senate-democrats-earned-every-seat-they-won-thanks-dscc/59642/A postmortem on how the two parties' campaign committees performed in this year’s House and Senate races.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/senate-democrats-earned-every-seat-they-won-thanks-dscc/59642/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/advice-obama-make-more-friends-congress/59457/If his second term is going to be better than his first, the president needs to get along with more lawmakers.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 13 Nov 2012 02:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/advice-obama-make-more-friends-congress/59457/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/obama-can-thank-early-negative-ads-his-advantage/59268/The president has a clearer path to victory than Mitt Romney.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/11/obama-can-thank-early-negative-ads-his-advantage/59268/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/10/if-obama-loses-blame-debates/59098/Independents now see Mitt Romney as a job creator. That wasn’t the case before the start of the debates.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/10/if-obama-loses-blame-debates/59098/Oversight - On PoliticsMichael Reynolds/APhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/10/possibility-popular-electoral-vote-split-very-real/58939/Romney may well win the popular vote but lose the Electoral College.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/10/possibility-popular-electoral-vote-split-very-real/58939/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/10/theres-no-question-romney-changed-game/58774/Obama will need to be both aggressive and presidential in the second debate.Charlie Cook, National JournalTue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/10/theres-no-question-romney-changed-game/58774/Oversight - On PoliticsEric Gay/AP