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Year: 2008

What will this pic do for McCain’s White House hopes?

What will this pic do for McCain’s White House hopes?

Does it underline Obama’s “Bush-McCain” rhetoric? In recent weeks we have tended to focus on the battle for the Democratic nomination now that John McCain appears a near certainty to win the GOP race. But the real battle, of course, is the election in November and, at stake, is whether the Republicans can continue to occupy the White House. Whenever Democratic front-runner, Barack Obama, has the chance he uses the term “Bush-McCain” to describe his party’s likely opponent in November….

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Will the plagiarism charge hurt Barack?

Will the plagiarism charge hurt Barack?

Can Team Hillary stop Obama from making it ten in a row? On the eve of the Wisconsin and Hawaii primaries the Clinton team has put out the above video to suggest that Obama is a plagiarist. What you see is an Obama’s speech from Saturday in Wisconsin side-by-side with one made by the governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick speech in 2006. Interestingly the Obama speech is no longer available on YouTube. The big question is will it matter? Will…

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Make money on Darling not surviving 2008

Make money on Darling not surviving 2008

It’s 5/2 that Darling will be out this year William Hill have put up a market, which is online, that “Alastair Darling Will Be Out Of Office By The End Of The Year? (2008)”. I’ve checked with the firm and “out of office” means no longer being chancellor. Given the poor poll ratings that he’s getting and the growing problems he’s facing this seems like a pretty good bet. The handling of Northern Rock will be a major Tory and…

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Punters unmoved by the Northern Rock annoucement

Punters unmoved by the Northern Rock annoucement

Is nationalisation really going to have no electoral impact? Even though some are calling it “Labour’s Black Wednesday” there has been very little movement in the general election most seats betting following yesterday’s announcement by Alistair Darling that Northern Rock. The chart showing betting prices as implied probabilities has hardly changed on the past week. It’s the same with the spread betting markets where punters buy and sell the number of seats the parties will get at the election as…

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Who’ll win the Wisconsin ad war?

Who’ll win the Wisconsin ad war?

Will going negative turn it round for Hillary? One of the great joys of the internet, YouTube and fast video streaming is that we can keep up to date with rapidly moving contests like the current ad war between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Wisconsin. In the latest stage of the fight for the Democratic nomination the Hillary camp has gone negative – the latest TV ad featured above. This is a big gamble. There’s a massive danger that…

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Is “The Age of Labour” coming to an end?

Is “The Age of Labour” coming to an end?

On a morning that has seen a second national opinion poll showing Labour an election-losing 9% behind there is a provocative piece from the Independent on Sunday’s veteran commentator, Alan Watkins. He argues, in his own style, that quite simply that the age of Labour is dead. He writes: “..Mr David Cameron is doing well but not quite well enough. In view of various disasters for the Government since October, he ought to be miles ahead in the polls. That…

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YouGov reports nine point Tory lead

YouGov reports nine point Tory lead

A new YouGov Poll for the Sunday Times tomorrow, according to the Press Association has some good news for the Tories. “…Questioned on their voting intentions, some 41% of those taking part said they would back the Tories (down two points on a similar poll last month), 32% Labour (down one) and 16% the Liberal Democrats (up two). The overall Conservative lead was down marginally from 10 points to nine compared to the last comparable poll.” The changes reported by…

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Guest slot: Roger’s guide to the 2008 Oscars

Guest slot: Roger’s guide to the 2008 Oscars

2008 Oscars. I’ve listed the nominations in the important categories and my tips for the winners. Those who know my political predictions might want to tread carefully! Best Actor. George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee-Jones, Viggo Mortensen. Stand out winner Daniel Day-Lewis. Best Supporting Actor. Casey Affleck, Javier Bardem, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Tom Wilkinson. The bookies favourite and the safe bet is Javier Bardem in ‘No Country’. A modern Frankenstein! Casey Affleck has a tiny outside…

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