Should appealing to this group be Priority Number One? Earlier in the year it was estimated that the average age of those who would probably vote at the next general election was 58 and commentators like Jackie Ashley in the Guardian were suggesting that Labour ought to do much more with the older age groups which are now being joined by the baby boomers. And there are three key factors about this group: People are living longer so the proportion…
Results of a “quickie” Populus poll of 586 people on yesterday’s budget are just out on the Times website and shows broad public backing for the measures on drinking and motoring. The survey did not include a voting intention question and was almost certainly not past vote weighted. This is likely to have produced a smallish but significant nevertheless pro-Labour sample. This factor is important when judging findings like the one that “most voters do not think the Budget would…
The above went out on MSNBC last night and might have an impact. Democratic nomination betting is here.
Will his “So what” to higher taxes heckle come to haunt him? The most electorally significant moment of the 2008 budget might come to be seen as a heckle by the School Secretary and the man who is said to be Brown’s chosen successor, Ed Balls, when the leader of the opposition was making his formal response. It came after Cameron had told the house that Britain had the highest tax burden in its history when Balls blurted out in…
How MSNBC is reporting the “racist comment” row If you’ve got ten minutes just check out how MSNBC is covering the remarkable attack on Barack Obama by the Hillary fundraiser and campaigner, Geraldine Ferraro, who ran on the unsuccessful Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale in 1984. It gets over far better than anybody could write the nature of this latest issue to blow up in the Democratic nomination. It’s also (see my previous article) great political television. Hillary’s reaction has…
How long are will to have to ensure tedious BBC coverage? For the last few months I’ve spent an hour or so each day watching the developing story of US election on CNN and on the web-sites of the major networks – ABC, CBS and MSNBC and its been hugely impressive. The graphics are innovative, the presentation is sharp and most of all the analysis is superb and expertly prepared. Complex situations and stores are presented in an informative and…
Can Darling pull something out of the hat? After a decade of Gordon Brown budgets it’s going to be quite a change seeing Alistair Darling delivering his first budget with his predecessor at his side. What has he got in store? Will he be able to wrong-foot Cameron who has to make a response immediately afterwards without having had any chance to read and assimilate the details? Given that a general election might only be thirteen months away what’s announced…
Is she worth backing at 5/1? After the weekend suggestions from the Clinton Camp that the current delegate leader, Barack Obama, could join Hillary on the ticket as the V-P nominee there’s increasing discussion that she could accept it the other way round. One of her most outspoken and influential backers, Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania, says he would be happy to support an Obama-Hillary ticket even if it meant that his choice was in the number 2 slot. Such…