National News by Reid Wilson

The dust has barely settled on the 2008 elections -- in fact, in a few Senate and House contests, ballots are still being counted -- but possible presidential contenders are already building foundations they will need to put them ahead of the pack in time for the 2012 Iowa caucuses, a scant 38 months away. For Republicans, the early key to success is holding a governorship, and at least half a dozen chief executives are expected to at least consider a bid for president.

For the first time in the nation's history, an African-American will serve as president. For the first time since 1964, a Democrat has won more than 51 percent of the vote. But while Barack Obama remade the American electorate to sweep himself into the White House, the Illinois senator still has work to do to bring his party along with him to a lasting majority.
 

Negative advertisements are a favored subject for righteous indignation among editorial columnists and political pundits. Many assume the ads are used only for baseless smears that distort the record. The overlooked truth, though, is that negative ads can have a dramatic and devastating impact, sometimes against the very candidate who paid for them.

By selecting Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee, John McCain unleashed a pandora's box of excitement, backlash and frenzy unlike any seen so far this election season. Palin has single-handidly done two things McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and others failed to do: She has truly energized the Republican base while simultaneously giving the party an opportunity to pull ahead in the polls.