Six Tuesdays till E-Day
No one really knows which political party will come out on top in the midterms on E-Day, Nov. 7.

Six weeks ago, Republicans were considered all but six feet under. Two weeks ago, Democrats faltered as gasoline prices peeled back and the White House re-engaged with the subject on which it has the upper hand -- national security. Tack on the soap-opera, award-winning performances at the United Nations by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. The GOP slide came to a complete halt.

In the middle of all of this, Gallup released a generic national poll that has tied all of the pundits' tongues in knots. It showed a head-to-head tie between Republicans and Democrats at 48 percent.

The question, in these last six Tuesdays ending in Election Day, is: Which party gets its mojo going? ....
Read the Rest




The Public Face of the White House
WASHINGTON - Since Tony Snow became White House press secretary in April, President Bush's approval ratings have crept up.

That might be no coincidence. Bush couldn't find a more likeable daily stand-in for a combative press corps or a curious public.

Snow, 51, is disarmingly charming. He's soft-voiced yet assertive, self-deprecating yet serious, intelligent but not condescending. The perfect pitchman for a president facing an unpopular war and his toughest midterm election.

In a two-hour White House interview with Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editor Frank Craig, Managing Editor Robert Fryer and Reporter Salena Zito, Snow outlined the Bush administration's plans for its final two years, including a renewed push on Social Security.
He discussed in detail the war on terror and its impact on America's image, Bush's operating style, the November election, and a variety of other issues.
Read the Rest