• 5/1 Bob Novak

Obama did not distance himself from Wright soon enough.  Also, Wright can emerge at any time to hurt Obama.

• 5/1 David Broder

Obama is distancing himself from Wright, but not explaining his connection to the pastor.  The association is damaging.

• 5/1 Op-Ed

Obama is taking the sensible approach on the gas tax (in opposing a cut), and thus is the only candidate not to pander on the issue.

 5/1 Wrap: Wright, Wright, Wright, Wright, Wright…

• 4/30 Harold Meyerson

Obama has had problems wooing white, working-class voters. Democrats have lost working class white votes as unions have lost power. Movements that empower unions will help the Democrats in November.

• 4/30 Wrap: I agreed with Meyerson on the solution, but I think that he overstates the problem. Obama has had issues wooing Appalachian white voters, but he does well with this demographic elsewhere (See: Oregon and Wisconsin).  Princeton’s Larry Bartels has done great work disproving the notion of a working class white Democratic defection. I recommend his new book, “Unequal Democracy,” to those married to the “What’s the Matter with Kansas” dogma of white working class defection. 

• 4/29 Eugene Robinson

The prideful Wright is hurting Obama. It is time for Obama to hit back at the Reverend.

• 4/29 George F. Will

Wright wants to matter and he should matter. His relationship with Obama is harmful to the senator and it is also politically relevant.

• 4/29 Richard Cohen

This election battle has been fraught with race-based misunderstandings. Candidates would be well advised to tread carefully when they speak on issues pertaining to race.

• 4/29 E.J. Dionne Jr.

What should be an election about “big” issues is getting shrunken into one focused on “small” distractions. Clinton and Obama should try to de-shrink it.

• Op-Ed

Wright is hurting Obama.

• 4/29 Wrap: Wrightfest all-around. I’m beyond tired of this inflated non-issue. Memo to Dionne Jr.: Put your money where your mouth is. Instead of hand-wringing about the lack of substantive political discussion, you should actually talk policy.

• 4/27 David Broder

McCain is reaching out to poor Southern voters because the GOP has ignored their plight for too long. If he errs in convincing deep Southern residents, he will lose.

• 4/27 George F. Will

McCain-Feingold was invoked to unfairly interfere with political speech in Parker North, Colorado. What is McCain’s stand on this?

• 4/27 Wrap: Who sends Will these stories? Zoning restriction battles in suburban Colorado? I know, it’s germane to a larger, relevant free speech issue. But still, zoning restriction battles in suburban Colorado (I’m using my Allen Iverson “practice” voice).

• 4/26 Colbert I. King

The Clinton camp attacked Obama for receiving Farrakhan’s unsolicited endorsement, despite the fact that main Hillary adviser, Ed Rendell has ties to the Islamic preacher. Obama has to make the best of his unfair situation.

• 4/25 Geoff Garin

Hillary Clinton has received unfair media treatment.

• 4/25 Eugene Robinson

This ugly nomination battle is hurting Dem chances in November. They need to temper it a bit.

• 4/25 Charles Krauthammer

The “distractions” (Wright, Ayers, flag pins) reveal important truths regarding Obama’s character. They have hurt his popularity, and rightly so.

• 4/25 E.J. Dionne Jr.

Obama’s PA deficit in white voters, and more specifically, Catholic white voters reveals important demographic voting chasms. Obama can more easily deal with swaying Catholic voters than he can wooing outright racists.

• 4/25 Wrap: Ugh, a brutal day of election pontification. Kraut calls Wright a “racist,” a Clinton strategist pulls the political equivalent of a Manu Ginobli flop, and the liberal wing gives us a bland serving of horserace. Long live American democracy 

• 4/24 David Broder

The Democrats are destroying themselves with this protracted primary battle.

•  4/24 Bob Novak

Obama could be suffering from the “Bradley effect.” This is the phenomenon of white voters not admitting their reluctance to vote for a black person. Obama’s loss in PA could mean that he’ll have trouble getting white votes.

•  4/24 Wrap: Rumor?…check. Baseless predictions?…check.  Unnamed power players spreading these rumors and baseless predictions? Ah, this is the Washington Post I’ve come to know and love! I especially like this Village turd bit from David Broder:

 ”In an age of deep cynicism about politicians of both parties, McCain is the rare exception who is not assumed to be willing to sacrifice personal credibility to prevail in any contest.”

Who is doing this “assuming” I ask?