Politically Speaking An examination of American politics by NPR's political editors and correspondents, including Ron Elving, Mara Liasson, Ken Rudin, Don Gonyea, and others.

Special Series

Politically Speaking

Friday October 29, 2004

Opinion

High-Anxiety Election: Good News for Incumbents

October 29, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says incumbents often benefit in uneasy times.

Tuesday October 26, 2004

Opinion

Chance to Win Colorado Has Democrats Excited

October 26, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking Column, NPR's Jeff Brady says a confluence of factors have unexpectedly put Colorado in play in this year's presidential race.

Friday October 22, 2004

Electoral College Scenarios and Exit Poll Mysteries

October 22, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson previews some of the Electoral College math we'll be doing on Election Day.

Tuesday October 19, 2004

Opinion

Covering the Campaign from Both Sides

October 19, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking, NPR Correspondent Scott Horsley compares the campaigning styles of President Bush and Sen. John Kerry.

Thursday October 14, 2004

Opinion

Lesson to Incumbents: Debate At Your Own Risk

October 14, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says Sen. John Kerry got the most out of his debates with President Bush.

Wednesday October 13, 2004

Opinion

Will Tom DeLay's Ethics Troubles Worsen?

October 13, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Congressional Reporter Andrea Seabrook says the ethics cases against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's amounted to a wrist-slapping, but the matter is still playing itself out.

Saturday October 9, 2004

Opinion

Bush Comes Back, But Kerry Holds His Ground

October 9, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says that in their second debate, President Bush did better on domestic issues than Sen. John Kerry.

Wednesday October 6, 2004

Opinion

The VP Debate: An Interlude of Subtle Importance

October 6, 2004 • The VP Debate: An Interlude of Subtle Importance

Monday October 4, 2004

Opinion

Amid Debates, the Race Tightens

October 4, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says Sen. John Kerry's bump in the polls will shift expectations for the coming presidential debates.

Friday October 1, 2004

Opinion

Kerry Has More Work to Do in Coming Debates

October 1, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson says Sen. John Kerry helped himself on the Iraq issue in the first debate with President Bush, but needs to take further steps in forthcoming debates.

Mara Liasson's Morning Edition Report on the Debate

Audio for this story is unavailable.

Tuesday September 28, 2004

Opinion

Polls: Contest is More About Kerry Than Bush

September 28, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Correspondent Juan Williams says

Friday September 24, 2004

Opinion

Kerry Tries to Reopen the Gender Gap

September 24, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior National Correspondent Linda Wertheimer says John Kerry is pursuing the women's vote with a non-traditional issue for them: war.

Tuesday September 21, 2004

Opinion

The Growing Confidence of the Bush Campaign

September 21, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, NPR White House Correspondent Don Gonyea says that as President Bush moves up in the polls, his campaign seems confident enough to accept a risky "town hall" debate format.

Thursday September 16, 2004

Opinion

Yet Another Layer of Tax Laws Shields Donors

September 16, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, NPR Correspondent Peter Overby says an upcoming report is expected to shed light on hidden sources of money used to influence the presidential election.

Peter Overby's Sept. 21, 2004, Morning Edition Report

Audio for this story is unavailable.

Monday September 13, 2004

Opinion

War Over War Records: A Losing Battle

September 13, 2004 • In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says voters are taking the controversy, and hypocrisy, over President Bush's National Guard record in stride.