National Politics
By Eric Ostermeier on October 7, 2012
Nixon, Reagan, Bush 41, and Obama all praised Sesame Street during their administrations, but only Clinton cited Muppets by name, rallying to Big Bird's defense during the 104th Congress.
By Eric Ostermeier on October 5, 2012
The president blinked at a rate of 71 times per minute while speaking during Wednesday's debate - 1,000 times more frequently than Romney (53 per minute).
By Eric Ostermeier on October 3, 2012
The president receives more than 4 minutes more face time than Romney during the first debate, or a 12 percent greater amount than the GOP nominee.
By Eric Ostermeier on October 3, 2012
More than 85 senators maintain official U.S. Senate Twitter accounts with John McCain touting the most followers; Marco Rubio has the most followers among senators with non-governmental Twitter accounts.
By Eric Ostermeier on September 27, 2012
Alan Simpson has received top billing in 75 percent of media coverage of the debt commission this year after playing second banana to his fellow co-chair in 2010.
By Eric Ostermeier on September 24, 2012
There are 97 fewer third party and independent candidates on the general election ballots for the nation's 435 congressional district races this cycle compared to two years ago.
By Eric Ostermeier on September 20, 2012
The Republican presidential nominee has been linked to rich cartoon characters like Scrooge McDuck, Mr. Burns, and Richie Rich as well as wealthy, villainous silver screen icons like Gordon Gekko and Mr. Potter.
By Eric Ostermeier on September 17, 2012
It has been 48 years since a major party presidential nominee failed to appear on the ballot in every state.
By Eric Ostermeier on September 5, 2012
The First Lady's speech Tuesday was written at a 12th grade level - the highest in history among the wives of presidential nominees and far above Ann Romney's lowest mark of a 5th grade level.
By Eric Ostermeier on August 30, 2012
Only one other national convention speech by a presidential nominee's wife in history has incorporated as many family unit buzzwords as Ann Romney Tuesday evening (Hillary Clinton, 1996).
By Eric Ostermeier on August 23, 2012
The last eight vice-presidential nominees from the Midwest have carried their home state dating back to 1944 .
By Eric Ostermeier on August 22, 2012
Only three previous individuals - all Democrats - have won the vice-presidency and were reelected to their seat on Capitol Hill on Election Day.
By Eric Ostermeier on August 13, 2012
At 23 years, the 2012 Republican presidential ticket is tied for the seventh largest age differential in U.S. history out of the nearly 125 pairings who have received Electoral College votes.
By Eric Ostermeier on August 7, 2012
States carried by John McCain in 2008 host the fast food chain at a rate of nearly three times as many stores per resident as those won by Barack Obama.
By Eric Ostermeier on July 30, 2012
Two are retiring and at least one incumbent is vulnerable, but several strong female candidates may help offset these losses for a record of 19+ women in the U.S. Senate in January 2013.
By Eric Ostermeier on July 27, 2012
The Top 12 states with the largest average Libertarian vote totals in presidential elections are all located in the western region of the country, led by Alaska, Arizona, and Wyoming.
By Eric Ostermeier on July 26, 2012
Nearly one-third of the members of Congress who made the list prior to the last election cycle eventually lost their seat, lost a race for higher office, retired, or resigned in scandal.
By Eric Ostermeier on July 19, 2012
As of mid-day Thursday, no other U.S. Senator has issued a press release defending Huma Abedin after the senior senator from Arizona's impassioned remarks in the chamber Wednesday.
By Eric Ostermeier on July 18, 2012
Tim Pawlenty VP chatter started in 2003 with rumors surrounding Rob Portman and Bobby Jindal as viable #2 picks swirling in early 2008.
By Eric Ostermeier on July 10, 2012
Since 1950, gains of 5+ Republican seats in the U.S. Senate and 10+ seats in the House have always been preceded by a National League victory.
