Stuart Rothenberg President Quotations

Maybe he can put this back on the radar screen as a focus of attention for conservative Republicans. But it's a lot harder when your own party controls Congress, and now you're talking about the line-item veto because they can't control themselves or the president can't control them.

President Bush's poll numbers are already pretty bad, and there has been some concern among people about the long vacation while there is a perception that things aren't going so well. I hate to say it, but some of the role a leader plays after a disaster is public relations.

I thought it was a strong night for the Republicans, John McCain talking about national security defense and foreign terrorism. I think Rudy Giuliani did a pretty good job of mixing criticism of John Kerry -- and talking about the president and his efforts on the war on terror. It was a good start. The only question is: How does it build? And will Vice President Cheney and President Bush close the deal?

You have the bizarre situation now of the Republican race looking like it could end before the Democratic contest, and the Democratic contest includes the sitting vice president of the United States. I don't think anyone would have imagined that a year ago.

The president is not on the ballot so the only way to send a message to the government, to the White House, to Congress about the president's performance is via these congressional elections.

There's a decent chance the Democrats could take the House. The combination of the national mood and the difficulty the president and Republicans are having getting things done makes it no longer a long shot.

Accomplished a bit more for Bush than for Gore only because there were more question marks for Bush. I think he established that he possesses at least the minimum qualifications for being president.

Republicans have to be relieved. Given all the bad news this White House has faced, at least the president's hemorrhaging has stopped.

I think it's less risky for the Kerry campaign to embrace former President Clinton than it is to reject him.