Presidency
Eric Holder at 5: Eying #3 All-Time AG Service Mark in 2014
With Holder currently in fifth place for attorney general service, by December only William Wirt and Janet Reno will have recorded longer tenures in U.S. history.
Read MoreObama’s America: State References in SOTU Addresses
When searching for episodic examples to bolster his policies in SOTU addresses, the president turns to the battleground states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio more than any other.
Read MoreA State-by-State Historical Snapshot of Michelle Obama’s SOTU Guest Lists
Arizona is just the 15th most populous state, but 13 of its residents have been guests of the First Lady during President Obama’s first five addresses – highest in the nation.
Read MoreA Year in Smart Politics
A look back at which political institutions were covered the most at Smart Politics in 2013.
Read More10 Quotes by President Obama about Nelson Mandela
The 44th president quoted or referred to the South African leader an average of once every 88 days in office before his death.
Read MorePollsters Ignoring Rick Perry’s 2016 ‘Campaign’
Only two of 13 GOP 2016 primary polls conducted since April have included the Texas governor’s name.
Read MoreA Brief History of Presidential Red Lines
Prior to Obama, U.S. Presidents have been gun-shy to draw red lines with international relations and the threat of military force at stake (Obama owns 11 of the 13 such references); presidents have more commonly talked about actual red lines…on charts!
Read MoreCould Scott Brown Win the Presidency?
Brown might be considering a presidential run, but very few presidents since Lincoln lost their last statewide race.
Read MorePennsylvania Democrats Hope to Reverse History in 2014 Gubernatorial Race
Pennsylvanians have elected a governor of the party of the sitting president in only 1 of the last 19 contests dating back to 1938; Democrats are 1-16 since 1860 with a Democrat in the White House.
Read MoreScott Walker’s Ticket to Ride: Obama in the White House?
Wisconsin voters have elected a governor from a different political party than the sitting president in 26 of the last 31 elections dating back to 1932; the GOP is 15-4 with a Democrat in the White House while Democrats are 1-18.
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