David Hill

In the 10 days following the first presidential debate, it appeared to me that Barack Obama and his strategists concluded they were losing the presidency. I’m not talking about their reading of those public polls that show the race tightening. That’s not how insiders look at things. Instead, I believe they saw the most disheartening situation that a candidate can encounter: Suddenly, their base was losing faith, questioning Obama’s values, second-guessing his performance in office and doubting his ability to win. Perhaps the second debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney will alter their conclusions (because of deadlines, this column had to be written prior to it), but this race is forever changed by those days. Going forward, we should be looking at the Obama inner circle’s strategies and actions, not the polls, to discern its reading of the race.

The latest James Carville-inspired Democracy Corps polling in so-called battleground congressional districts is entertaining, as is most everything the Ragin’ Cajun touches. 

President Obama’s decision to use an executive order to prohibit deportation of young immigrants whose families came here illegally pretty much validates my column of May 16 that said Obama is “crazy for his base.” I predicted that the president would, among other things, issue “an executive pardon for some illegal residents.” His writ on the kids is close enough for political horseshoes. I just thought it would take longer for his desperation to manifest itself. Can some of my other predictions, such as forgiving student loan debt and closure of Guantánamo, be far behind?

I am starting to have compassion fatigue when it comes to the American public.

During this lull in primary voting, there’s been time for reflection on Rick Santorum

Here we are, sandwiched between two debates, wasting a lot of time and distorting the Republican brand. 

Evangelical Christian leaders reportedly agreed to unite behind Rick Santorum in an attempt to block Mitt Romney’s winning campaign.